Article
124
Serial
60-6927
First Flight
November, 1962
Service History
60-6927 accrued 614 flights and 1076.4 hours of flying time.
Also known as the “Titanium Goose,” #927 was the only “B-model” trainer in the A-12 series.
It was fitted with the less powerful J75 engines, could only reach Mach 1.6 and 40,000 feet.
Contrary to some reports, this was not the only time Kelly Johnson flew in a blackbird; in his book “Kelly: More than My Share of It All”, Johnson states that he was also in the back seat of a YF-12 on one of the missile test firings.
The CIA’s first deputy director for science and technology, Albert “Bud” Wheelon, also took a ride in the trainer to demonstrate his confidence in the A-12. John McCone, the director of central intelligence, “roundly criticized” him for “risking my person” that way, Wheelon recalled.
927 was the last A-12 to be shipped to a museum. For years she was in storage at Palmdale, waiting to be put on display at the California Science Center (formerly the Museum of Science and Industry) in Los Angeles. She was finally delivered in late 2003.
Flights
614
Hours
1076.4
Present Location
California Science Center, Los Angeles, CA