It was originally the RS-71 until LBJ screwed up the name in a speech. So instead of owning up to a silly mistake, they renamed the plane. How pathetic can a guy get?
The plane was originally designed to be a interceptor-fighter but it was so fast that it couldn't perform that mission. I believe the original designation when they looked at it as an interceptor was YF-14.
They never mentioned that. Thanks. I'm going back on my old college physic days, and the theory of relativity classes. I just thought it might make an interesting discussion.
I had the priviledge of working with the 9SRW at Beale afb for 4 years as a Mission Programmer for the Blackbird.
Spent many a night listening to the sound of freedom as an SR that had just returned from doing it's job of protecting this great nation sat in the burnoff area with her engines roaring.
There is no sight more beautiful than an SR-71 roaring down the runway with those twin Blue flames trailing behind her
Actually it was designated as the YF-12A.
Its an urban legend.
Check either/or wilkpedia or google it.
The LBJ gaff is urban legend. Col. Rich Graham, an SR-71 pilot and commander of the 9th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, did some research on this very matter. He obtained the original text of LBJs speech and tape with everything correct as SR-71. The official transcript released to the press differed with "RS-71" in place of SR-71. Apparently, the stenographer had heard incorrectly and recorded "RS-71" in all three places.
How about "It depends on what the meaning of 'is" is."
You'd be surprised. I looked at one of the Robert Caro biography series on LBJ after I heard Caro
promoting them.
A power chair to raise above his staff, regularly emptying his bladder in the Senate parking garage when women
walk by, ...
What's a name change when you're that power mad?
OTOH, I guess is was before the days of WP and global search and replace....
Take it from a fellow Texan. LBJ was beyond pathetic.
Did you ever read the book "A Texan looks at Lyndon"?
(Gawd! I still hate having to admin that LBJ was a Texan.)
And it was the second time he did it. The orginal design to meeet the CIA's Project Oxcart specification was the A-12 (with by that time, corresponding F-12, RB-12 Fighter & bomber versions). But Prez Johnson announcced it as the "A-11", so they declared that was the Lockeed name for the A-12 project.
When LBJ first announced the airplane, it was known as the YF-12A.
It was originally the RS-71 until LBJ screwed up the name in a speech.
Wasn't it actually A12 originally?