Jets 3

Jets 1962-1999

1962/4 - Lockheed flew the A-11, the first version of the SR-71 Blackbird reconnaissance aircraft developed for the CIA and based at Area 51 in Nevada; the SR-71 developed by 1964 had stealth technology on the leading edges of its wings to reduce radar signature, black radar-absorbing paint over its all-titanium skin, flew at mach 3 at 85,000 ft., higher and faster than any other jet aircraft.

SR-71 Blackbird - 2

1963/12/17 - Lockheed flew the prototype C-141 Starlifter, the first airlift transport jet that JFK requested to be developed in 1961; 280 C-141As were built 1964-68, and most of these were modified into the C-141B by 1982, and 63 were modified into the C-141C during the 1990s.

C-141 Starlifter

1968/6/30 - Lockheed flew the first C-5A Galaxy cargo jet, delivered 81 to the Air Force by 1973 when it was used to airlift 10,800 tons of supplies to Israel after the Yom Kippur War; replaced by the C-5B in 1985.

C-5A Galaxy

1969/2/9 - Boeing flew the first 747 passenger jet with a capacity of 490 passengers, 6000 mile range, speed of 640 mph.

747

1974/12/23 - Rockwell North American flew the prototype of the first four B-1 Lancer jet bombers under a 1970 contract to develop a replacement for the aging B-52.

B-1 Lancer

1976/5/25 - Boeing flew the first E-3A reconnaisance jet plane, a modified 707 airframe, that carried the Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) with its distinctive radar dome.

E-3A AWACS

1984/10/18 - Rockwell North American flew the first B-1B bomber, and delivered 100 planes by 1988 at a cost of $200 million each.

B-1B Lancer

1989/7/17 - Boeing flew the first B-2 Spirit stealth bomber under a 1981 contract to build 137 planes but later downgraded to 20 planes, at a cost of $2.1 billion each, based at Whiteman AFB in Missouri, 60 miles southeast of Kansas City, home of the 509th Bomb Wing that had been based at Roswell NM 1945-58. The first B-2, Spirit of Missouri, was delivered Dec. 17, 1993, and the last, Spirit of Louisiana, was delivered Nov. 10, 1997.

B-2 Spirit

1990 - Boeing modified two 747 jets as Air Force One presidential jets.

Links:

B-1 Lancer and B-2 Spirit and B-45 and U-2 and SR-71 and Area 51 at Groom Lake NV from FAS

Boeing History includes Jet Age Begins and B-47 and B-52 and B-2

C-141 and C-5 from Aviation Zone

Timeline start | Links | Jets 1 2 3 | revised 4/5/02

1962/4 - Lockheed flew the A-11, the first version of the SR-71 Blackbird reconnaissance aircraft developed for the CIA and based at Area 51 in Nevada; the SR-71 developed by 1964 had stealth technology on the leading edges of its wings to reduce radar signature, black radar-absorbing paint over its all-titanium skin, flew at mach 3 at 85,000 ft., higher and faster than any other jet aircraft.	SR-71 Blackbird - 2
1963/12/17 - Lockheed flew the prototype C-141 Starlifter, the first airlift transport jet that JFK requested to be developed in 1961; 280 C-141As were built 1964-68, and most of these were modified into the C-141B by 1982, and 63 were modified into the C-141C during the 1990s.	C-141 Starlifter
1968/6/30 - Lockheed flew the first C-5A Galaxy cargo jet, delivered 81 to the Air Force by 1973 when it was used to airlift 10,800 tons of supplies to Israel after the Yom Kippur War; replaced by the C-5B in 1985.	C-5A Galaxy
1969/2/9 - Boeing flew the first 747 passenger jet with a capacity of 490 passengers, 6000 mile range, speed of 640 mph.	747
1974/12/23 - Rockwell North American flew the prototype of the first four B-1 Lancer jet bombers under a 1970 contract to develop a replacement for the aging B-52.	B-1 Lancer
1976/5/25 - Boeing flew the first E-3A reconnaisance jet plane, a modified 707 airframe, that carried the Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) with its distinctive radar dome.	E-3A AWACS
1984/10/18 - Rockwell North American flew the first B-1B bomber, and delivered 100 planes by 1988 at a cost of $200 million each.	B-1B Lancer
1989/7/17 - Boeing flew the first B-2 Spirit stealth bomber under a 1981 contract to build 137 planes but later downgraded to 20 planes, at a cost of $2.1 billion each, based at Whiteman AFB in Missouri, 60 miles southeast of Kansas City, home of the 509th Bomb Wing that had been based at Roswell NM 1945-58. The first B-2, Spirit of Missouri, was delivered Dec. 17, 1993, and the last, Spirit of Louisiana, was delivered Nov. 10, 1997.	B-2 Spirit
1990 - Boeing modified two 747 jets as Air Force One presidential jets.