The Secret Film of the CIA Supersonic Spy Plane’s First Flight

After Lockheed Aircraft completed “antiradar studies, aerodynamic structural tests, and engineering designs,” the CIA gave the green light to produce 12 aircraft on January 30th, 1960. It was called the A-11 at the time. Lockheed engineer Clarence L. Johnson was the main designer, who was responsible for the U-2. Despite Johnson’s experience, many were skeptical at first and, after months of drawings and wind-tunnel model testing, they were not convinced this beast could fly.