Lockheed M-21 Blackbird - Seattle, WA
Posted by: 
T0SHEA
N 47° 31.127 W 122° 17.939
10T E 552777 N 5263055
The Lockheed M-21 is a drone carrying variant of the Lockheed A-12.
Waymark Code: WMFWZZ
Location: Washington, United States
Date Posted: 12/10/2012
Views: 16
Built for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) by Lockheed's famed "Skunk Works", the Blackbird was produced from 1962 to 1964 as a single seat aircraft, and operated from 1963 until 1968. The M-21 was a 2 seat, drone carrying variation, only 2 of which were built. The other, 60-6941, was lost on July 30, 1966 when the drone collided with the mother ship at launch, resulting in the drowning of the Launch Control Officer when he landed in the ocean and his flight suit filled with water.
The reconnaissance drone was a Lockheed D-21 unmanned, completely autonomous, plane which would do its job, drop its data package and self destruct. (One time only use.) This example, 60-6940, never carried the drone again after the loss of its sister, 60-6941, and further development of the type was ceased.
The M-21 is 101.6 feet in length and 19.45 feet in height, having a wingspan of 55.62 ft. It was powered by 2 Pratt & Whitney J58-1 turbojets producing 32,500 lb of thrust apiece. It carried a crew of 2 and a payload of 2,500 lb of reconnaissance gear. It could achieve a speed of Mach 3.35 (2,210 mph) and could climb at a rate of 11,800 ft/min. Its service ceiling was 95,000 ft and it had a range of 2,200 nautical miles.
The Blackbird was officially secret for over 40 years, only declassified beginning in 2007.