When it comes to the SR-71 and the stories surrounding the Lockheed’s Skunk Works program that created it, the mystique is undeniable. Only 32 SR-71 aircraft were constructed, and 29 of those were SR-71A models. Two trainers, designated SR-71B, were also created. The last SR-71, the SR-71C, was nicknamed “The Bastard.” The name was partly due to the Frankenstein-like creation of the aircraft. After one SR-71B trainer crashed in January 1968, it was determined that another trainer plane should be constructed. The project began with a wrecked YF-12A that was…
