That would be the M-12 with the D-21 drone.

The M-12 was a special version of the CIA A-12 Blackbird where the Q-bay
(behind the lone occupant, the pilot,) of the A-12 was replaced by a second
cockpit for an observer/launch officer for the D-21 drone.  There where only
two M-12s built, and M stood for Mother (the transporter of the drone.)  The
D-21 drone (D for drone and 21 as opposed to 12), was also a member of the
Blackbird family.  The drone was powered by a Marquahd (sp?) ramjet engine.
The ramjet engine can only be started at high speeds, which necessitated a
launch from the M-12 at cruising speed.

The drone sat between the two vertical stabilizers on the M-12.  The first
attempt at launching the drone from the M-12 resulted in the destruction of
both aircraft when the drone collided with the M-12 right after launch.  The
project was cancelled.  The M-12 at the museum is the only one in existence.

The A-12s were eventually retired as the Air Force acquired the SR-71 and
started flying missions with them.  The SR-71 is the follow-on to the A-12
and was a bigger and heavier design with two seats.

The engine of the A-12 and SR-71 was a Pratt & Whitney J58 Turbo-Ramjet that
actually changed configuration at higher speeds.  As Bill correctly stated,
the J58 was designed to run on permanent afterburners.   The only other
engine that I am aware of, which does that is the Rolls Royce Olympus which
powered some of Britain's V-Bombers and the Concorde.

The Blackbird is one of my favorite aircrafts, I have seen the M-12 to which
Bill refers and it was immaculate.  I have visited the SR-71 on static in
San Antonio.  I have also seen the A-12, the gate guardian, at the museum in
San Diego.

A fun fact, the A-12, M-12, D-21 and SR-71 (all spy or reconnaissance
aircrafts) were all built primarily of titanium, which had to be acquired
from... Russia.


Denys

-----Original Message-----
From: HP-3000 Systems Discussion [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf
Of William L. Brandt
Sent: Friday, July 22, 2005 12:35 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [HP3000-L] [OT] Fun space shuttle facts!

An equally astounding fact was revealed to me when I visited the Seattle
Aerospace Museum - they have an early SR-71 there (I keep forgetting the
exact nomenclature - it was the CIA derivative with the drone on the top)
but besides the widely known fact that the fuselage was designed to expand
some 6" at speed the jet engines were designed to run afterburners
continuously and the engine itself was designed to expand.

The tires had aluminum in them to retard heat too.

Bill

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