Lockheed A-12: The CIA’s Blackbird and other variants (Osprey Air Vanguard 12)

During the early years of the Cold War, the most effective way to gather strategic intelligence about the Soviet Union and its allies was manned overflight. Lockheed’s U-2 was spectacarly successf in this role, however, much to the concern of US President Eisenhower, its shape meant that it cod be tracked on Russian radars. Given the highly sensitive nature of such flights, the President insisted that every effort shod be made to reduce to zero the U-2’s radar cross section (RCS), thereby making the aircraft invisible. When this was proven to be impossible, the stage was set for a U-2 replacement. Following a competition between Lockheed and Convair, the former was declared the winner and the rest was the A-12. Designed to incorporate ‘stealth’ features before the term was even coined, the A-12 has to date proven to be the fastest, highest flying jet aircraft ever built. This book will also cover a two-seat variation of the design built as an advanced interceptor – the YF-12.



Название: Lockheed A-12: The CIA’s Blackbird and other variants
Автор: Pa F Crickmore, Adam Tooby
Издательство: Osprey Publishing
Серия: Osprey Air Vanguard 12
ISBN: 978 1472801135
Год издания: 2014
Язык: English
Количество страниц: 65
Формат: PDF (e-book)
Размер: 2,5 MB