AVIC WZ-8
Overview 📷 Photo: WZ-8 at Airshow China (Zhuhai) 2022, via Wikimedia Commons The AVIC WZ-8 (Wuzhen-8, 无侦-8) is an uncrewed, […]
Reconnaissance
Reconnaissance and surveillance
Tupolev Tu-123 Yastreb
Overview 📷 Photo: Sergey Ryabtsev, via Wikimedia Commons (GFDL 1.2) The Tupolev Tu-123 Yastreb (“Hawk”), officially designated DBR-1, was a
Lockheed D-21
Overview 📷 Photo: U.S. Air Force / National Museum of the United States Air Force (public domain) The Lockheed D-21
Convair Kingfish
Convair Kingfish never flew. Explore its Mach 3.2 design cruise, the difference from FISH and why the CIA chose the A-12, with original-source context.
Lockheed A-12 OXCART
The CIA’s single-seat, Mach 3.35 predecessor to the SR-71. Flew operational reconnaissance over North Vietnam in 1967–68 before being retired in favour of the Air Force’s SR-71.
North American A-5 Vigilante
Overview 📷 Photo: U.S. Navy The North American A-5 Vigilante was a carrier-based supersonic bomber designed for the United States
Lockheed Martin SR-72 Son of Blackbird
Overview The SR-72, often called the “Son of Blackbird,” is a proposed hypersonic aircraft concept associated with Lockheed Martin’s Skunk
Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird
Overview 📷 Photo: U.S. Air Force The SR-71 Blackbird is a high-speed, high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft. NASA describes its design cruise