File A121-R-60-6927A-12 (trainer)Article 124

60-6927

A-12 (trainer) · Article 124
Titanium Goose
On displayLos Angeles, California

California Science Center (Roy A. Anderson Blackbird Exhibit and Garden)
Los Angeles, California, USA · 34.02, -118.29

A-12 60-6927, the two-seat A-12 trainer, on pylon display outside the California Science Center, Los Angeles, on 23 August 2024.
A-12 60-6927, the two-seat A-12 trainer, on pylon display outside the California Science Center, Los Angeles, on 23 August 2024.Ziongarage (Wikimedia Commons user) · 2024-08-23 · CC0 1.0 · Source

Record

60-6927
124
A-12 (trainer)
1,076.4
Not confirmed
Preserved, on display
California Science Center (Roy A. Anderson Blackbird Exhibit and Garden), Los Angeles, California, USA

Career

  • Only two-seat A-12 built, with a raised instructor cockpit behind the pilot
  • Delivered to the test site in November 1962
  • Kept J75 engines for its whole life, limiting it to about Mach 1.6 and 40,000 ft
  • The only A-12 Kelly Johnson ever flew in; CIA DDS&T Bud Wheelon also took a ride
  • Most-flown A-12: 614 flights and 1,076.4 hours
  • Displayed in bare metal finish, unlike the other survivors

Fate

Retired in 1968 and stored at Palmdale (where it was vandalised in storage); on pylon display outside the California Science Center in Exposition Park since late 2003.

In the chronology

Nov 1962Two-seat trainer 'Titanium Goose' delivered OXCART
Article 124 (60-6927), the only A-12 trainer, was delivered to the test site in November 1962 and first flew in January 1963. Fitted with less powerful J75 engines, it was limited to about Mach 1.6, and it was the only A-12 Kelly Johnson ever flew in.

Where the record disagrees

First flight date not verified (secondary sources disagree). The bare-metal finish claim comes from secondary sources and current photos, not an official page.

Sources

  1. Central Intelligence Agency, Center for the Study of Intelligence. Archangel: CIA's Supersonic A-12 Reconnaissance Aircraft (David Robarge, 2nd ed.; includes 'Inventory of A-12s' table, p. 50). Open · Archived · In the register
  2. California Science Center. Roy A. Anderson Blackbird Exhibit and Garden. Open · Archived · In the register
  3. Roadrunners Internationale. Article 124 page. Open · Archived · In the register
  4. Wikipedia. Lockheed A-12 (aircraft table and accidents list). Open · Archived · In the register