My Favorite Military,and Civilian Aircraft Photos

These are some Photos I took at the Meridian Air Show,USS Alabama Memorial,and Aircraft around Pascagoula.I used my Canon EOS 40D and Canon EF 70-200mm 2.8L IS USM lens.It was a great show,except when the weather moved in over the Naval Air Station.It made some of my photos into silhouettes.I hope you like the Pictures.Thanks,Alan Hinkel Photography.Pascagoula,MS.

The A-12 Blackbird was later built as the SR-71 Blackbird.This one is at the U.S.S.Alabama Museum in Mobile,Al.Serial Number:60.6938 MODEL A-12.Built by Lockheed Skunk Works.An advanced,long range,Mach 3 Strategic Recon Aircraft.Operational 1967-1968.Maiden Flight 25 April 1962.Primary users were the U.S.A.F. and N.A.S.A.Thirteen A-12's were built,this one was the twelfth built.Five were lost to accidents between 1963-1968 including the thirteenth.None to an enemy.Crew:1,Length:102.3ft.,Wingspan:55.7ft,Height:18.6ft.,Powerplant:2xPratt & Whitney J58-1 continuous bleed afterburning turbojets that produced 32,500lbf each.Max.Speed:Mach 3.35(2,200mph)at 75,000 feet Service Ceiling:95,000ft.Rate of Climb:11,810ft/min.,Range:2,200nmi.The SR-71 was 5.2 feet longer than the A-12 and had a crew of two.

Northrop YF-17 Cobra.This aircraft was Northrops competition for a Light Weight Fighter.The General Dynamics YF-16 Falcon won the LWF contract but the 17 eventually became the prototype for the F/A-18 Hornet and Superhornet. Only 2 YF-17's were built.This one is at the USS Alabama Battleship Park.