Lockheed Archangel designs

A book review of the new "From RAINBOW to GUSTO" by Paul Suhler, published by the AIAA:
up-ship.com...
This book finally lays out the development of the A-series of planes, from the A-1 to the A-12, and includes many drawings and illustrations of them and competing designs (ramjet kites, FISH, Kingfish, Super Hustler, etc.). The illustrations in the book are small; larger, clear versions are being produced for that blog.

Suhler's "From RAINBOW to GUSTO" goes well with "From Archangel to Senior Crown: Design and Development of the Blackbird." The two books, both published as part of the AIAA's Library of Flight Series comprise a set, each covering different aspects of the Blackbird's design evolution.

"From Archangel to Senior Crown: Design and Development of the Blackbird"
By Peter W. Merlin
Published: March 2008, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Library of Flight Series
202 pages, B&W photos, includes additional material on CD-ROM

This book describes the design evolution of the Blackbird from the ARCHANGEL study that culminated in the A-12 to the Air Force’s SR-71 (SENIOR CROWN). It includes a detailed description of the construction and materials challenges faced by the prime contractor, the Blackbird’s performance characteristics and capabilities, and use of the airplanes by NASA as a flying laboratory to collect data on materials, structures, loads, heating, aerodynamics, and performance for high-speed aircraft. The final chapter discusses technical and programmatic lessons learned by the contractor and users. A supplemental CD-ROM features additional documents, photographs, and video.

www.aiaa.org...

www.amazon.com...


The following review can be found at:

geimint.blogspot.com...

"From Archangel to Senior Crown: Design and Development of the Blackbird, Peter W. Merlin, 2008 For the first time, an author has decided to focus entirely on the technical and technological aspects of the Blackbird family. Merlin's work is outstanding, the only complaint being that this could have easily surpassed 500 pages! While the text is outstanding and well researched, the real treat is the included CD containing numerous flight manuals, documents, images, and videos. The information here is substantial and valuable enough to almost make the book an afterthought, but that would be to ignore the well written insight into the technology of the Blackbird family that Merlin has authored."


The CD-ROM includes A-12, YF-12, and SR-71 flight manuals, SR-71 Researcher's Handbook, report on Lockheed Advanced Development Projects ("Skunk Works") operations, A-12 specification report, Proposal for a Lightweight Reconnaissance Aircraft, Archangel design drawings, photos, and several videos.