Summary Certainly the United States wouldn't build a new military airplane without a competitive alternative. Even the super secret SR-71 had a competitor, the Convair Kingfish. Initially Convair's plan was a air launched ramjet launched form a B-58 Hustler. But it was deemed too complex. So it was already a bit behind when it proposed the Kingfish that was theoretically faster than the SR-71. But Conveir lost out to Lockheed's experience with super secret aircraft and its Skunkworks secure production facility.

• Documentary