Tales of the Blackbird (SR-71)

[MSum661]

Unbelievable plane.

My neighbor in the old neighborhood was an engineer on the program.
He said as the plane started going faster and faster and faster.......the faster it would go. He also said the cockpit temperatures would get so hot inside they had to incorporate
a cooling system that went far below zero degrees that pumped in cool air so the cockpit area could maintain normal room like temperature.

 

[rivrrts429]

What's so impressive is how soon this bird came about after the Wright brothers flew their's. Really impressive technology.

 

[Flying_Lavey]

What's so impressive is how soon this bird came about after the Wright brothers flew their's. Really impressive technology.

That is soooo very true. Look at how long it takes other technologies to mature and develop. We went from the Wright brothers flying 100 yards to unfathomably fast in just over 60 years. Just crazy.

 

[Wombat]

What's so impressive is how soon this bird came about after the Wright brothers flew their's. Really impressive technology.

Reverse engineering from Alien technology at Roswell, the truth is out there.:thumbsup

 

[MSum661]

^^^^^

lol,...you crack me up! Hilarious at times...:thumbsup

 

[rivrrts429]

 

[rivrrts429]

 

[rivrrts429]

 

[rivrrts429]

Been a while...

 

[rivrrts429]

 

[bajagrom]

Found this little nugget of info on Instagram.

 

[Flyinbowtie]

I read this thread every time it pops up, and smile.
A family member was part of the SR team, (technical support, that is all I am gonna say) and due to his involvement I got to be very very close to "The Jet", as it were. I am sure I posted about it in another thread. As a kid I got to observe a crew suit-up and pre-flight and ride in the car for the FOD check, and see the engine start process and a night launch from Beale while on the flight line. I will never forget it.
Beale AFB was an active SAC base for many years, had a wing of alert B-52's there for a long time. A a young adult there was a strange mix of pride and fear in seeing those there, at night, under stadium lights, ready to go.
My connection with The Jet got me in to the Reunions that were held in Reno for many years. His faith is failing now, sadly, and he can't travel. I have all sorts of limited release SR swag, even a squadron coffee Mug signed by the team who did the official record flight in 76. Personalized autographed first edition copy of Shul's book, etc. I can tell you this... the more you know about that airplane and the very, very special people who flew it, maintained it, and supported it the more amazed and proud you become of it...and the people involved as well. They were, to a man, the best of the best.
Living a few miles from where it was based and in the area where many of the aircrew lived off-base I've seen it do more than one fly-by that brought a grin to my face. I know a lot of us who live around here saw that bird do stuff they were not supposed to be doing, LOL.
I also know we loved it when we got those peeks...it was something special, a gift to the neighborhood, as it were.

 

[ParkerTime]

At my 10th Birthday party, this was the gift from Kelly Johnson gave me, at the time I really didn't think much of it, now I just trip out thinking about the whole thing.

 

[buck35]

I can't even imagine what they have built by now , and what they are working on in secrecy. The sr71 is the 8th wonder of the world!:thumbsup

 

[rivrrts429]

I read this thread every time it pops up, and smile.
A family member was part of the SR team, (technical support, that is all I am gonna say) and due to his involvement I got to be very very close to "The Jet", as it were. I am sure I posted about it in another thread. As a kid I got to observe a crew suit-up and pre-flight and ride in the car for the FOD check, and see the engine start process and a night launch from Beale while on the flight line. I will never forget it.
Beale AFB was an active SAC base for many years, had a wing of alert B-52's there for a long time. A a young adult there was a strange mix of pride and fear in seeing those there, at night, under stadium lights, ready to go.
My connection with The Jet got me in to the Reunions that were held in Reno for many years. His faith is failing now, sadly, and he can't travel. I have all sorts of limited release SR swag, even a squadron coffee Mug signed by the team who did the official record flight in 76. Personalized autographed first edition copy of Shul's book, etc. I can tell you this... the more you know about that airplane and the very, very special people who flew it, maintained it, and supported it the more amazed and proud you become of it...and the people involved as well. They were, to a man, the best of the best.
Living a few miles from where it was based and in the area where many of the aircrew lived off-base I've seen it do more than one fly-by that brought a grin to my face. I know a lot of us who live around here saw that bird do stuff they were not supposed to be doing, LOL.
I also know we loved it when we got those peeks...it was something special, a gift to the neighborhood, as it were.

That's what this thread started out to be, hearing stories like this.

Very cool. Thanks for sharing.

At my 10th Birthday party, this was the gift from Kelly Johnson gave me, at the time I really didn't think much of it, now I just trip out thinking about the whole thing.

That is a cool piece and even better 10th birthday present.

 

[Flying_Lavey]

I can't even imagine what they have built by now , and what they are working on in secrecy. The sr71 is the 8th wonder of the world!:thumbsup

Badass planes like this just won't come about again really. It's very apparent with today's tech you just don't need recon planes at all and the demand for even cutting edge fighter planes just aren't as needed due to the ability to reach out and touch anything from anywhere with a computer. And it's all a shame really cause nothing is more Badass than an incredible aircraft roaring across the sky.

 

[72Hondo]

At my 10th Birthday party, this was the gift from Kelly Johnson gave me, at the time I really didn't think much of it, now I just trip out thinking about the whole thing.

Not to be a total prick but anything you want to sell? I'm an avid Aviation collector and Kelly Johnson's signature.....

 

[Sleek-Jet]

Badass planes like this just won't come about again really. It's very apparent with today's tech you just don't need recon planes at all and the demand for even cutting edge fighter planes just aren't as needed due to the ability to reach out and touch anything from anywhere with a computer. And it's all a shame really cause nothing is more Badass than an incredible aircraft roaring across the sky.

You don't need manned aerial reconnasense planes. The Blackbird eventually got replaced by drones. Boeing has an orbital drone they fly for the military quite often. Stealth made high speed redundent. So the Blackbird was the pinacle of its technological world, which makes it just that much more badass.

 

[Dog boy]

My father worked at Lockheed and at the time the Blackbird was flight tested at area 51.He would fly out of Burbank on Sunday and spend two weeks at a time at the site,that's what the guy's who worked there called area 51.He worked at the site for a year back in the 1960's and not until they flew the Blackbird to the Paris air show did he tell me that was the aircraft he had worked on.I have a autographed pic from Kelly Johnson that he signed for me before he passed away when I worked at Lockheed..

 

[rivrrts429]

[video=youtube_https;WOQncsVloow]https://youtu.be/WOQncsVloow[/video]

 

[bobbytheboozer]

I was looking for the book Sled Driver on amazon, so I could read it. It's about $900+. Wtf?!

 

[Sleek-Jet]

It wasn't an inexpensive book to begin with. The large format hardcover has never been reprinted so it is a collector's item.

 

[traquer]

^ Honestly it's probably worth the money. Won't depreciate either as kids like me (30) are just as interested in that plane and will buy the book later in life to add to the library

 

[buck35]

I have no idea how many are out there , but if ever in Seattle, stop by and spend some time in the air museum . Tons of history and an sr 71 you can get up close and personal with ! To think it evolved in the early 60s is simply amazing! :thumbsup

 

[DaveH]

I have no idea how many are out there , but if ever in Seattle, stop by and spend some time in the air museum . Tons of history and an sr 71 you can get up close and personal with ! To think it evolved in the early 60s is simply amazing! :thumbsup

Boeing museum of flights ROCKS!! was there two years ago, snapped this picture of the SR71 there. See if you can pick out the unique feature this aircraft has compared to other 71's.

 

[RiverDave]

Pure Speculation here DaveH, but I'm gonna guess an extra side window and it's a trainer.

RD

 

[Wheeler]

I'm going along with it's got the xtra window like RD claims along with it having two seats but not a trainer nor is it an SR-71.

Nice d-21 hangin out back.

 

[rivrrts429]

Boeing museum of flights ROCKS!! was there two years ago, snapped this picture of the SR71 there. See if you can pick out the unique feature this aircraft has compared to other 71's. View attachment 531066

That one has the Mach 3 Recon UAV...

 

[Old Texan]

I've always been one of the folks fascinated by such a remarkable and cool aircraft. Fastest ever and the tales of what it could do are what attracts one to the stories.

I think it's a lot to do with it's ability to outrun anything that was sent to destroy it. "Here comes a missile.....Buh bye." Swwwwooooossssshhhhh:skull

 

[rivrrts429]

Speech by SR71 pilot Brian Shul. If you're a nut for the sled then this video is worth the hour. Never knew he was shot down over Vietnam prior to his turn behind the Blackbird sticks.

Really interesting guy and quite the story. Is truly the epitome of being an American...


[video=youtube_https;wigZsFypdyI]https://youtu.be/wigZsFypdyI[/video]

 

[Wavemaker]

If out in the Palmdale, CA area stop into the Blackbird Park for a visit. Another reason the book is so expensive is due to its small and limited published print ting run. Many that worked on the SR-71 Program and in support of the mission purchased the books rather quickly after the publishers release for sale.

 

[spectra3279]

One of the most beautiful planes ever built

 

[rush1]

I've always liked this picture

 

[rivrrts429]

[video=youtube_https;F4KD5u-xkik]https://youtu.be/F4KD5u-xkik[/video]

 

[bobbytheboozer]

.

 

[bobbytheboozer]

[video=youtube_https;Lg73GKm7GgI]https://youtu.be/Lg73GKm7GgI[/video]


Just found this video on YouTube. Freaking awesome.

 

[bajagrom]

[video=youtube_https;Lg73GKm7GgI]https://youtu.be/Lg73GKm7GgI[/video]


Just found this video on YouTube. Freaking awesome.

Now as kid (me 33yrs old). Thats badass!!!! Love that plane!! Love that story!!!

 

[bobbytheboozer]

Now as kid (me 33yrs old). Thats badass!!!! Love that plane!! Love that story!!!

Same here. It was always a dream to see one of those fly by

 

[JB in so cal]

T

 

[Cal509]

For members in OC or the IE, March Air Museum has a SR-71A on display that you can get up close to.
As I recall, the engine pods were missing the J58's, but it will still take your breath away.

A dear friend of ours is 95 yrs old, was recently a docent there and was (and still is) an incredible source of information.
He flew 35 missions over Japan in B-29s which had the GE Fire Control system controlling all Brownings.
He flew the first fire bombing mission of Tokyo and the last flyover of Tokyo Harbor at surrender.
Too few left today, including my own Father who was US 7th Army from No. Africa to Sicily and into the Rhine.
All forgotten today by those who espouse socialism and communism as a better way - thank you to our wonderful lib/progressive education and university systems.

 

[rivrrts429]

 

[spectra3279]

That is one sexy plane

Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk

 

[bowtiejunkie]

Funny I was just looking at the A-12 Flight Manual I downloaded years ago from the CIA FOIA website. Checked RD Lounge and this thread was back on top! I've been fascinated with the SR-71 Blackbird since childhood. I'd stare at my wall poster dreaming of what it would be like to fly in one. Never got to see one fly (close, but the car traffic into air shows I tried to attend in the '80s & '90s were too long to bear!) I have seen the M-12 with D-21 Drone at Museum of Flight Seattle and the SR-71 at Castle Air Museum. It's one aircraft I wouldn't care if my tax dollars were wasted on reactivating it - we all know that'll never happen. I think it's the sexiest plane ever built.

 

[spectras only]

seen one at the Abbotsford Airshow in 1986 during Vancouver Expo86. It was cordoned off but you could walk up to it like 20 feet away. Both, SR71 and the Concorde were flying at the show.

 

[welldigger00]

I saw it fly at norton AFB in the 80’s at an air show in San Bernardino.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[nameisbond]

seen one at the Abbotsford Airshow in 1986 during Vancouver Expo86. It was cordoned off but you could walk up to it like 20 feet away. Both, SR71 and the Concorde were flying at the show.

I was there too. The Russians also performed for the first time in North America at the show.

 

[buck35]

Curious this thread back up, my brother sent me a text. with.a link about the sr72. On daily wire I believe.

 

[buck35]

Curious this thread back up, my brother sent me a text. with.a link about the sr72. On daily wire I believe.

Edit, daily mail

 

[4Waters]

It made a low and slow flyby at a Point Magu NAS Air Show I was at in the mid 80's. Coolest thing I had ever seen and damn loud when he throttled up.

 

[4Waters]

Out running the sun. WOW!!!!!!

2 words "FUCKIN MERICA"