REPLY TO 

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H E A 0 QUA R T E R S 

AIR FORCE SYSTEMS COMMAND 

UNITED STATES AIR FORCE 

ANDREWS AIR FORCE BASE 

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20331 

ATTN OF: SCSZ 

SUBJECT: SR-71 and TAGBOARD 

Memo TO: MSF (Gen Ri tlandj1. This memorandum summarizes the activities which have been accomplished 

on the subject programs through 1 May 1965. 

2. SR-71 

a. Develo~rrent. The first flight was on 22 December 1964. All 

three Category I aircraft were delivered to Edwards AFB by 28 April 1965. 

Delivery of the first Category II aircraft is anticipated in late June, at 

which time a meeting between Generals Schriever and Ryan is proposed. To 

date 21 flights have been flown for a total of 25 hours, with over one 

hour above 3.0 Mach. Maximum values of 3.25 Mach, 460 KEAS and 84,000 feet 

have been recorded. The preliminary analysis of performance data shows 

sufficient excess thrust in the transonic regime for satisfactory acceleration. Good high altitude capability at design speed was demonstrated 

although range factors were reduced by incomplete fuel and inlet systems. 

Planned modifications to reduce engine inlet duct air leakage plus refinements in inlet spike scheduling and completion of fuel system plumbing 

are expected to improve this performance. Initial stability and control 

data have generally verified predicted handling Qualities and have not 

indicated any unscheduled control discontinuities. An analysis of airloads data shows airframe load paths to be as predicted with no unusual 

trends indicated. Preliminary flight-worthiness checks of available 

sensor eQuipment have shown promising results and pointed up Some areas 

needing correction. The terrain objective camera, infrared camera and 

the inertial navigation system have been operated in flight. The most 

serious problems delaying Category I flight test progress are (1) hydraulic 

system integrity under hot flight conditions (2) shortage of Qualified 

sensor systems and related eQuipment and (3) continued modification and 

up-dating of the test airplanes. 

b. Production. The SPO has informed SAC that production delivery is 

forecasted as follows: 

No. 2008 (Trainer) - November 1965 

No. 2009 (1st Production A/C) - December 1965 

No. 2007 (Deinstrumented Trainer) - Jan/Mar 1966 

Balance of aircraft to be delivered at one per month thereafter through 

May 1967. 

FORGING MILITARY SPACEPOWER 

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c. Management. SCSZ has no record of any formal reply to Atch #1. 

However, Atch #2 reaffirms the present SR-71 management policy. 

d. Personnel. I I is scheduled to report as 

~ ________________ ~Iassistant in August 1965. 

3. TAGBOARD 

a. Development. A total of 54 flights (57:00 hours) have been 

accomplished, 21 of them in the mated configuration, from October 1964 

through 7 May 1965. The highest speed reached to date is 2.6 Mach 

while mated and 3.2 Mach when clean. Mated transonic acceleration is 

a problem. However, a new climb schedule, which permits diving through 

the transonic region, has materially reduced the time to accelerate from 

0.9 Mach. The engine inlet fairing has been removed twice in flight, 

once subsonically and once at 2.0 Mach. A small change has been made to 

the fairing to prev,ent fragments from being ingested. An extensive 

modification of the elevons and horizontal stabilizers on the drone has 

just been completed in order to correct a high "Q" flutter which developed 

about two months ago. In addition to flight testing this modification, 

other inllnediate test o-bjecti ves are: successful removal of the new 

engine inlet nose fairing and a successful engine light at 2.6 Mach. 

Extension of the mated configuration flight envelope and further improvement in transonic acceleration are pre-re~uisites to the first 

separation flight which is now estimated to be in July 1965. 

b. Test Support. A]~ and SSD test support plans have been 

approved by AFSC. Elements of the 6594th ATW are participating in tests 

of the recovery system and in development of recovery techni~ues. 

c. Of era tiona 1 Support. Colonel Hartley, H~ USAF,and Major 

JSCSZ, visited the 6594th ATW, Sunnyvale on 4 May 1965 to ~d'-l'--' s-c-u-s-s--t~h,--Je operations plan for recovery forces. I ~ ~ I 

I visited the area and received a program brle1'lng on ~y---~~y---~~ 

6 May 1965. Planning factors and guidance were provided for the operational phase and cover flights. It was agreed that Ha AFSC and H~ 

USAF would review the operations plan afte~ I replacesl I This review is tentatively scheduled for 

15 July 1965 at Sunnyvale. 

)---=Cc-o-=-lo-n-e--=l-,-U=S:::-AFc=-----------

Director of Advanced Systems 

DCS/Systems 

2 

2 Atchs 

l. B-19272-64 

2. B-5242/64 

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Honorable Eugene M. Zuckert 

Secretary of the Air FOl'ce' 

Washington, D. C. 

Dear Mr. Zuckert 

.. ~ 

11 

ry~AiJgn ",t 1964-

1'1272-

In your letter of 5 April 1963, you assigned specific responsibilities 

to the Commander. Air Force Systems Command relating to the 

R -12 program. Paragraph c of that letter directed that a plan be 

developed and maintained current which would pro'Vide for the transfer and assumption by Systems Comrna:nd of the total management 

responsibility (including procurement) at some future date. In 

compliance therewith, such a plan was submitted to you on 11 July 

1963. SubaequentlYt portions of the program plan have been implemented by the System.a Command to provide contract support for the 

YF-IZ Fire Control System and to implement the security control 

procedures established for the YF .. 12. Thus, the Systemiil Command 

has established special organizational and management channels in 

support of the R ... 12 program. Planned phasing of additional less 

sensitive contracts into the Systems Command will facilitate the 

transition of other more involved efforts in the future. 

In view of the recent SR -71 (R -12) announcement and the imminence 

of aircraft deliveries to Edwards AFB and later to the Strategic Air 

Command. a current version of the Systems Command plan is forwarded 

for your review and implementation as deemed appropriate (Attachment 

It 1).. By direction, the basic plan and annexes are drawn up on the 

basis of the Systems Command assuming complete management responsibility for system acquisition of the & ... 12 program. However, I 

recognize that many details involving the phasing and transition or 

current contracts and security controls from CIA to DoD channels 

must be worked out and agreed to jointly before the plan can be effec-

~ tively implemented. Annex D covers the general approach to this 

~ must be determ.ined once the basic decision has been made to assign 

~ managelnent responsibility of the program to this Command. I want 

~ - to emphasize that the plan, while paralleling those procedures used 

tIl for systems management under the 375 series of Air Force Regulations$ 

employs special methods and channels which provide for immediate 

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and secure management actions and decisions at whatever level the 

problem dictates. Accordingly. there would be no degradation of 

current streamlined management, acquisition responsibilities, or 

security. 

I am sure you will agree that the dynamic nature and national interest 

in the .B.-1l demands that we now formalize in specific detail the 

ultimate management arrangements for this program. To date, the 

assumption of support responsibilities by the Systems Conu:nand has been 

on a piecemeal, quick-reaction basis not in consonance with a forITlalized 

agreed-to plan. Accordingly, I should like to discuss the evolution of 

the R-12 program management with you in order to establish the basis 

for further joint consideration by representatives from the.£.8} DNRO, 

Air Staff, and my staff of problems associated with the phasing and 

conduct of an orderly and well-conceived transition to Systems COn1.mand 

management. 

Sincerely 

B. A. SCHRIEVER 

General. USAF 

Commander 

2 

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Z Atch 

1. Proposed Operations Order 

Z.· Proposed ttl" to Comdr .AFSC 
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THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE f -;! 

WASHINGTON 

18 SEP i964 

N&10RANDUM TO DIRECTOR $) NATIONAL RECONNAISSANCE OFFICE 

SUBJECT: 

Reference: 

Surfacing 6f the SR-7l/R-12 

Memo to SecDef and DCI 14 May 64 (BYE 22854-64), 

subject-as above 

In response to the referenced memorandum, the plan you 

have submitted for surfacing the SR-7l/R-l2 is approved. 

The same degree of surfacing of the YF-l2A is included in 

this approv§3.l. 

I Management of the SR-7l/YF-12A programs will continue 

to be a direct respo~sibility of the ~ DNRO utilizin6 

centralized project direction and streamlined management 

principles. Changes in security ~lassification from special 

code word to military TOP SECRET or SECRET must be coordinated 

'\vith the CIA to insure continued protection of the OXCART 

program. Access to SR-7l/YF-12A program details will continue 

to be handled on a strict II need to 'knovrl basis. The Format B IS 

approved on 12 August identifying the:. SR-7l, YF-l2A, and 

j~58 engine R&D elements as open budget items will continue 

to apply~" 

OXCART 

BYE - 5242/6.4 DlAXX-3A COfHROLLED 

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