YF-12 Timeline

Here’s a timeline for the YF-12, probably the most high-performance interceptor that ever flew.

XX Jul 1956-ADC issued F-108 requirements, AN/ASG-18 development begun
17 Oct 1958-Convair issued contract to modify B-58 (55-665) for AN/ASG-18 and GAR-9 test work
15 Jul 1959-B-58 GAR-9 pods completed, 2 built
2 Aug 1959-B-58 665 modifications complete
23 Sep 1959-XF-108 cancelled
Early 1960-first B-58 flight w/AN/ASG-18
XX Oct 1960-Lockheed issued $1 million Project KEDLOCK contract for AF-12 research
31 May 1961-AF-12 mockup reviewed by USAF
XX Aug 1961-first XAIM-47 ground launch to verify rocket engine performance
Late 1961-first AN/ASG-18 radar for YF-12A completed by Hughes
15 Jan 1952-guided ground launch of XAIM-47
Early 1962-USAF orders 3 AF-12s, 7,8,9 A-12s to be converted.
25 May 1962-first XAIM-47 air-to-air launch from B-58 665
17 Aug 1962-B-58 XAIM-47 launch
21 Feb 1963-B-58 XAIM-47 launch, XAIM-47 broke apart in-flight; tests halted for modifications
XX Mar 1963-Jim Eastham writes YF-12 flight handbook
XX Jul 1963-B-58 665/XAIM-47 modifications completed
XX Jul 1963-06934 trucked to Groom Lake from Burbank
7 Aug 1963-06934 FF. Eastham pilot.
26 Nov 1963-06935 FF.
XX Feb 1964-last XAIM-47 launch from B-58 665
29 Feb 1964-LBJ’s “A-11” speech, 34/35 to Edwards AFB.
13 Mar 1964-06936 FF by Jim Eastham
16 Apr 1964-first XAIM-47 ejection test from YF-12
XX Jul 1964-F-12B mockup viewed by USAF
12 Aug 1964-USAF asks Lockheed about using a YF-12 to break world records
30 Sep 1964-1st public showing
9 Jan 1965-06934 reaches Mach 3.23, sustains Mach 3.2 for 5 minutes. Eastham pilot.
Spring 1965-2198 mph reached
18 Mar 1965-YAIM-47 launched and hit drone @36 miles
1 May 1965-06936 set world records; 06935 photographed w/XB-70, 06934 engine failure so couldn’t fly.
14 May 1965-$500,000 EMD contract signed for F-12B
1 Jun 1965-YF-12/SR-71 test wing formed at Edwards AFB
28 Sep 1965-YAIM-47 launch from Mach 3.2 and 75,000 feet
10 Nov 1965-$500,000 more released to Lockheed for engineering work on F-12B
10 Nov 1965-$4.5 million released to Hughes for continued AN/ASG-18 development
25 Apr 1966-06934/06936 to Eglin AFB for weapon system trials
14 Aug 1966-06934 crashes, put into storage
5 Jan 1968-F-12B cancelled
5 Feb 1968-YF-12A program cancelled
14 Mar 1969-SR-71C FF 17981
5 Jun 1969-USAF and NASA sign MOU regarding NASA YF-12 tests
18 Jul 1969-public announcement of NASA/USAF YF-12 MOU
11 Dec 1969-06935 FF for NASA
16 Jan 1970-YF-12/SR-71 test wing redesignated 4786 Test Squadron
5 Mar 1970-First flight w/NASA pilot, 06936
24 or 27 Jun 1971-06936 written off in crash
24 May 1972-06937 (YF-12C) FF w/NASA-actually an SR-71 (17951) w/A-12 serial number
XX Feb 1972-06935 enters NASA thermodynamic test facility, tested over a year.
Spring 1977-NASA decision to retire YF-12s
28 Sep 1978-06937 last NASA flight
27 Oct 1978-06937 handed back to USAF
7 Nov 1979-06935 flies to USAF museum, last YF-12 flight

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