The 'Bastard' Blackbird: The Unique History of the SR-71C Trainer
The SR-71C, nicknamed 'The Bastard,' was a unique, one-of-a-kind variant of the iconic Blackbird. Its creation became necessary following the 1968 crash of an SR-71B, which left the USAF with only one trainer model for the program. To create a replacement, engineers at Lockheed's Skunk Works combined the rear fuselage of a YF-12A prototype with the forward fuselage of an SR-71A engineering mock-up. This hybrid aircraft was reportedly difficult to control and exhibited unusual flight characteristics due to its mismatched parts. Despite these challenges, it served its purpose as a trainer aircraft from 1969 until its retirement in 1976.
Official Source: https://simpleflying.com/why-sr-71c-bastard-only-blackbird-never-meant-fly/
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