Dates

Event

Constructed as an A-12.
Two J75 engines originally installed.

Circa 1960

Taken on Strength/Charge with the United States Air Force with s/n 60-6924.

27 February 1962

Transported by ground.
Trucked to the test site. This airframe had been designated the primary testbed for airworthiness and handling qualities, envelope expansion, airframe/powerplant integration, subsystems and propulsion.

25 April 1962

First flight.
During a high-speed taxi run, Lockheed test pilot Louis W. Schalk took it airborne for the first time, flying for about a mile and a half at an altitude of around 20 feet.

26 April 1962

First flight.
Lockheeds first planned flight took place on this day.

30 April 1962

First flight.
Shalk flew again for the customers official first flight, attaining a top speed of 340 knots and a peak altitude of 30,000 feet.

4 May 1962

Flew supersonic for the first time, Mach 1.1 at 40,000 feet.

5 October 1962

Made its first flight with one J58 and one J75 engine.

9 March 1963

First flight with two J58 engines.

January 1964

Lockheed test pilot James Eastham took Article 121 to Mach 3.3 with 15 minutes cruise time above Mach 3.2.

Completed 322 flights for a total of 418.2 hours.

6 June 1968

On behalf of the owner stored with/at Lockheed Plant 42, Palmdale, CA.

To National Museum of the United States Air Force Loan Program, Wright Field, Dayton, OH.
View the Location Dossier

Loaned to 95 ABW/MU, Edwards AFB, CA.

September 1991

Loaned to Blackbird Airpark, Palmdale, CA.
View the Location Dossier

1996

Photographer: Tom Tessier
Notes: At Blackbird Airpark, Palmdale, CA

17 February 2000

Transferred to the Military Aircraft Storage and Disposal Center (MASDC) with inventory number AF0001.

5 October 2012

Photographer: D.R. de Pruis

29 April 2016

Photographer: Mike Henniger
Notes: Photographed at the Blackbird Air Park in Palmdale, California.