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SR71C_v_bw_o_n (ca. 1969+, unnumbered poss. USAF photo)

“When one of the two SR-71B trainers, no. 61-7957, was lost on approach to Beale AFB on 11 January 1968, a replacement was built. Designated SR-71C, it was built from the aft fuselage of YF-12A no. 60-6934 and the SR-71A static test model from Lockheed. This aircraft never lived up to the usability of the SR-71B as it had irregular maintenance procedures and its aftermarket construction caused the aircraft to fly in a constant yaw, which gave it its nickname "The Bastard." Consequently, the SR-71C was used on a limited basis from 1969-1976.”

 

Above at/from:

 

www.sr-71.org/photogallery/blackbird/17981/

Credit: “SR-71 Online: An Online Aircraft Museum” website

 

Who knew?

Did you?!

I didn’t!!!

 

Also, amongst plenty of others:

 

avgeekery.com/there-can-be-only-one-the-saga-of-the-only-...

Credit: “AVGEEKERY.COM” website

 

Finally. The quote from Lt Gen William Campbell (Ret) would seem to somewhat dispel the perpetual problematic nature of the aircraft:

 

www.habu.org/sr-71/17981.html

Credit: Habu.Org (The Online Blackbird Museum) website

 

One of few photographs of this ‘unicorn’, taken ca. 1969 or later.

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Uploaded on July 10, 2022