The A-12 Oxcart was a super-secret, single-seater spy plane and was more secret and much rarer than the SR-71. The SR-71 was actually developed from the A-12.
It is well known that the SR-71 Blackbird spy plane holds the official record for the fastest jet-powered, piloted aircraft ever.
Nonetheless, the A-12 Oxcart, a jet-powered, piloted aircraft, was faster than the SR-71.
‘The A-12 Oxcart was a super-secret, single-seater spy plane and was more secret and much rarer than the SR-71,’ says Christian Nelson, an aviation expert, on Quora. ‘In fact, the SR-71 was actually developed from the A-12.’
‘Despite bearing the marks of the USAF, it was developed for and only ever flown by the CIA. It was meant to be the replacement for the U-2 spy plane, though both it and the SR-71 were decommissioned before the U-2. I mean, the U-2 still flies to this day, more than half a century after its first flight. So, failing marks on that account for the Ox-Bird sisters.
‘Anyway, according to Lockheed (who designed and built them), the A-12 Oxcart was officially able to fly at 95,000ft and 2,221 mph or Mach 3.35. Compare that to 85,000ft and 2,112 mph, or Mach 3.2, of the SR-71. However, there are anecdotal stories of both aircraft surpassing the official records for speed and altitude.
‘The CIA operated the A-12 slightly under its capacity it seems because their documented numbers are slightly lower than Lockheed’s; about 3mph slower and 5000ft lower.
‘Here’s a spec sheet from the CIA’s official website.’
Nelson concludes:
‘Both planes can be viewed side-by-side in Blackbird Park situated within Air Force Plant 42 next to Palmdale Regional Airport in Palmdale, California. So, like, go see it or something.’
Photo by U.S. Air Force and CIA