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From: warack@dip.eecs.umich.edu (Christopher Warack)
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: Re: A-12, Australian Carrier? A-4's..
Message-ID: <1990Dec22.034449.24675@cbnews.att.com>
Date: 22 Dec 90 03:44:49 GMT
References: <1990Dec20.015931.28940@cbnews.att.com> <1990Dec21.030434.11486@cbnews.att.com>
Sender: military@cbnews.att.com (William B. Thacker)
Organization: University of Michigan EECS Dept.
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From: warack@dip.eecs.umich.edu (Christopher Warack)
>From: stoffel@dtoa3.dt.navy.mil (Stoffel)
>>From: disc3c1@jetson.uh.edu
>>
>>version of the SR-71.. now that I have heard about the Navy A-12, I was wonder-
>>ing whether I was incorrect about A-12 being a designation for an Attack
>>version of the SR-71.. Help... also, Can anybody Tell me, will Australia get
>>an Aircraft carrier EVER??? I wanna be a Carrier Pilot, and I have the option
>
>The Navy A12 is the planned replacement for the venerable Intruder.
>As far as I know, the first plane still hasn't flown. Last night's news
>(CNN I think) said that the Navy is threatening to cancel the contract
>for various cost & schedule reasons. They also showed an artist's concept
>of what the plane would look like. It looked very stealthy, but more
>like the Air Force's new stealth fighter than an SR71.
>
>Bill

For the other-side of the story...  From "Deep Black" by Wm Burroughs,
pp.156-160: 
The U-2 needed a successor.  Lockheed submitted a dozen proposals during
'58 and '59.  These they numbered A-1 through A-12.  The A-12 won and
entered production.  "The A-12, which first flew on April 26, 1962, was
designed from the outset as a reconnaissance aircraft and was the first of
three high-performance planes whose dimensions were to vary slightly but
whose appearance and flight characteristics were essentially the same."

Lockheed tried to modify it for other purposes.  One of these was the
YF-12, an interceptor version.  Only a few were built and flight tested.

The final version was the SR-71.  Supposedly, it was supposed to be the
RS-71; with RS for Recon/Strike, and 71 the next number after the B-70
Valkyrie.  When Pres Johnson announced the existence of the plane, he
reversed the letters.  It was easier to rename it (SR meaning Strategic
Recon) than correct it.

(*end Deep Black excerpts*)

For your edification, but take motives and folklore with a grain of salt.

Chris

(Sorry if this is a FAQ answer)
--
Christopher A. Warack                   warack@eecs.umich.edu
Graduate Dept, EECS			(313) 665-4789
University of Michigan