The Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird: The A-12’s Faster, Higher-Flying Cousin

The A-12 was a secret CIA spy plane developed by Lockheed in the early 1960s. It was the first aircraft to use stealth technology and could fly at speeds over Mach 3, making it nearly impossible to shoot down. Though it had a short operational life, it paved the way for the legendary SR-71 Blackbird.