File A121-R-60-6933A-12Article 130

60-6933

A-12 · Article 130
On displaySan Diego, California

San Diego Air & Space Museum, Balboa Park
San Diego, California, USA · 32.73, -117.15

A-12 60-6933 on pylon display outside the San Diego Air & Space Museum, Balboa Park, on 8 December 2021.
A-12 60-6933 on pylon display outside the San Diego Air & Space Museum, Balboa Park, on 8 December 2021.Ian Gratton (Flickr) · 2021-12-08 · CC BY 2.0 · Source

Record

60-6933
130
A-12
406.3
27 November 1963
Preserved, on display
San Diego Air & Space Museum, Balboa Park, San Diego, California, USA

Career

  • Tenth A-12 built (museum)
  • Operational-configuration aircraft; not one of the three deployed to Kadena
  • 217 flights

Fate

Retired in 1968 and stored at Palmdale, then trucked to San Diego; displayed on a pylon outside the San Diego Air & Space Museum in Balboa Park.

Where the record disagrees

The 27 Nov 1963 first flight date comes only from photo-archive and secondary sources (ABPic and similar); not confirmed by CIA. Those same sources claim a final flight in August 1965, which conflicts with the CIA statement that all operational A-12s flew until 1968, so treat both as unverified.

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. Roadrunners Internationale (OXCART veterans association). Lockheed A-12 Blackbird Survivors. Open · Archived · In the register
  3. San Diego Air & Space Museum. Lockheed A-12 Blackbird. Open · Archived · In the register
  4. Air-Britain (ABPic). A-12 60-6933 photo record. Open · In the register