Hell's Kitchen in Manhattan in New York County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Lockheed A-12 Blackbird
This A-12 was the first production unit. It served as a radar-test example early in 1962 at the secret base Area 51. A special radar signature-lowering paint covered its mostly titanium airframe, which incorporated carbon fiber composites. Two massive Pratt and Whitney J-58 turbo-ramjets each with 32,000 pounds of trust were used only in the Blackbird. The adjacent starter cart uses two Buick 401 cubic-inch Wildcat powerplants of 350 horsepower each, engines akin to the V-8 engines of American “muscle cars” of the era.
This aircraft and its starter cart are on loan from the National Museum of the United States Air Force. Did you know that the A-12 Blackbird was equipped with high-power cameras whose photos, taken from 80,000 feet, revealed such details as cars, roads, and individual trees?
Erected by Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Air & Space. A significant historical year for this entry is 1962.
Location. This marker has been replaced by another marker nearby. It was located near 40° 45.864′ N, 73° 59.988′ W. Marker was in Manhattan, New York, in New York County. It was in Hell's Kitchen. Marker was at the intersection of 12th Avenue (New York State Route 9A) and West 46th Street on 12th Avenue. The marker is on the deck of the USS Intrepid. Touch for map. Marker was at or near this postal address: 549 12th Ave, New York NY 10036, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location. Lockheed A-12 (here, next to this marker); General Dynamics F-16A Fighting Falcon (a few steps from this marker); Grumman A-6E Intruder (a few steps from this marker); Grumman F-11F (F-11A) Tiger (a few steps from this marker); Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation (a few steps from this marker); Grumman F9F-8 (AF-9J) Cougar (a few steps from this marker); Israel Aircraft Industries Kfir (a few steps from this marker); Grumman F-14D Super Tomcat (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Manhattan.
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. This marker has been replaced with the linked marker.
Also see . . . Lockheed A-12. Wikipedia entry. (Submitted on April 11, 2020, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
Credits. This page was last revised on January 31, 2023. It was originally submitted on January 1, 2016, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 322 times since then and 12 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on January 1, 2016, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.