Lockheed YF-12
Lockheed · United States · first flew 1963 · fighter
The Lockheed YF-12 was an experimental Mach 3-capable interceptor derived from the CIA's A-12 reconnaissance aircraft, armed with long-range Hughes air-to-air missiles.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, delta |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × turbojet, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | long chined fuselage like the closely related SR-71 |
| T — Tail | Twin fin |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- long chined fuselage like the closely related SR-71
- twin outward-canted vertical fins
- large underwing engine nacelles with distinctive spike inlets
Distinguished from the closely related SR-71 by its distinctive chined nose sensor fairings and infrared search-and-track ball mounted under the nose.
Specifications
- The Lockheed YF-12 has a length of 30.97 m (102 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 16.95 m (56 ft).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
First flown in 1963, it was developed alongside the SR-71 Blackbird and tested by the US Air Force as a high-speed, high-altitude interceptor before the programme was cancelled in the early 1970s without entering production.
Variants
Only three YF-12A prototypes were built; one was lost in a testing accident, and NASA later used a surviving example for high-speed research flights.
Where you'll see it
None remain flying; a surviving YF-12A is preserved at the National Museum of the US Air Force. It has no UK service history.
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