lock heed sr-71 and sr-71B , wierd...

i have got a book about flight and it has 2 pageso on the blackbird, it shows 2 diffrent planes though, they look the same but one has a visible window that s above and behingd the cockpit. i looked and i saw one was the sr-71 and other was the sr-71 b. what others r there? if there is not many could i have pic of all of them plz lol

Im not an expert, but I believe the "b" version is the trainer version for pilots to learn in...you just cant get in that thing know how to fly it.

I think them are the only 2 types ever made with the sr-71b being the only variation from the original....why else would they need other types?

Hope that helps

ok, i would be logical seeing as the second cockpit is right abv and bhind,

The window you probably can see is the Reconnaissance Systems Officers position, which was included as part of the SR-71 series, or a second pilots seat for training. The type of SR-71 without a SRO position are actually converted A-12 aircraft, built for the Oxcart program for the CIA which flew with only the pilot.

The SR-71 program grew out of the A-12 program simply as a matter of course. The CIA intelligence program was not accessable to the USAF so they purchased a number of A-12 articles of their own, starting the SR-71 primarily as a Recon/Strike variant.

The first SR-71, essentially a modified A-12 article, flew on December 22nd, 1964. The main difference between the SR-71 proper and the A-12 conversions being the addition of the SRO position behind the pilot.

The major types of Blackbird are:

YF-12 - initial development version
A-12 - initial production version
M-21 - carrier for the D-21 drone
A-12A - 2 seat trainer version

AF-12 - initial concept redesign to produce the SR-71 as a strike aircraft
RB-12 - bomber version of AF-12

YF-12A - 'non black' AF-12 designation

SR-71 - initial production version
SR-71A - production version including SRO position
SR-71B - primarily a two seat pilot trainer, but for some reason some standard 'B's were produced with pilot and SRO positions
SR-71C - two seat pilot trainer





[edit on 26/3/2005 by RichardPrice]

The link below shows a photo with many of the SR-71 types including the converted A-12s, the SR-71B (right at the back), and SR-71As.


Too big to include as image here

wow, that is so cool, amazing, thanx

As stated the A-12 Oxcart was s single seat bird that was operated by the CIA.

A proposal came from this aircraft for the AF-12 Interseptor which was an A-12 without the chines. This aircraft was not built but the idea turned into the YF-12A of which 3 were built

Other aircraft built

2 A-12's converted to M21 Drone carriers
1 A-12B Trainer -
31 SR-71A
2 SR-71B Trainers
1 SR71 C Trainer - Built from the front end of a SR-71 Static Model and the back end of YF-12A (934) Nicknamed The Bastard- a real pain to fly

The link to the picture show the 11 SR-71's taken at the time of the Blackbirds retirement- No A-12's in this picture.

Also no A-12's were bought or flown by the USAF.these were strickly C.I.A Operated and flown by the 1129th Special Activities Squadron.

Even though the SR-71 design came from the A-12 there were manufacturing differences. The A-12 Chine is not an integral fuselage structural element but is instead a separate Structure attached to the central fuselage core which is generally cylindrical in shape. The chines on the SR-71 were part of the ribs.( not added on)

Link to all A-12/YF-12A/SR-71 pictures in all versions.

www.hitechweb.szm.sk/blackbird.htm

At the bottom of the page simply click on POKRACOVANIE button and go to next page.

originally posted by: RichardPrice
The window you probably can see is the Reconnaissance Systems Officers position, which was included as part of the SR-71 series, or a second pilots seat for training. The type of SR-71 without a SRO position are actually converted A-12 aircraft, built for the Oxcart program for the CIA which flew with only the pilot.

The SR-71 program grew out of the A-12 program simply as a matter of course. The CIA intelligence program was not accessable to the USAF so they purchased a number of A-12 articles of their own, starting the SR-71 primarily as a Recon/Strike variant.

The first SR-71, essentially a modified A-12 article, flew on December 22nd, 1964. The main difference between the SR-71 proper and the A-12 conversions being the addition of the SRO position behind the pilot.

The major types of Blackbird are:

YF-12 - initial development version
A-12 - initial production version
M-21 - carrier for the D-21 drone
A-12A - 2 seat trainer version

AF-12 - initial concept redesign to produce the SR-71 as a strike aircraft
RB-12 - bomber version of AF-12

YF-12A - 'non black' AF-12 designation

SR-71 - initial production version
SR-71A - production version including SRO position
SR-71B - primarily a two seat pilot trainer, but for some reason some standard 'B's were produced with pilot and SRO positions
SR-71C - two seat pilot trainer





[edit on 26/3/2005 by RichardPrice]

In addition to the three YF-12A prototypes being built, Lockheed in won a contract for 93 examples of the F-12 production version, designated F-12B, which would have had chines along the nose like those of the A-12 and SR-71. However, a tight budget resulting from defense spending on the Vietnam War meant that the F-12B program was canceled in December 1967 before titanium could be forged for any of the F-12Bs on order.

Links:
www.secretprojects.co.uk...
www.secretprojects.co.uk...

This Spy Plane was a beautiful piece of engineering. When I was a child enjoying G.I. action figures, this was a Cadillac of kids toys. What a beautiful plane! And such power and capabilities!

a reply to: MatthewGraybeal13


Seeing it in person is impressive. Boeing has one in their museum of aviation in Washington State.