SR 71
- Thread starter Model29-26.5
- Start date
Airplane and a design well ahead of it's time. The Skunk Works really makes some cool machines.
Agreed. Amazing machines. Also amazing were the men who punched holes in the air at the edge of space with them.
A worthy repeat.
14daMoney
Member
- Joined
- Dec 22, 2014
- Messages
- 1,084
- Reaction score
- 2,729
- City & State/Province
- approx. 2.5 miles NW of Hill Cumorah
my oldest brother worked on them thar birds, but couldn't tell a soul for 20 years.....
AJ
US Veteran
- Joined
- Apr 30, 2003
- Messages
- 13,412
- Reaction score
- 34,978
- City & State/Province
- East of Stick Marsh, Fla.
First time I saw one fly was 1972. They were flying out of Utaopo, Thailand at the time.
Very cool planes. From 60+ years ago!
I recall reading somewhere that the Blackbird's original designation was "RS-71." Someone had briefed LBJ about it, and he began referring to it as the "SR-71."
A discussion ensued as to whether or not to correct him, and, if so, who was gonna do the correcting.
By consensus, the decision was made to go with the flow: Everyone just decided to start calling it the SR-71.
I recall reading somewhere that the Blackbird's original designation was "RS-71." Someone had briefed LBJ about it, and he began referring to it as the "SR-71."
A discussion ensued as to whether or not to correct him, and, if so, who was gonna do the correcting.
By consensus, the decision was made to go with the flow: Everyone just decided to start calling it the SR-71.
AJ
US Veteran
- Joined
- Apr 30, 2003
- Messages
- 13,412
- Reaction score
- 34,978
- City & State/Province
- East of Stick Marsh, Fla.
.38SuperMan
Member
A few years ago I did photographs for a publication on a cancer survivor for one of my hospital clients. I found out he was a pilot I decided to do the shoot at the executive airport he had his plane hangared at. He had an almost new Bonanza and had his own hangar. I noticed he had photos of an SR-71 hanging on the wall so I asked him if he had flown for the military. He said he had and I asked what he flew and he responded he’d logged over 1500 hours in an F4 and 600 hours in an SR-71 as pilot in command. As you can imagine it was a very interesting conversation.
That's nothing. I saw Tom Cruse bail out of an airplane at Mach 10. All it did was mess up his hair a little.
Hair Trigger
US Veteran
The one on the right looks like an A-12, which was a bit earlier than the SR-71 and is a single seat. It's a little shorter also.
That's one of the best stories I ever heard and is funny as heck. I've heard it many times. I met Major Shul in 1987 at Sheppard AFB, TX when he came to speak to our MIMSO class (Military Indoctrination for Medical Service Officers). He talked about his crash while flying ground attack in Laos in an attack version of the T-28 and the severe burns he received, his medevac and the treatment afterward to save his life. He was not initially expected to survive his injuries, but did survive. He was told he'd never fly again, but he proved everybody wrong by not only returning to flight status, but by passing the flight requirements to fly the Blackbird.
Here's another story of his, but with a twist; it's about how slow the SR-71 could fly.
https://www.thesr71blackbird.com/Aircraft/Stories/sr-71-blackbird-the-slowest-flyby
Drem
Member
- Joined
- Oct 20, 2014
- Messages
- 42
- Reaction score
- 35
We had one make an emergency landing at Mtn Home AFB, ID. We had 45 minutes to get our hangar emptied out for it. The crew taxied right into the hangar and we had the doors closed before the engines spooled down. The red rope went up around it just as fast.
We had several at Kadena AB Okinawa when I was there 1971-1973. Neat birds.
They'd take off, then climb straight up until they were out of sight.
They'd take off, then climb straight up until they were out of sight.
I was with a Marine air wing squadron, we did a six month deployment to Kadena Air Force base in Okinawa Japan. They had 2, SR 71's stationed there at that time. They are amazing aircraft to watch........., and we were only about 50 yards from their hanger.......I have pictures somewhere that I need to find.........that was close to 45 years ago................
I was privileged to have been at at Dulles Airport on March 6, 1990 to see the last official
SR-71 flight. It set a speed record for a flight from west coast to east coast. Just over an hour. Seeing it " low speed buzz" the tower and landing at Dulles prior to being taken ti the Air and Space Museum at Dulles was truly Special. I believe Lt Col. Yielding was the pilot.
SR-71 flight. It set a speed record for a flight from west coast to east coast. Just over an hour. Seeing it " low speed buzz" the tower and landing at Dulles prior to being taken ti the Air and Space Museum at Dulles was truly Special. I believe Lt Col. Yielding was the pilot.
saleen322
Member
We were at Wright-Patterson and took this pic of the XB-70 Valkyrie and note the SR-71 on the left. The Valkyrie is about 20 feet longer than a C17 Globemaster and could fly at Mach 3. That is the only one in existence. Amazing aircraft.
- Joined
- Nov 8, 2009
- Messages
- 10,963
- Reaction score
- 19,545
- City & State/Province
- Wrong side of Washington
I worked on the SR for 8 years.
You should feel what it’s like standing next to it during an engine run at military power.
You should feel what it’s like standing next to it during an engine run at military power.
LVSteve
Member
Pretty sure the kite on the right is an A-12.
Pima's SR-71 in the back ground.
On July 20, 1972, I was at Site 1, on a hill NE of the Kadena runway. A typhoon was coming in and I was part of a team that was prepping Site 1 for the storm. As I worked outside, I heard an SR-71 coming over the top of me. I stopped to watch it land. What followed was anything but what I expected. A strong cross-runway wind was blowing and the ill-fated SR-71 ended up on the port side of the runway after a fiery crash. I was stunned but I had work to do, so I wasn't able to stand and watch the rest of the action. I did see the two crew members escape the plane, but that's it.
You can read more about the crash here:
https://theaviationgeekclub.com/the...eme-crosswinds-caused-by-an-oncoming-typhoon/
You can read more about the crash here:
https://theaviationgeekclub.com/the...eme-crosswinds-caused-by-an-oncoming-typhoon/
BigBoy99
US Veteran
Drem
Member
- Joined
- Oct 20, 2014
- Messages
- 42
- Reaction score
- 35
I wish I could have watched that one take off the next morning but my jet was a late flyer so I was still asleep.
Being under an F-111A on the test par with both AB's lit you could feel the sound in your soul. I can only imagine what that would be like on an SR.
My old jet.
Attachments
There is a cockpit mock-up you can sit in at the Boeing Field in Seattle. Along with all kinds of aircraft.
Hair Trigger
US Veteran
Then you'd be very familiar with these. Anything you'd like to add that the article doesn't cover?
https://www.sr-71.org/blackbird/startercart.php
- Joined
- Nov 8, 2009
- Messages
- 10,963
- Reaction score
- 19,545
- City & State/Province
- Wrong side of Washington
Jack, I was working Base Police on Kadena that day, and remember hearing about the crash. We worked the base side, not the flightline, so I didn't actually see the plane.
