[Traben]

RF-12A2 Blackbird II
- High Altitude Interceptor -


Blackbird II Picture A - Blackbird II Picture B - RF-12A2 Rocket Sled

GAMES FEATURED IN:
Ace Combat 3: Electrosphere (NTSC-J)
Ace Combat 3: Electrosphere (Other Formats)

OPERATORS:
Universal Peace Enforcement Organization (AC3:US)
General Resource Defense Force (AC3:JP)

VARIANTS:
SR-71 Blackbird

WEAPONS:
Vulcan Machine Gun
Heavy Machine Gun
Standard Missile
Short Range Missile
MIRV

STATS:

Power: 100
Attack: 35
Defense: 75
Stability: 35
Mobility: 10

SPECIFICATIONS:
Width: 16.94 m
Length: 31.65 m
Height: 5.64 m
Total mass:78020 kg
Max speed:4883 km/h
Damage Tolerance:Heavy

OVERVIEW:
Fusing design elements from the ill-fated YF-12A and the infamous SR-71 Blackbird, the RF-12A2 is a massive high altitude interceptor designed to destroy targets while operating at high altitudes. Like many modernized designs from General Resource, the aircraft is equipped with the ENSI COFFIN and has numerous minor changes to the shape of the airframe for optimum performace.

A notable feature of this aircraft is the fact that it is launched using attached rockets as opposed to conventional take off procedures.

RF-12A2 on its rocket sled
- an RF-12A2 using an rocket sled to rapidly climb and intercept Neucom Transports at White Valley AB. -


SOURCES
Ace Combat 03: Electrosphere (NTSC-J) (In-game data)
Ace Combat 03: Electrosphere (Other Formats) (In-game data)

ACCREDITATION
screenshots by: Antare

[Silber 6]

actually, that's a good question AoA, it's more likely based on the SR-71 with only a few characteristics from the YF-12.

[Green Giant]

Well since the YF-12 is based on the SR-71 and there are only a few minor differences with the Airframe, it wouldn't make too much of a difference..

[PhantomPhanatic]

Well since the YF-12 is based on the SR-71 and there are only a few minor differences with the Airframe, it wouldn't make too much of a difference..

The A-12 was actually designed first, the YF-12 came next, then the RS....err....SR-71. The YF-12 didn't have nose chines like the SR-71 so it appears that the YF-12 in this game seems to either be based off the SR-71 or an iteration of the YF-12 that incorporated the chines from the SR-71. Since the YF-12 was originally slated as an interceptor, any iteration of the SR-71 used for such purposes would most likely be called an F-12 anyway. Also, something I learned recently was that most of the original designs for the A-12 incorporated canards in the configuration, a fact I found quite interesting as Namco used them in their version.

[Ribbon-Rena]

Ain't A-12 tandem? I once saw a tandem RS-71 / A-12, which one's it?

[PhantomPhanatic]

Actually the SR-71B was.

link--> SR-71B <--

[Demon Lord Razgriz]

All SR-71s are tandom, the second seat is set right behind the first so there is less drag. It was for the camera operator or co-pilot.

You can see the window to the second seat just pass the front cockpit windows.

[PhantomPhanatic]

True, but I think what he meant was the obvious second cockpit protrusion on the SR-71B.

[Demon Lord Razgriz]

The -B model I believe was the trainer verison. I'll need to check.

EDIT: I was correct, the -B model is a trainer verison, 2 SR-71Bs were built and a 3rd was planed but in 1968, then-Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara, allegedly because of USAF's and Congress' preference for an F-12B interceptor version over his preferred option of using F-111s as interceptors, had the highly-specialized and advanced tooling used in manufacturing the SR-71 ordered to be destroyed.

[Grastens 7]

Btw, which one d'you think the RF-12A2 is more based on? The YF-12 or SR-71? It has the -71's bodyframe but the codename is more like the -12's...plus some prototype -12s had weapons, the prototype -71s never had them.

I think the RS-71, or the A-12 otherwise. This earlier version was not fully adapted to the unarmed reconnaissance role, and thus weapons could be fitted to the craft with the same degree of effectiveness that the RF-12A2 has. Looking at the picture too, the airframe looks a bit different from the SR-71, and not just due to alterations for weapons... note the chines and the rear rudders.

[PhantomPhanatic]

The -B model I believe was the trainer verison. I'll need to check.

EDIT: I was correct, the -B model is a trainer verison, 2 SR-71Bs were built and a 3rd was planed but in 1968, then-Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara, allegedly because of USAF's and Congress' preference for an F-12B interceptor version over his preferred option of using F-111s as interceptors, had the highly-specialized and advanced tooling used in manufacturing the SR-71 ordered to be destroyed.

Think of it this way, if the F-12 made it into production, the F-14 may not have been.....the F-111 used as an interceptor was the basis for the original F-14 design. The F-111 was just too heavy and sluggish for use as an interceptor.

Truthfully, the RF-12A2 should have been much more maneuverable. The chines on the SR-71 worked very well as LEXs and kept quite a good bit of reliable airflow over the wings at high alpha. The only problem was you couldn't go over a few G's since the intakes were very sensitive to angle of attack of the incoming air due to the use of high Mach intake spikes. Some modifications could have provided a much more reliable intake design at higher angles of attack, but the design parameters were never considered for a craft that could maneuver so well. It was assumed the SR-71 would be traveling at low angles of attack at all times to reduce intake complexity.

Bah, I ramble.....I recently found a declassified operating handbook for the SR-71, a very cool read indeed.

--> Blackbird Manual <--

-=edit=-

Yay! Colored links! I don't have to --> my links anymore <--

[PhantomPhanatic]

Well, that certainly looks like an Air Force TO. Some parts seem a little fishy, though.

What seems fishy? I have a friend that is currently an Aerospace engineer that uses this quite often in his research. It is scanned directly from the source and has information that very few people would know. There are still 10 pages that are classified regarding the synthetic aperture radar and systems that were aboard the SR-71. It's pretty crazy just to find out that the SR-71 had a synthetic aperture radar in at least 1986, and perhaps earlier.....

[Grastens 7]

Corrections made to grammar and spelling.

[JianDaoXiao]

RF-12A2 Blackbird II blueprints

[Antare]

Added stats pic.

[Scarface tfs]

I find it quite funny how your RF-12A2 automatically stalls right at the start of the level.

Thats because it was just released from the rocket boosters.