Project Isinglass

Project Isinglass was the code name given to two heavily classified, manned reconnaissance aircraft studied by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) as potential replacements for the Lockheed A-12 and SR-71 during the mid 1960s.

The first proposal under the Isinglass name, a high-altitude plane to fly at Mach 4 to 5, was considered an insufficient advancement over existing aircraft; the second, much more advanced design, sometimes referred to as Project Rheinberry, was an air-launched, Mach 20 rocket-powered boost-glide aircraft that would use a very-high-altitude trajectory to avoid defenses. This aircraft was considered too costly for development, and the project was abandoned in 1967.

Below, are documents received about Project Isinglass.

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National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) Documents

 ISINGLASS Research & Development Program, 1966 [125 Pages, 14.5MB]

 

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This post was published on February 21, 2015 4:53 am

John Greenewald

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