You didn't hear about it for good reason.

Post #120,597 by Andrew Grygus 10/9/03 8:07:09 AM 10/9/03 8:09:54 AM Reply	You didn't hear about it for good reason. The forces in Washington working to convince Congress to pass a wildly higher defense budget were pushing Soviet interceptor / fighter superiority very hard. This plane was something they didn't want anyone to know about. The fact they ordered tooling destroyed, a very unusual act, demonstrates how serious they were. As for practicality, seems they've been flying SR-71 spy planes for some time now. It's basically the same airfraime. Many tricks were developed to overcome the extreme temperature variation during flight. [link\|http://www.aaxnet.com\|AAx] Edited by Andrew Grygus Oct. 9, 2003, 08:09:54 AM EDT Expand All History
Post #120,765 by dlevitt 10/10/03 10:13:07 AM Reply	A12 The A12 was a carrier based, low observable [stealthy] sucessor to the A6 Intruder [program canceled in 1991]. Subsonic, with a large payload. It had nothing in common with [Y]F12 derivities. The proposed F12 derived attack varient never was assigned a DOD type number. I found a couple of links [link\|http://www.habu2.net/a12/avenger2.htm\|http://www.habu2.net/a12/avenger2.htm] The AIM45 missile system developed for the F12 is an ancestor of the AIM54 system used in the Tomcat. [Most of the time, rules of engagement prevent effective use of beyond visual range missiles anyway] Dave Levitt ['black shoe' sailor - but interested in things that fly]
Post #120,772 by Andrew Grygus 10/10/03 11:12:57 AM Reply	Well, the Blackbird group claims an A12 also . . . . (and a B12) so perhaps there were two that carried that designation in different time frames ([link\|http://www.wvi.com/~lelandh/yf12~1.htm\|Blackbird Page]), since your refernce makes no mention of that A12 being a Skunk Works design. The Balckbird line was certainly not suitable for the Navy. [link\|http://www.aaxnet.com\|AAx]
Post #120,773 by Nightowl 10/10/03 11:14:14 AM Reply	Re: Well, the Blackbird group claims an A12 also . . I don't know if I have any data left on the plane I worked on, maybe I can find out. I'll check and see. Nightowl >8# "I learned to be the door, instead of the mat!" "illegitimi nil carborundum" Comment by Nightowl
Post #120,777 by Nightowl 10/10/03 11:24:01 AM Reply	FOUND IT! Okay, the plane made (or actually, not made) by McDonnell Douglas was called the A-12 Attack Jet. It was a carrier based, stealth attack aircraft, suitable for uses in such theaters as the Persian Gulf. The project was cancelled in 1991 due to a lack of progress and supposedly problems which were attempted to be covered up. I worked on it until it was cancelled. Hope that helps clear up which plane is which. :) Nightowl >8# "I learned to be the door, instead of the mat!" "illegitimi nil carborundum" Comment by Nightowl

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