Even though it was retired by the Air Force in 1990 and the NASA version has been grounded since 1999, the Blackbird is still one of the most fascinating aircraft ever built. Conceived by the CIA the project was turned over to the Air Force. It was never very popular with the Air Force. Most of the missions were actually conducted at the direction of the National Reconnaissance Office (then so black an organization that even the name was secret) but the budget for operating the plane came from the Air Force which wanted to spend the money on other projects such as the B-1B Bomber.

This book gives an excellent history of the airplane from its first concept (at the request of the CIA) through it's last flight. The book also covers the several variations of the plane including the M-21 (which carried the D-21 drone), the original A-12 (single seater), the YF-12A (the fighter version), and of course the SR-71A, the main production version. It also gives a list of the final dispositions of the remaining aircraft so you can find out where to go see one.

Even though it was retired by the Air Force in 1990 and the NASA version has been grounded since 1999, the Blackbird is still one of the most fascinating aircraft ever built. Conceived by the CIA the project was turned over to the Air Force. It was never very popular with the Air Force. Most of the missions were actually conducted at the direction of the National Reconnaissance Office (then so black an organization that even the name was secret) but the budget for operating the plane came from the Air Force which wanted to spend the money on other projects such as the B-1B Bomber.

This book gives an excellent history of the airplane from its first concept (at the request of the CIA) through it's last flight. The book also covers the several variations of the plane including the M-21 (which carried the D-21 drone), the original A-12 (single seater), the YF-12A (the fighter version), and of course the SR-71A, the main production version. It also gives a list of the final dispositions of the remaining aircraft so you can find out where to go see one.