'SR-71 "Blackbird" [Archive]

Panther_99FS

February 21st, 2011, 13:40

I actually got the chance to see this one fly in before it was put on static display....:jump:

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5213/5464411464_5aaec1088f_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/32299138@N08/5464411464/)
DSC01104 - Lockheed SR-71 "Blackbird" (http://www.flickr.com/photos/32299138@N08/5464411464/) by RedTail_Panther (http://www.flickr.com/people/32299138@N08/), on Flickr

Railrunner130

February 22nd, 2011, 05:20

Where is that one? I've seen about a dozen Blackbirds, but only one was actually flying.

centuryseries

February 22nd, 2011, 10:12

Looks like the Lackland Bird.

I can count on three lucky fingers the number of times I've seen them fly back in the day at Mildenhall Airfete. If only I had been old enough to have a good camera, and a car then I would've set up camp outside the base all year round lol

Andrey Tsvirenko

February 22nd, 2011, 10:32

I saw one in New York at 2006 :)

32076

centuryseries

February 22nd, 2011, 10:55

I saw one in New York at 2006 :)

32076

Thats actually an A-12 - similar but only one cockpit, a more pointy nose, higher acceptable top speed and a shortened tail cone.

Not many people no of the A-12, nor the YF-12 - the SR-71 had more publicity than the earlier types - even though it was still very secretive.

Wittpilot

February 23rd, 2011, 07:41

Daveroo

February 23rd, 2011, 08:04

my uncle was working at edwards back in the day...he was servicing the ILS systms or something to do with them...he invented an antena for the ILS landing systems in 1946 and worked for/with the airforce until 2005,anyway..he came home from edwards and told my dad he saw this pane..he didnt know what it was but it had flown to new york and back and set a record,was super secret,blah blah blah.....my dad allways thought he was fulla bull..like when my uncle told us the govermnemt had this techknology called GPS..or that there were satalites that could read matchbook text....lol...my dads a redneck..never believes anything he cant see touch or taste...anyway...my dad was then at a "upper crust" type party some of the local uppity people in town had cabins and we did to,,,we had a party and this air force commander was there...dads tellin this story of how full of poop my uncle was that he saw this ( now he knew it was an SR71) and he witnessed this historic flight ect...and the AF guy looked at him kinda sideways like and said...you mean Cleve Cr......... mom says yes..thats my brother....the commander or whater ever rank...says...yeah ive knon cleve a long time..work with him on the antenea alingments but i was the one who flew the sr71 that day.....my dad got put in his place that night and i loved it...LOL

ps i dont know the mans name right now...someone can google if you want and find his name...but the reason he was at this party is that he was an inlaw to the local mortian,who was a close friend of my parents at the time...i think there all dead now

Railrunner130

February 23rd, 2011, 15:59

The A-12s were the real hotrods of the Blackbird fleet. They only had one cockpit and less equipment (and thus weighed less) than the later models. They were also less stable in that the fuel tanks had to be manually balanced, which lead to at least one crash. I think they might've also had a different autopilot that wasn't as strong, but don't quote me on that. Therefore, any records set by the SR-71 could probably have been broken by the A-12. (And might have, we may never know....)

boxcar

February 24th, 2011, 06:01

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Cool shot, Panther, & you too, Andrey (had never known of any black A-12s, sliver ones are what I remember).

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My job in the USAF was with the '71 program, working in PSD/Physiological Support Division, suiting up crew members
& installing them into the aircraft. A pic of my confirming an order for 2 Angus Burgers at the MickyDee's drive-through...

http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc161/ddublu/InflatingSystem2-1975.jpg

Am actually awaiting Noel Widdefield's acknowledgement of suit's secondary pressurization system.
Ah, to have that hair again. http://clicksmilies.com/s1106/aktion/action-smiley-023.gif

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'Nuther, with me in the S901J (Gemini space suit, upgraded model continuing to be worn by shuttle astronauts on ascent & descent)...

http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc161/ddublu/SuitingUp_MeInTheSuit1976.jpg

Had rigged the assembly to pressurize from a LOX container, the first tech to ever do so. http://clicksmilies.com/s1106/cool/cool-smiley-015.gif

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Lastly, a pic of what Mach 3+ @ FL80+ looks like on a cheap little X-15 Kodak camera...

http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc161/ddublu/PlanetEarth.jpg

Noel, a Habu RSO, had taken my camera up out of OLKA & snapped one for me.

http://www.wvi.com/~sr71webmaster/image2~2.html

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Bjoern

February 24th, 2011, 11:56

Albeit its impressive performance, the front view of a SR-71 never struck me as appealing at all. The "pancake" part of the fuselage makes it simply look ugly.

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I love these up close and personal stories! Got anymore?

HouseHobbit

February 24th, 2011, 12:00

My dad took me out of school back in the day to see the one fly into the Air Force Museum in Dayton.... I remember it was late! Leaving everyone to ask how a supersonic aircraft could be late! Also, the runway behind the museum is very very short, so I also remember the pilot being interviewed and he was pretty unsure of the landing himself......

WOW... I was there also that day..
WOW..

And when the XB-70 flew in also..
That was it thrill to see these two super birds in the air..

I do miss seeing all the fighters/bombers at Wright-Patterson.
Now it is just has a transport wing.. No longer a SAC base with bombers and fighters..
Except for those that are being tested..

Panther_99FS

February 24th, 2011, 15:58

BOXCAR,
Great stuff! :jump:

Railrunner130

February 24th, 2011, 16:06

Boxcar,
I came across a former Blackbird PSD while in Loadmaster School. I had to go through anti-barf training. He made the entire experience enjoyable. I can't for the life of me remember his name, but he was involved late in the program and was invited back when the program was temporarily restarted.

b52bob

February 24th, 2011, 19:58

Saw then twice. Once at Castle when one landed emergency. Parked it outside with the 106's. THAT didn't last long! Was quickly towed inside a hanger and left the next day. It was an outstanding takeoff - almost straight up with both Ab's lit up.

Saw another at U-Tapeo. Landed with generator out. Got a close look inside the hanger. An awesome machine.!

centuryseries

February 25th, 2011, 10:59

Albeit its impressive performance, the front view of a SR-71 never struck me as appealing at all. The "pancake" part of the fuselage makes it simply look ugly.

Sacriledge! I can't think of one angle that makes it look ugly!!

The A-10, now that is ugly!!

EasyEd

February 25th, 2011, 11:17

Hey All,

My sister was an electronics tech on SR-71s and U-2s in the late 70s. I used to visit her at Beale AFB and often got to see them taking off and landing. Once I saw a U-2 and a Blackbird take off side by side then the 71 cut in afterburners and was flat gone. U-2 was still in sight though. Cool planes.

-Ed-

airtj

February 25th, 2011, 11:52

322803227832279My Dad worked at Beale with the SR-71 and the U-2.

airtj

February 25th, 2011, 11:57

32281322823228332284

argo147

February 25th, 2011, 12:08

Sacriledge! I can't think of one angle that makes it look ugly!!

The A-10, now that is ugly!!

My thoughts exactly, the SR-71 IMO has got to be the best looking aircraft of all time. As for other aircraft...well lets just say that I've never seen an airplane that I thought was ugly LOL

Pauke! Pauke!

February 28th, 2011, 18:14

My thoughts exactly, the SR-71 IMO has got to be the best looking aircraft of all time. As for other aircraft...well lets just say that I've never seen an airplane that I thought was ugly LOL

The SAC Aerospace Museum in Ashland NE think the SR-71 is so beautiful that they have one as lobby sculpture at the museum. They also use an Atlas ICBM and other missles as some of their lawn ornaments too.

Pauke! Pauke!

February 28th, 2011, 18:22

Atlas ICBM lawn ornament.

Allen

February 28th, 2011, 18:36

The A-12/SR-71 has to be the most beautiful aircraft that the US has ever made. The Spitfire and XP-67 also fall on my most beautiful aircraft. The YF-23 is prob the newest aircraft I could have on my list.

hairyspin

March 1st, 2011, 11:55

argo147

March 2nd, 2011, 14:05

An RAF EE Lightning pilot told of seeing a futuristic, huge, black jet near him when returning from an op, but it had USAF flashes on the tail so he assumed it was friendly. The US pilot saw him, firewalled the throttles and disappeared leaving the Lightning (no slouch itself) for dead.

Back at debriefing no-one believed him - for about seven years! Then Uncle Sam just mentioned a Mach 3 capable recon jet...

Yeah the EE Lightning was a superb aircraft! I can't remember where I heard it, but I remember reading a story about a Lightning pilot giving a U-2 pilot quite a scare by climbing up and flying fairly close to him. At the time the USAF (or maybe just the U-2 pilot) didn't realize that the Lightning could fly that high.

kilo delta

March 3rd, 2011, 01:02

Yeah the EE Lightning was a superb aircraft! I can't remember where I heard it, but I remember reading a story about a Lightning pilot giving a U-2 pilot quite a scare by climbing up and flying fairly close to him. At the time the USAF (or maybe just the U-2 pilot) didn't realize that the Lightning could fly that high.

It actually came descended to intercept him! :)

Here's the full story... http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforums/showthread.php?40991-Starting-again....&p=459838&viewfull=1#post459838