Edwards, California, January 13, 1975 The worlds fastest jet powered aircraft, the YF-12, is being flown by NASAs Flight Research Center to help provide the technology necessary for the development and operation of future high speed aircraft, both military and civilian. Capable of sustained cruise Flight at speeds in excess of 2000 mph and altitudes over 70,000 feet, the ZF-12 aircraft are collecting in flight data on performance sad structures as well as other aerodynamic phenomena. The NASA Flight Research Center is operating two of the triple-sonic aircraft that are also being used to carry several experimental packages into the Mach 3 environment. Ground tests at the High Temperature Loads Calibration Laboratory with quartz lamps have also subjected the aircraft to the temperatures achieved in flight in order to measure the aerodynamic loads on the aircraft. It is part of the Lockheed Blackbird family.