Guided tour around the only Blackbird Interceptor in the world - the Lockheed YF-12A

Join me in this detailed tour around the only Lockheed Skunkworks YF12A Blackbird that was an A-12 based Cold War Interceptor. The production F-12B was ordered but cancelled before production begun. Three were made and two were destroyed so this is the last one and on display at the National Museum of the USAF in Dayton Ohio.
Thumbnail photo credit: National Museum of the US Air Force

Other videos:

0:00 intro
0:35 background
1:10 the nose, Hughes AN/ASG-18, chines
3:20 nosewheel
3:45 storage holds for AIM-47 Falcon missiles
5:25 Pratt & Whitney J58 (JTD11D-20A) afterburning turbojet with compressor bleed bypass, 20,500 lbf (91 kN) thrust each dry, 31,500 lbf (140 kN) with afterburner
6:56 tail end and unique fins
7:44 titanium triangles to reduce radar return
8:29 afterburner and tertiary doors
8:56 two tail fins
9:25 larger central ventral fin
9:47 USAF logos
10:07 main landing gear
10:50 panel gaps and aerodynamic heating, JP-7 fuel and TEB
13:16 starter motor AG330 startcart
13:34 cockpit and fire control officer seat
14:15 M-61 gun
14:26 record breaking flights
15:05 YF-12 fleet
15:19 SR-71C
16:15 mach 6.4 radar testing
16:42 top secret
17:04 bomber B-12 plan
17:22 test pods
17:28 F-12B order and cancellation

[PaulStewartAviation]

Thanks for watching everyone! As always, if I've made a mistake then please let me know. I make this videos in the evening after work and sometimes make some silly errors. Otherwise please give the video a 'thumbs up' as it helps promote the video. :)

[fw]

I can’t imagine just how strong the missile bay doors have to be to be able to open at the speed the YF-12A operates at without being ripped off.

[gabrielbennett]

This was my grandfather, Vic Horton's, aircraft when NASA had it in the 1970s! It was used for high speed, high altitude flight tests. Grandpa usually flew as a team with Fitz Fulton, but also made flights in it with Bill Dana, Tom McMurtry and others. He and Fitz made the last flight in it for NASA on Halloween 1979 before it was flown to the museum, stripped of its NASA markings, by Col. James Sullivan and museum director Richard Uppstrom, about 2 weeks later in early November. Sadly, never to fly again. Grandpa actually liked the YF-12A better than the more famous SR-71A, which he also flew. Someday, I'd like to visit the museum and see if they'll let me sit in the rear cockpit where he sat, just to see what it was like.

[Jim-fexz]

In the early 70's I worked in a small automotive engine rebuilding shop. One day a pickup full of Buick heads showed up for valve jobs. The shop that built the start carts was close by and these had been ordered for spares.

[johnt]

Skunkworks had a skunkworks. That's some good trivia! Thanks!

[shannonchurchill]

Had the opportunity to see this shortly after it was first delivered to WP in the early 80's. The museum was much smaller than it is today, with the Valkyire and B-52 sitting outside, along with a couple other planes I don't recall. (maybe a B-36?) The YF-12 was shoved into the back corner of a hangar they called the annex where they put stuff they didn't have room for in the main galleries. The annex was about 1/4 mile from the main building. It was nose first into the corner and you couldn't even get a good look at the thing because there were no lights on, just the light coming through the windows on the hangar door. So nice to see all these planes properly displayed instead of collecting dust in a remote hangar.

[tonerotonero]

The graal. With the xb70 in the back, these are 2 marvels. What an impressive machine. I can't imagine the pride and excitement of the people who worked on this beast in the early 60's. The project of a lifetime.

[BenGarvesFilms]

Came for the jet, stayed for the Chevy jokes. Absolutely rolling about the fuel leak punch line.

[stratcat]

"No, actual art." Love it!

[josephpiskac]

Stunning beautiful plane the only presentation I have ever seen on the interceptor.

[ĒI-weēzy]

I just saw this plane last Monday it was crazy. It is still one of my favorite planes

[jaywalkersunite]

Chevy really catching some strays this episode

[therealjonnybratwurst]

Taking my dad there again tomorrow! Great timing!

[skyhigh]

Knowledgeable commentary, enjoyable to watch, as an aviation nerd

[Kpar]

Great job again, Paul! I noticed the views of the J-58 (and start cart) were taken at the Evergreen Air Museum in McMinnville, OR, (also home of the "Spruce Goose" Howard Hughes' magnificent flying boat!) which I visited back in '07 while attending the CORSA (Corvair Society of America) Convention in Portland that year. I mentioned that because the CORSA International Convention happens to be in Dayton, OH this year, and I intend to spend a great deal of time at the NMUSAF while there, my first time back since the newest hangar was built.

Your presentations are TERRIFIC! As much as I know about these aircraft from my reading on the subject, I ALWAYS learn something new from you!

[jonathanking]

Thank you I saw this aircraft in March and thought it was a standard Blackbird. I did not realise its significance, thank you.

[russetwolf]

Fun fact: the only other surviving YF-12 partially burned on the ground and had it's whole forward fuselage replaced with an SR-71 test frame. This became the only SR-71C model, A.K.A. "The Bastard", currently on display at Hill Aerospace Museum in Roy, Utah.

[pleyades]

I really love your videos since I’ve been in most of the museum you’ve been and watch your walk around and explanations bring me nostalgic memories

[staralliancefan]

Another great video Paul as we've come to expect! Thanks!

[TheRandompaint]

I hope you enjoyed your time in Dayton . That museum is a few minutes from me and absolutely one of my favorites.