US Spyplanes (Warbirds Illustrated No. 24)

Ever since the first aerial photograph was taken, from a military observation balloon, commanders have been fascinated with this capability, and over the years systems have evolved into extremely sophisticated devices, capable of gathering all forms of data, from low-level tactical observation to Earth-orbit, high-resolution photography. Today’s satellite systems afford facilities for very high quality elint (electronics intelligence) and photographic reconnaissance, but, complementing the data returned from space, that collected by the manned aircraft is still vital, and the need for immediate, accurate information has led to the development of stable and flexible reconnaissance platforms known as `spyplanes’.

We will, in this volume, only glimpse the strategic reconnaissance story. Missions are usually carried out under a cloak of extreme secrecy by a single aircraft. No weapons are carried, nor payloads delivered, only the probing eyes of photo-optical systems or the invisible impulses of electronic sensors. Even when a particular mission is successful, there can be no disclosure or claim of recognition. The need for policy makers to have an immediate assessment of a global ‘hot spot’ or to accumulate the information necessary to determine long-term strategy depends on reconnaissance capabilities. Within this realm we will look at several of the truly amazing aircraft that have been produced to meet this need.

Many aircraft specifically developed to carry out a strategic reconnaissance role have become ‘classics’ and have performed well beyond what could originally have been imagined. In this respect, special recognition must go to the creative design genius of Clarence `Kelly’ Johnson of the Lockheed-California Company: his name and successful futuristic aircraft are synonymous. It is difficult to believe that the Lockheed U-2, first flown in 1955, is, in the form of the U-2R/TR-1, still contributing today. As far as we know, the U-2 has gone back into production at least three times since its inception. The F-12 series of high-performance Mach 3+ aircraft was originally developed as a programme of advanced interceptors. The design finally evolved into the SR-71, which is featured heavily in this volume. Strategic Air Command keeps ‘an unspecified number’ of Blackbirds on flight status and another ‘unspecified number’ in flyable storage. They are rotated in and out as demand arises and budgets allow. Although the airframe itself reportedly acquires strength through age, many subsystems have to be replaced on a continuing basis.

Unlike that of the U-2, the SR-71’s tooling was destroyed after the initial production run. Perhaps this tells us something; perhaps more efficient tooling methods for a follow-on aircraft were being considered many years ago. In some areas the cloak of mystery is being gently lifted, but we can only speculate about the future. For now, we must study what we have.

For their assistance with photographs for this volume, special thanks go to Bob Ferguson, Lockheed-California Co.; Jim Goodall; John Andrews; Lt. Col. John Alexander USAF, Offutt AFB; and Nancy Lovato (NASA/Dryden FRF).