An <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_A-12" class="extiw" title="w:Lockheed A-12">A-12</a> (60-6924) takes off from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Groom_Lake" class="extiw" title="w:Groom Lake">Groom Lake</a> during one of the first test flights, piloted by Louis Schalk. Lockheed Martin <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.lockheedmartin.com/us/100years/stories/blackbird.html">dates this image</a> (mouse over) as the maiden flight of the A-12, taken April 26, 1962. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://roadrunnersinternationale.com/photos_a12_planes.html">Roadrunners Internationale</a>, a reunion website for employees of secret US programs, labels the <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://roadrunnersinternationale.com/articles/a-12_14.jpg">image</a> as the second Schalk flight, dated May 4, 1962. According to <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.habu.org/a-12/06924a.html">habu.org</a>, this photograph was taken during the official maiden flight on April 30, 1962 (and the April 26 flight was an accidental take-off).
Unknown, credited to CIA/Roadrunners Internationale
1962-04-26
<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.area51thebook.com/photos-and-maps/">Area 51 book</a> promotional site (<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.area51thebook.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/A-12-Oxcart-924-all-titanium.jpg">Image</a>, credited to CIA/Roadrunners Internationale)