Lockheed's SR-71 Blackbird Family

A-12, F-12, M-21, D-21, SR-71
By James Goodall and Jay Miller
Aerofax, ©2002
ISBN 1-85780-138-5
128 pages, softbound
Available from Specialty Press for $24.95

Reviewed by Chris Banyai-Riepl

Few aircraft are as distinctive or evocative as the Lockheed SR-71. The performance of the type is legendary, and the unique shape, clad entirely in black, is unmistakable. There are so many interesting facets to this project, both in development and in operations, and as more time passes, more information is coming to light.

This title from Aerofax provides a general overview of the Blackbird family, starting with the CL-400 and Suntan programs and following through to the final NASA operations. Complementing the well-written text are plenty of photos, some of which in color, as well as plenty of drawings. The detailed section on the M-21/D-21 is always a fascinating read, and this book includes drawings of the operational D-21, as hung under the B-52, so for those who want to modify an AMT B-52H, this book will be quite useful. For those of you who aren't satisfied with just building a simple SR-71 model, this book also includes drawings and photos of many of the internal components such as the cameras, opening up all kinds of superdetailing potential.

For those who are looking for a good one-book reference on the SR-71 family, this is an excellent choice. The balance between informative text, interesting photos, and detailed drawings is perfect and provides plenty of material for any Blackbird aficionado.

Our thanks to Specialty Press for the review sample. Be sure to check out their website for other great Aerofax titles. Every order has a shipping & handling charge of only $4.95, so double or triple up on those books you absolutely must have!