The Thrill of Flying the SR-71 Blackbird

[Bishop]

For those that love a good spy-plane story
click the picture for a good not the best picture of the B-Bird

http://gizmodo.com/5511236/the-thrill-of-flying-the-sr+71-blackbird

 

[dutchwrangler]

Good read. I enjoyed that.

 

[farmerbyron]

......"One day, high above Arizona , we were monitoring the radio traffic of all the mortal airplanes below us. First, a Cessna pilot asked the air traffic controllers to check his ground speed. 'Ninety knots,' ATC replied. A twin Bonanza soon made the same request. 'One-twenty on the ground,' was the reply. To our surprise, a navy F-18 came over the radio with a ground speed check. I knew exactly what he was doing. Of course, he had a ground speed indicator in his cockpit, but he wanted to let all the bug-smashers in the valley know what real speed was 'Dusty 52, we show you at 620 on the ground,' ATC responded. The situation was too ripe. I heard the click of Walter's mike button in the rear seat. In his most innocent voice, Walter startled the controller by asking for a ground speed check from 81,000 feet, clearly above controlled airspace. In a cool, professional voice, the controller replied, ' Aspen 20, I show you at 1,982 knots on the ground.' We did not hear another transmission on that frequency all the way to the coast."......

awesome story

 

[redmax51]

I saw one up close and personal at a museum at Mobile Bay,Ala.Two giant engines with a small fuselage in between.

 

[ripnbst]

^Also my favorite part. Cool read, thanks for posting.

 

[Shadowrider]

After working in the aerospace industry for several years this plane just never ceases to amaze me. The technology, materials and construction methods that had to be developed for this plane to be built would be difficult even today. And they did it with slide rules...

 

[okie98]

Probably the best product of the "Skunkworks."

 

[Phat Mike]

I've been out where they made those birds! talk about security!! it's still kinda hush hush there at the skunk works !

 

[Sdane]

Cool story thanks.

 

[SiGArmed]

The first one pictured is one of a kind, it was a trainer.