A Rare Glimpse of the SR-71 Blackbird
A Rare Glimpse of the SR-71 Blackbird
Undoubtabley one of the fastest winged aircraft ever built, the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird was far and away way ahead of it's time.
The "Blackbird" was flown by the US Air Force, CIA and NASA as a high speed reconnaissance and high altitude test platform. If you've never seen one in flight, here's your chance.
http://www.airshowbuzz.com/videos/view.php?v=13a675df
Enjoy,
Just My Dos Centavos
The "Blackbird" was flown by the US Air Force, CIA and NASA as a high speed reconnaissance and high altitude test platform. If you've never seen one in flight, here's your chance.
http://www.airshowbuzz.com/videos/view.php?v=13a675df
Enjoy,
Just My Dos Centavos
Last edited by Stogey; 02-06-2009 at 01:28 PM.
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Re: A Rare Glimpse of the SR-71 Blackbird
Originally Posted by 240M3SRT
Arent these jets obsolete now?
If so why?
If so why?
Re: A Rare Glimpse of the SR-71 Blackbird
I can remember during the Cold War, that the SR-71 Blackbird had the international speed record but they would always "sandbag". Every time the Russians would beat that record, the Blackbird would go up and just beat the record by a little. It was never a problem and as far as I know the top speed has always been classified. How about it stogie, did you ever see a top speed for the Blackbird ?
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Re: A Rare Glimpse of the SR-71 Blackbird
They were exceptional planes & the coolest looking thing I've ever seen in the air. You can read all about it on Wikipedia.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SR-71_Blackbird
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SR-71_Blackbird
Re: A Rare Glimpse of the SR-71 Blackbird
The below was posted yesterday on a digital camera forum:
“SR71 - Speed is King
An excerpt from “Sled Driver” by Brian Shul
There were a lot of things we couldn’t do in an SR-71, but we were the fastest guys on the block and loved reminding our fellow aviators of this fact. People often asked us if, because of this fact, it was fun to fly the jet. Fun would not be the first word I would use to describe flying this plane. Intense, maybe even cerebral. But there was one day in our Sled experience when we would have to say that it was pure fun to be the fastest guys out there, at least for a moment. It occurred when Walt and I were flying our final training sortie. We needed 100 hours in the jet to complete our training and attain Mission Ready status.
Somewhere over Colorado we had passed the century mark. We had made the turn in Arizona and the jet was performing flawlessly. Ripping across the barren deserts 80,000 feet below us, I could already see the coast of California from the Arizona border.
Walt was so good at many things, but he couldn’t match my expertise at sounding smooth on the radios, a skill that had been honed sharply with years in fighter squadrons where the slightest radio miscue was grounds for beheading. He understood that and allowed me that luxury. Just to get a sense of what Walt had to contend with, I pulled the radio toggle switches and monitored the frequencies along with him. The predominant radio chatter was from Los Angeles Center , far below us, controlling daily traffic in their sector. While they had us on their scope (albeit briefly), we were in uncontrolled airspace and normally would not talk to them unless we needed to descend into their airspace.
We listened as the shaky voice of a lone Cessna pilot asked Center for a readout of his ground speed. Center replied:
“November Charlie 175, I’m showing you at ninety knots on the ground.”
Now the thing to understand about Center controllers was that whether they were talking to a rookie pilot in a Cessna or to Air Force
One, they always spoke in the exact same, calm, deep, professional, tone that made one feel important. I referred to it as the “Houston Center Voice.” I have always felt that after years of seeing documentaries on this country’s space program and listening to the calm and distinct voice of the Houston Controllers, that all other controllers since then wanted to sound like that … and that they basically did. And it didn’t matter what sector of the country we would be flying in, it always seemed like the same guy was talking. Over the years that tone of voice had become somewhat of a comforting sound to pilots everywhere.
Just moments after the Cessna’s inquiry, a Twin Beech piped up on frequency, in a rather superior tone, asking for his groundspeed.
“Ah, Twin Beach. I have you at one hundred and twenty-five knots of ground speed.”
Boy, I thought, the Beechcraft really must think he is dazzling his Cessna brethren.
Then out of the blue, a Navy F-18 pilot out of NAS Lemoore came up on frequency. You knew right away it was a Navy jock because he sounded very cool on the radios.
“Center, Dusty 52 ground speed check.”
Before Center could reply, I’m thinking to myself, hey, Dusty 52 has a ground speed indicator in that million dollar cockpit, so why is he asking Center for a readout? Then I got it, ol’ Dusty here is making sure that every bug smasher from Mount Whitney to the Mojave knows what true speed is. He’s the fastest dude in the valley today, and he just wants everyone to know how much fun he is having in his new Hornet.
And the reply, always with that same, calm, voice, with more distinct alliteration than emotion:
“Dusty 52, Center, we have you at 620 on the ground.”
And I thought to myself, is this a ripe situation, or what? As my hand instinctively reached for the mic button, I had to remind myself that Walt was in control of the radios. Still, I thought, it must be done - in mere seconds we’ll be out of the sector and the opportunity will be lost. That Hornet must die, and die now.
I thought about all of our sim training and how important it was that we developed well as a crew and knew that to jump in on the radios now would destroy the integrity of all that we had worked toward becoming. I was torn. Somewhere, 13 miles above Arizona, there was a pilot screaming inside his space helmet.
Then, I heard it. The click of the mic button from the back seat. That was the very moment that I knew Walter and I had become a crew. Very professionally, and with no emotion, Walter spoke:
“Los Angeles Center, Aspen 20, can you give us a ground speed check?”
There was no hesitation, and the replay came as if was an everyday request. “Aspen 20, I show you at one thousand eight hundred and forty-two knots, across the ground.”
I think it was the forty-two knots that I liked the best, so accurate and proud was Center to deliver that information without hesitation, and you just knew he was smiling. But the precise point at which I knew that Walt and I were going to be really good friends for a long time was when he keyed the mic once again to say, in his most fighter-pilot-like voice:
“Ah, Center, much thanks. We’re showing closer to nineteen hundred on the money.”
For a moment Walter was a god. And we finally heard a little crack in the armor of the Houston Center Voice, when L.A. came back with, “Roger that Aspen. Your equipment is probably more accurate than ours. You boys have a good one.”
It all had lasted for just moments, but in that short, memorable sprint across the southwest, the Navy had been flamed, all mortal airplanes on freq were forced to bow before the King of Speed, and more importantly, Walter and I had crossed the threshold of being a crew. A fine day’s work.
We never heard another transmission on that frequency all the way to the coast. For just one day, it truly was fun being the fastest guys out there.”
--
Lance B
Love the "That Hornet must die, and die now." bit.
“SR71 - Speed is King
An excerpt from “Sled Driver” by Brian Shul
There were a lot of things we couldn’t do in an SR-71, but we were the fastest guys on the block and loved reminding our fellow aviators of this fact. People often asked us if, because of this fact, it was fun to fly the jet. Fun would not be the first word I would use to describe flying this plane. Intense, maybe even cerebral. But there was one day in our Sled experience when we would have to say that it was pure fun to be the fastest guys out there, at least for a moment. It occurred when Walt and I were flying our final training sortie. We needed 100 hours in the jet to complete our training and attain Mission Ready status.
Somewhere over Colorado we had passed the century mark. We had made the turn in Arizona and the jet was performing flawlessly. Ripping across the barren deserts 80,000 feet below us, I could already see the coast of California from the Arizona border.
Walt was so good at many things, but he couldn’t match my expertise at sounding smooth on the radios, a skill that had been honed sharply with years in fighter squadrons where the slightest radio miscue was grounds for beheading. He understood that and allowed me that luxury. Just to get a sense of what Walt had to contend with, I pulled the radio toggle switches and monitored the frequencies along with him. The predominant radio chatter was from Los Angeles Center , far below us, controlling daily traffic in their sector. While they had us on their scope (albeit briefly), we were in uncontrolled airspace and normally would not talk to them unless we needed to descend into their airspace.
We listened as the shaky voice of a lone Cessna pilot asked Center for a readout of his ground speed. Center replied:
“November Charlie 175, I’m showing you at ninety knots on the ground.”
Now the thing to understand about Center controllers was that whether they were talking to a rookie pilot in a Cessna or to Air Force
One, they always spoke in the exact same, calm, deep, professional, tone that made one feel important. I referred to it as the “Houston Center Voice.” I have always felt that after years of seeing documentaries on this country’s space program and listening to the calm and distinct voice of the Houston Controllers, that all other controllers since then wanted to sound like that … and that they basically did. And it didn’t matter what sector of the country we would be flying in, it always seemed like the same guy was talking. Over the years that tone of voice had become somewhat of a comforting sound to pilots everywhere.
Just moments after the Cessna’s inquiry, a Twin Beech piped up on frequency, in a rather superior tone, asking for his groundspeed.
“Ah, Twin Beach. I have you at one hundred and twenty-five knots of ground speed.”
Boy, I thought, the Beechcraft really must think he is dazzling his Cessna brethren.
Then out of the blue, a Navy F-18 pilot out of NAS Lemoore came up on frequency. You knew right away it was a Navy jock because he sounded very cool on the radios.
“Center, Dusty 52 ground speed check.”
Before Center could reply, I’m thinking to myself, hey, Dusty 52 has a ground speed indicator in that million dollar cockpit, so why is he asking Center for a readout? Then I got it, ol’ Dusty here is making sure that every bug smasher from Mount Whitney to the Mojave knows what true speed is. He’s the fastest dude in the valley today, and he just wants everyone to know how much fun he is having in his new Hornet.
And the reply, always with that same, calm, voice, with more distinct alliteration than emotion:
“Dusty 52, Center, we have you at 620 on the ground.”
And I thought to myself, is this a ripe situation, or what? As my hand instinctively reached for the mic button, I had to remind myself that Walt was in control of the radios. Still, I thought, it must be done - in mere seconds we’ll be out of the sector and the opportunity will be lost. That Hornet must die, and die now.
I thought about all of our sim training and how important it was that we developed well as a crew and knew that to jump in on the radios now would destroy the integrity of all that we had worked toward becoming. I was torn. Somewhere, 13 miles above Arizona, there was a pilot screaming inside his space helmet.
Then, I heard it. The click of the mic button from the back seat. That was the very moment that I knew Walter and I had become a crew. Very professionally, and with no emotion, Walter spoke:
“Los Angeles Center, Aspen 20, can you give us a ground speed check?”
There was no hesitation, and the replay came as if was an everyday request. “Aspen 20, I show you at one thousand eight hundred and forty-two knots, across the ground.”
I think it was the forty-two knots that I liked the best, so accurate and proud was Center to deliver that information without hesitation, and you just knew he was smiling. But the precise point at which I knew that Walt and I were going to be really good friends for a long time was when he keyed the mic once again to say, in his most fighter-pilot-like voice:
“Ah, Center, much thanks. We’re showing closer to nineteen hundred on the money.”
For a moment Walter was a god. And we finally heard a little crack in the armor of the Houston Center Voice, when L.A. came back with, “Roger that Aspen. Your equipment is probably more accurate than ours. You boys have a good one.”
It all had lasted for just moments, but in that short, memorable sprint across the southwest, the Navy had been flamed, all mortal airplanes on freq were forced to bow before the King of Speed, and more importantly, Walter and I had crossed the threshold of being a crew. A fine day’s work.
We never heard another transmission on that frequency all the way to the coast. For just one day, it truly was fun being the fastest guys out there.”
--
Lance B
Love the "That Hornet must die, and die now." bit.
Re: A Rare Glimpse of the SR-71 Blackbird
Originally Posted by Brent
The below was posted yesterday on a digital camera forum:
“SR71 - Speed is King
Boy, I thought, the Beechcraft really must think he is dazzling his Cessna brethren.
Then out of the blue, a Navy F-18 pilot out of NAS Lemoore came up on frequency. You knew right away it was a Navy jock because he sounded very cool on the radios.
“Center, Dusty 52 ground speed check.”
Before Center could reply, I’m thinking to myself, hey, Dusty 52 has a ground speed indicator in that million dollar cockpit, so why is he asking Center for a readout? Then I got it, ol’ Dusty here is making sure that every bug smasher from Mount Whitney to the Mojave knows what true speed is. He’s the fastest dude in the valley today, and he just wants everyone to know how much fun he is having in his new Hornet.
And the reply, always with that same, calm, voice, with more distinct alliteration than emotion:
“Dusty 52, Center, we have you at 620 on the ground.”
And I thought to myself, is this a ripe situation, or what? As my hand instinctively reached for the mic button, I had to remind myself that Walt was in control of the radios. Still, I thought, it must be done - in mere seconds we’ll be out of the sector and the opportunity will be lost. That Hornet must die, and die now.
I thought about all of our sim training and how important it was that we developed well as a crew and knew that to jump in on the radios now would destroy the integrity of all that we had worked toward becoming. I was torn. Somewhere, 13 miles above Arizona, there was a pilot screaming inside his space helmet.
Then, I heard it. The click of the mic button from the back seat. That was the very moment that I knew Walter and I had become a crew. Very professionally, and with no emotion, Walter spoke:
“Los Angeles Center, Aspen 20, can you give us a ground speed check?”
There was no hesitation, and the replay came as if was an everyday request. “Aspen 20, I show you at one thousand eight hundred and forty-two knots, across the ground.”
I think it was the forty-two knots that I liked the best, so accurate and proud was Center to deliver that information without hesitation, and you just knew he was smiling. But the precise point at which I knew that Walt and I were going to be really good friends for a long time was when he keyed the mic once again to say, in his most fighter-pilot-like voice:
“Ah, Center, much thanks. We’re showing closer to nineteen hundred on the money.”
For a moment Walter was a god. And we finally heard a little crack in the armor of the Houston Center Voice, when L.A. came back with, “Roger that Aspen. Your equipment is probably more accurate than ours. You boys have a good one.”
It all had lasted for just moments, but in that short, memorable sprint across the southwest, the Navy had been flamed, all mortal airplanes on freq were forced to bow before the King of Speed, and more importantly, Walter and I had crossed the threshold of being a crew. A fine day’s work.
We never heard another transmission on that frequency all the way to the coast. For just one day, it truly was fun being the fastest guys out there.”
--
Lance B
Love the "That Hornet must die, and die now." bit.
“SR71 - Speed is King
Boy, I thought, the Beechcraft really must think he is dazzling his Cessna brethren.
Then out of the blue, a Navy F-18 pilot out of NAS Lemoore came up on frequency. You knew right away it was a Navy jock because he sounded very cool on the radios.
“Center, Dusty 52 ground speed check.”
Before Center could reply, I’m thinking to myself, hey, Dusty 52 has a ground speed indicator in that million dollar cockpit, so why is he asking Center for a readout? Then I got it, ol’ Dusty here is making sure that every bug smasher from Mount Whitney to the Mojave knows what true speed is. He’s the fastest dude in the valley today, and he just wants everyone to know how much fun he is having in his new Hornet.
And the reply, always with that same, calm, voice, with more distinct alliteration than emotion:
“Dusty 52, Center, we have you at 620 on the ground.”
And I thought to myself, is this a ripe situation, or what? As my hand instinctively reached for the mic button, I had to remind myself that Walt was in control of the radios. Still, I thought, it must be done - in mere seconds we’ll be out of the sector and the opportunity will be lost. That Hornet must die, and die now.
I thought about all of our sim training and how important it was that we developed well as a crew and knew that to jump in on the radios now would destroy the integrity of all that we had worked toward becoming. I was torn. Somewhere, 13 miles above Arizona, there was a pilot screaming inside his space helmet.
Then, I heard it. The click of the mic button from the back seat. That was the very moment that I knew Walter and I had become a crew. Very professionally, and with no emotion, Walter spoke:
“Los Angeles Center, Aspen 20, can you give us a ground speed check?”
There was no hesitation, and the replay came as if was an everyday request. “Aspen 20, I show you at one thousand eight hundred and forty-two knots, across the ground.”
I think it was the forty-two knots that I liked the best, so accurate and proud was Center to deliver that information without hesitation, and you just knew he was smiling. But the precise point at which I knew that Walt and I were going to be really good friends for a long time was when he keyed the mic once again to say, in his most fighter-pilot-like voice:
“Ah, Center, much thanks. We’re showing closer to nineteen hundred on the money.”
For a moment Walter was a god. And we finally heard a little crack in the armor of the Houston Center Voice, when L.A. came back with, “Roger that Aspen. Your equipment is probably more accurate than ours. You boys have a good one.”
It all had lasted for just moments, but in that short, memorable sprint across the southwest, the Navy had been flamed, all mortal airplanes on freq were forced to bow before the King of Speed, and more importantly, Walter and I had crossed the threshold of being a crew. A fine day’s work.
We never heard another transmission on that frequency all the way to the coast. For just one day, it truly was fun being the fastest guys out there.”
--
Lance B
Love the "That Hornet must die, and die now." bit.
Just my Dos Centavos !
Last edited by Stogey; 06-25-2008 at 04:48 AM.
Re: A Rare Glimpse of the SR-71 Blackbird
Originally Posted by chuck65
I can remember during the Cold War, that the SR-71 Blackbird had the international speed record but they would always "sandbag". Every time the Russians would beat that record, the Blackbird would go up and just beat the record by a little. It was never a problem and as far as I know the top speed has always been classified. How about it stogie, did you ever see a top speed for the Blackbird ?
Just my Dos Centavos !
Re: A Rare Glimpse of the SR-71 Blackbird
There is almost certainly an operational spy plane to replace the SR-71. Top Secret stuff but there are a LOT of credible reports of strange super fast mysterious delta shaped planes zooming around Nevada/Utah/Idaho Sky's. I've seen some mighty interesting pictures of "beads on a string" contrails left by SOMETHING with some kind of a pulse detonation engine. Satellites can't do EVERYTHING, FOR SOME THINGS YOU NEED A SPY PLANE !
You can bet the Air Force wouldn't cancel the SR-71 unless they had SOMETHING to replace it ! (your tax dollars at work... )
Cheers,
Slim
You can bet the Air Force wouldn't cancel the SR-71 unless they had SOMETHING to replace it ! (your tax dollars at work... )
Cheers,
Slim
Re: A Rare Glimpse of the SR-71 Blackbird
Originally Posted by Cincinnati Slim
There is almost certainly an operational spy plane to replace the SR-71. Top Secret stuff but there are a LOT of credible reports of strange super fast mysterious delta shaped planes zooming around Nevada/Utah/Idaho Sky's. I've seen some mighty interesting pictures of "beads on a string" contrails left by SOMETHING with some kind of a pulse detonation engine. Satellites can't do EVERYTHING, FOR SOME THINGS YOU NEED A SPY PLANE !
You can bet the Air Force wouldn't cancel the SR-71 unless they had SOMETHING to replace it ! (your tax dollars at work... )
Cheers,
Slim
You can bet the Air Force wouldn't cancel the SR-71 unless they had SOMETHING to replace it ! (your tax dollars at work... )
Cheers,
Slim
Actually I believe the ole U2 is still in service for stop gap measures or unmanned drones, when satellites are unavailable. As for the "soap on a rope" contrails, the "Aurora" is supposely the newest project outta Area 51. I've actually witnessed one flyin over West Texas near Abilene while on a hunting trip years back. Though flyin too high to only make out a spec in the sky, the contrail left behind by the " Pulse Jet " engine was spectacular !
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aurora_aircraft
Just my Dos Centavos !
Last edited by Stogey; 04-03-2008 at 10:50 AM.
Re: A Rare Glimpse of the SR-71 Blackbird
I think the SR should be recommissioned as a tactical nuclear bomber. It can drop it's payload and get the hell outta dodge unlike any other jet. Polaris has seen that this not happen though. Unfortunate. Awesome plane, truly.
Love the bit about swatting the hornet.
If it weren't for that stupid thing called friction, the ramjet would have infinite acceleration. Ain't that awesome!!!
Love the bit about swatting the hornet.
If it weren't for that stupid thing called friction, the ramjet would have infinite acceleration. Ain't that awesome!!!
Last edited by Jeep2Xfire; 04-03-2008 at 01:04 PM.
Re: A Rare Glimpse of the SR-71 Blackbird
There is a beautiful SR-71 in the lobby of the Strategic Air Command museum at mile marker 426 on I-80 in Nebraska. I had the privilege of witnessing that magnificent bird make its final approach at Offutt Air Force Base for its delivery to the museum. It made about three passes then a perfect landing. I still love to drop in the museum and see all the great planes that kept us free during the Cold War.
Re: A Rare Glimpse of the SR-71 Blackbird
When I lived in South Milwaukee WI. A blackbird had to make an unscheduled landing at Mitchell field to have an engine replaced. Once repaired, they announced on the radio that the plane was departing shortly. I closed my shop and headed to the airport. To take off, the "bird had two f-16 escorts and a Z-28 escort. The F-16s took off first, and disappeared. Then the "bird, escorted by the Z-28, proceeded to take off. Just as the SR71 took flight, the F-16s reappeared and all three disappeared over the horizon. Just when I thought it was over, all three planes buzzed the airport one more time!
By the way, I think part of the reason they killed the program, is that the SR71 used special "Blackbird only" fuel and had to have specially equipped air bases around the world to refuel and repair.
By the way, I think part of the reason they killed the program, is that the SR71 used special "Blackbird only" fuel and had to have specially equipped air bases around the world to refuel and repair.
Re: A Rare Glimpse of the SR-71 Blackbird
Having served in the AF Security Service (the "blue" men group for the NSA) back in the late '60s we used to track the SR71 going from Okinawa to Viet Nam by listening to unfriendly radar tracking.
The Blackbird would take off and fly a commercial route til suddenly they kicked in the engines and went nearly vertical. Tracking of "normal" planes would involve perhaps hundreds of location updates. Suddenly the "abnormal" aircraft would fly in and out of the region with 3 -4 total tracking references. While the true top speed is still not talked about, back then when we mapped out the route and used the tracking references to validate, it sure looked in the range of mach 6....
Stogey, I sure enjoyed watching the video and especially appreciated the "spacesuit" flight suit the pilor wore. Check the locking collar fitting for the presurized suit and helmet. There is something you don't see every day. Unless you're piloting the space shuttle.
The SR71 was so far ahead of its time in the '60s that if it were introduced today, it would still look and perform futuristic!
The Blackbird would take off and fly a commercial route til suddenly they kicked in the engines and went nearly vertical. Tracking of "normal" planes would involve perhaps hundreds of location updates. Suddenly the "abnormal" aircraft would fly in and out of the region with 3 -4 total tracking references. While the true top speed is still not talked about, back then when we mapped out the route and used the tracking references to validate, it sure looked in the range of mach 6....
Stogey, I sure enjoyed watching the video and especially appreciated the "spacesuit" flight suit the pilor wore. Check the locking collar fitting for the presurized suit and helmet. There is something you don't see every day. Unless you're piloting the space shuttle.
The SR71 was so far ahead of its time in the '60s that if it were introduced today, it would still look and perform futuristic!
Last edited by SRT SIX; 06-24-2008 at 09:19 PM.
Re: A Rare Glimpse of the SR-71 Blackbird
Originally Posted by Stogey
Undoubtabley one of the fastest winged aircraft ever built,
The SR was not the fastest plane of it's day ! It was and is the fastest for the given air frame limitations and the use for which it was conceived. High speed recon and high altitude testing.
The X-15 operated in the Mach 6-7 realm but at much higher altitudes + 350K/ft where the air is thin and the aerodynamics of the air frame are practically useless. The X-15 used nose and wing tip jets to steer the craft in the upper reaches of the atomosphere.
Just my Dos Centavos !
The X-15 operated in the Mach 6-7 realm but at much higher altitudes + 350K/ft where the air is thin and the aerodynamics of the air frame are practically useless. The X-15 used nose and wing tip jets to steer the craft in the upper reaches of the atomosphere.
Just my Dos Centavos !
Last edited by Stogey; 06-27-2008 at 11:53 AM.