SR-71 Tales--Speed Check

August 06, 2017, 02:38 PM

Jimbo54

One of the most awesome things I've seen was a Blackbird leaving Fairchild AF base in Spokane after an airshow in the 90's. It was rolling down the runway when he hit afterburner just before rotating and it stopped being an airplane and became a rocket. It didn't go straight vertical, but close to it and the sight and sound of those few moments are imbedded in my memory forever. Very impressive machine indeed.

Jim

August 06, 2017, 03:46 PM

TMats

Shul obviously had respect for President Reagan, "He knew how to use this airplane." Loved his story about flying figure 8s over the PRNK when the Commies had their high-level conference. Sonic booms every 6 1/2 minutes "rattling their coffee cups off the table." As Maj. Shul put it, "Just to let them know, 'we know you're there, and you know we're here, and there's not a darn thing you can do about it'."

August 06, 2017, 06:01 PM

Pipe Smoker

quote:
Originally posted by terma-nator:
It was a cool plane. Remember seeing one at the Dayton air show long ago. They had it roped off with guys with M-16's guarding it.

Interesting fact was that although it was shot at with sam missiles a few times, it was never shot down. However, I believe that half the fleet had crashed on their own do to how fragile it was.
Having an unstart in one of the engines at speed would cause the plane to rip in half.

According to several articles that I've read, an unstart of one engine would bang the pilot's helmet against the canopy pretty smartly, but didn't generally cause the plane to break up.

August 06, 2017, 07:17 PM

Chris42

Bookmarked to find for future watching -

Thanks

August 06, 2017, 07:22 PM

msfzoe

Both videos were terific.
Bookmarked for future viewing enjoyment.
Thanks for sharing.

August 06, 2017, 07:34 PM

FishOn

I've always loved that story. We have a Blackbird here in Seattle at the Boeing Museum of Flight (amazing museum) and I go to look at it once a year.

August 06, 2017, 07:39 PM

striker1

I am envious of anyone who has personally witnessed the SR-71 either in an official capacity or as an air show spectator.

I just recently learned how these birds had to refuel shortly after takeoff because of the amount of fuel that leaked out of the tanks. Incredible engineering for its time.

August 06, 2017, 08:44 PM

mas4363

I was stationed on Okinawa 1971 -1972. I watched them fly out of Kadena all the time. I was stationed across the bay at Tori Station.

A take off sounded like a Saturn 5 launch. It had the roar and crackly sound of a rocket launch.

I watched it take off several times from next to the runway. I could see the crew dressed in what looked exactly like what our astronauts wore.

A special KC135 took off about an hour before the black jet did. It would refuel the 71 because it could not take off fully loaded.

Then the 71 would then make its takeoff roll with long cones of fire shooting out the back, rotate, point its nose at the heavens and be gone in a blink of the eye, leaving only the crackling roar of its passing.

I was told it could fly from Okinawa to the West Coast in 2 hours.

We have to have something already in service or in the works to replace it.

August 07, 2017, 12:25 AM

FishOn

quote:
Originally posted by mas4363:
I was stationed on Okinawa 1971 -1972. I watched them fly out of Kadena all the time. I was stationed across the bay at Tori Station.

A take off sounded like a Saturn 5 launch. It had the roar and crackly sound of a rocket launch.

I watched it take off several times from next to the runway. I could see the crew dressed in what looked exactly like what our astronauts wore.

A special KC135 took off about an hour before the black jet did. It would refuel the 71 because it could not take off fully loaded.

Then the 71 would then make its takeoff roll with long cones of fire shooting out the back, rotate, point its nose at the heavens and be gone in a blink of the eye, leaving only the crackling roar of its passing.

I was told it could fly from Okinawa to the West Coast in 2 hours.

We have to have something already in service or in the works to replace it.

Damn that must have been awesome to watch. Today I was near Boeing Field and 6 Blue Angels came in VERY low in tight formation, right overhead. I love that sound.

August 07, 2017, 09:31 AM

Rey HRH

I've read the story but it's much better hearing it from the pilot's own voice.

"It did not really matter what we expected from life, but rather what life expected from us. We needed to stop asking about the meaning of life, and instead to think of ourselves as those who were being questioned by life – daily and hourly. Our answer must consist not in talk and meditation, but in right action and in right conduct. Life ultimately means taking the responsibility to find the right answer to its problems and to fulfill the tasks which it constantly sets for each individual." Viktor Frankl, Man's Search for Meaning, 1946.

August 07, 2017, 12:02 PM

Zecpull

quote:
Originally posted by Rey HRH:
I've read the story but it's much better hearing it from the pilot's own voice.

I have seen this story too ,, But hearing it in his voice was much better.

_______________________________

'The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but
> because he loves what is behind him.' G. K. Chesterton

NRA Endowment Life member
NRA Pistol instructor...and Range Safety instructor
Women On Target Instructor.

August 07, 2017, 12:27 PM

newtoSig765

I watched one take off from an air base in the South West US back in the mid-to late-1960's. The base was also populated with F-100's and F-4C's, and we had been watching them all morning. You could follow them visually for about two minutes or more after takeoff in the clear desert air.

When the SR-71 left, the ground shook and the building we were in rattled. We ran outside just in time to see the plane rotate, nearly at the end of the runway. It lifted off, built up speed for a few seconds, then climbed nearly straight-up. Despite being over twice the size of the other planes we had been watching, it was out of sight in thirty seconds!

--------------------------
Every normal man must be tempted, at times, to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats.
-- H L Mencken

I always prefer reality when I can figure out what it is.
-- JALLEN 10/18/18

August 07, 2017, 01:57 PM

Rightwire

quote:
Originally posted by newtoSig765:
"...a 12-year-old grabbed the mike..." ...and I lost it! I'll have to explain my outburst of laughter to my girlfriend, but she won't understand.

That reference is much more entertaining if you hear his entire lecture

Pronoun: His Royal Highness and benevolent Majesty of all he surveys

343 - Never Forget

Its better to be Pavlov's dog than Schrodinger's cat

There are three types of mistakes; Those you learn from, those you suffer from, and those you don't survive.