>>63141882
>It is actually late 1950s technology
Sure the design concept is, but to be fair we should call the A-12 early 1960s technology.
The A-12 did not operate even adequately 'out of the box' and was constructed in brand new manner with unique materials and tooling. It took Skunk Works a few years just to work out major materials science challenges of building the airframe to begin with, from the advanced stealth composites to a proper manufacturing method and QC for the titanium airframe, along with the integral flight systems issues with, for one example, precise regulation of the ram air nacelle inlets (to prevent catastrophic inflight engine compressor stalls).
These were all actively and laboriously engineered, rigorously tested, redesigned and mostly solved in the 1960-63 period.

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>I'm supposed to believe the US has yet to make a plane better than this one from the 1960sWhat's her name, /k/? That sweet sweet…

>I'm supposed to believe the US has yet to make a plane better than this one from the 1960s
What's her name, /k/? That sweet sweet…