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The YF-12 "Blackbird" was an experimental fighter-interceptor version of the Lockheed A-12 aircraft. Although the Air Force never adopted the YF-12 as an operational aircraft, it did provide NASA with two YF-12A aircraft in 1969 for research purposes. Following the loss of a YF-12A in a non-fatal accident in 1971, NASA acquired the second production SR-71A (61-7951) from the Air Force. Because the SR-71 program was shrouded in the highest secrecy at that time, the aircraft was designated YF-12C and given the tail no. 60-6937. The bogus tail number actually belonged to a Lockheed A-12 (serial no. 60-6937), but the existence of the A-12 remained classified until 1982. The tail number 06937 was selected because it followed in the sequence of tail numbers assigned to the three existing YF-12A aircraft: 06934, 06935, and 06936. The SR-71 differed from the YF-12A in that the YF-12A had a round nose while the SR-71 had its chine carried forward to the nose of the airplane. There were other differences in internal and external configuration, but the two aircraft shared common inlet designs, structural concepts, and subsystems.