File A121-R-60-6931A-12Article 128

60-6931

A-12 · Article 128
On displayLangley (McLean), Virginia

CIA Headquarters, George Bush Center for Intelligence (not open to the public)
Langley (McLean), Virginia, USA · 38.95, -77.14

A-12 60-6931 on its pylon display at CIA Headquarters, Langley, Virginia, at dusk, in a CIA photograph dated 15 September 2008.
A-12 60-6931 on its pylon display at CIA Headquarters, Langley, Virginia, at dusk, in a CIA photograph dated 15 September 2008.Central Intelligence Agency · 2008-09-15 · Public domain (US government work) · Source

Record

60-6931
128
A-12
453
3 October 1963
Preserved, on display
CIA Headquarters, George Bush Center for Intelligence (not open to the public), Langley (McLean), Virginia, USA

Career

  • First operationally outfitted A-12 (not a test aircraft) to reach Mach 3, in March 1965
  • Eighth A-12 built; CIA describes it as the eighth of 15 OXCART airframes
  • Display honours CIA pilots Walt Ray and Jack Weeks
  • Its 2007 dedication prompted CIA's Archangel history and the release of hundreds of declassified OXCART documents
  • 232 flights

Fate

Retired 28 May 1968 and stored at Palmdale; loaned by the USAF to CIA, it arrived at CIA Headquarters on 9 Aug 2007, was dedicated on 19 Sep 2007 and is mounted on pylons in a climbing, banked attitude. Restored by CIA from September to 30 October 2025.

In the chronology

19 Sep 2007CIA dedicates A-12 at headquarters Legacy
During the CIA's 60th anniversary the agency dedicated A-12 Article 128 (60-6931), transferred from the Air Force, mounted on pylons at its Langley headquarters. It was the first operational A-12 certified for Mach 3, though it flew no BLACK SHIELD missions.

Where the record disagrees

Inside the CIA compound and not open to the public. CIA counts 15 OXCART airframes (13 A-12s plus 2 M-21s) and says nine remain (8 A-12s plus the M-21). CIA Museum gives final pylon installation as 8 Dec 2007 and display completion in early May 2008.

Sources

  1. Central Intelligence Agency. A-12 OXCART (CIA Museum exhibit page, Article 128). Open · Archived · In the register
  2. Central Intelligence Agency. Restoring a Symbol of Cold War Innovation. Open · Archived · In the register
  3. 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
  4. Roadrunners Internationale. Article #128 SN: 60-6931. Open · Archived · In the register