lockheed lockheed american reconnaissance maximum speed excess mph initially designed launched carrier aircraft variant lockheed aircraft development began october originally known lockheed designation intended reconnaissance deep enemy designed carry single high resolution photographic camera path release camera module air self following fatal accident launched modified launched boeing test flights followed unsuccessful operational flights program canceled design development 1960s lockheed secret developed reconnaissance aircraft cia shooting piloted number different concepts proposed alternatives leader developed concept long range technology october cia air_force instructed lockheed study high speed high altitude concept johnson specified speeds operational altitude feet range nautical miles intended way trip camera end mission recovery self double delta wing similar wing design air launched key technology project including construction radar cross section reduction design features johnson wanted power engine built boeing long range surface air missile lockheed collaborated programs close working relationship engine required modification designed burn long missile needed hit target engine needed operate high temperatures hour half high altitudes modified engine designated scale ready december undergone preliminary tests measure radar cross section successfully tested modified wind tunnel meantime cia enthusiastic agency time missions getting speed covert operations southeast_asia air_force interested reconnaissance platform cruise missile cia finally decided work develop new lockheed awarded contract march scale development camera film magazines navigation system carried cramped bay air intake components built module fit bay known hatch hatch ejected end mission air hercules technique developed air_force recover film satellites missed hatch equipped devices recovered ship released water built systems new construction techniques materials developed systems withstand high temperatures extreme vibrations lack space late project named designated version daughter mother original aircraft designated serial numbers seat version fuselage centerline vertical carry nose attitude testing carrier change mounted began captive flight testing december aerodynamic covers initially placed intake exhaust reduce drag removed tests way damaging carrier plane devised launched march released stayed close seconds like hours crew second launch took place april reached operational altitude speed mph lost hydraulic pump failure flight nmi air_force interest program continued ordered second launch flight took place june flying nmi complete flight profile camera hatch released electronics failure fourth final launch july ended disaster unlike previous launches performed straight level outside loop assist separation aircraft suffered engine problems struck tail separation leading destruction aircraft crew ejected landed sea pilot survived drowned following accident johnson suggested launching large boeing bomber adding solid rocket speed modified adding attachment points spine mate carrying belly attachment points adapted accommodate rocket necessary increase speed allow operate vertical increased size approximately modified version designated modified carry pair means large replaced smaller dog cruise missiles tail gunner electronic warfare officer stations replaced launch control stations command systems added high speed cameras installed track separated launch control officer communicate self solid fuel larger heavier feet inches long weighed pounds folding tail fin stabilize rocket firing burn time seconds thrust pounds force ground handling feet required wear anti static prevent discharge static electricity attempted launch september fell launch stripped aircraft reached intended launch point johnson admitted incident embarrassing launches performed november january completely successful johnson ordered team conduct thorough review launch attempts launch april failed engine june finally completely successful flight flew specified altitude course range hatch recovered launches failures followed successful flight december test february check navigation system actual mission profile failure flights july succeeded operational history operational missions took place senior bowl conducted november march spy nuclear test site based california flew missions usually guam chinese spotted failed turn continued straight crashing soviet_union test flight conducted february successful attempt correct problems second operational mission december reached recovery point hatch partial parachute failure lost sea photographs operational mission march flew returned released hatch deployed parachute recovery failed hatch fell water destroyer tried retrieve hatch ran sank fourth operational flight march lost china final segment route china wreckage found local authorities years wreckage moved exhibition area july program canceled poor success rate introduction new generation photo reconnaissance satellites president richard_nixon china total built expended launches remaining initially stored california moved near arizona base open public quickly spotted photographed air_force called standing fate disappeared operational flight finally revealed february official cia returned panel given soviet agent self siberia soviets recovered wreckage design bureau reverse engineered wreck produced plans soviet copy named raven built late 1990s nasa considered test hybrid rocket based combined cycle engine operates rocket depending flight regime ultimately nasa derivative agency test vehicle experiments aircraft display located arizona california beijing china oregon peru indiana march field riverside california air force base georgia museum flight seattle washington mounted remaining ohio california adjacent arizona wingspan length height launch weight maximum speed mph knots service ceiling range nmi engine lbf sources pace
Lockheed D-21