Armageddon and the SR-71
cow...@ram.net.au
Blackbird Sightings". In the thread drift was some comment on
the number of birds returned to service and who operated them.
Trevor Fenn on 24th Aug spoke of having seen a military version
at Edwards after Paul mc Cutcheon on 23 Aug stated the thought
the only operator was NASA with a special model with an
additional experimental engine mounted between the tail fins.
A large portion of the first half of the above film 'armageddon'
(bruce Willis)concerns NASA and is filmed on NASA premises.
One great shot inside a hangar has as background : one
B-2 Stealth Bomber and TWO SR-71's side by side. Great shots
but unfortunately I could not see if one was fitted with the
extra motor.(the noise made my eyes water)
The evidence suggests at least two, maybe as recently as last year,
are operated by NASA with perhaps a third with the test engine.
As I said at the time,Flight International states that the USAF
has two in their battle order as well as. As thiry plus were
built there are a few lurking somewhere out there looking for a
museum to make them at home. I wish , I wish. I the Tomcat was
a problem then this would be bloody ridiculous.
Hope Springs Eternal.
(J.Herd, hows the format)
cowboy
-----== Posted via Deja News, The Leader in Internet Discussion ==-----
http://www.dejanews.com/rg_mkgrp.xp Create Your Own Free Member Forum
Paul McCutcheon
post.
It was used to test the Linear Aerospike engine proposed for the Lockheed
Martin X-33 single-stage-to orbit research rocket plane. The first test
flight of the SR-71 with the Linear Aerospike engine mounted was on 31st
October last year, with test flights continuing until earlier this year in
order to test the Mach 3 plume expansion of the test article at 20,000 to
80,000 ft.
I also reffered to the Aviation Week Source Book, and it lists just three
SR-71s in the inventory - so it seems that there are two NASA and one USAAF
aircraft according to all observers of this group....
Hmmm where are the rest??
Paul McCutcheon
cow...@ram.net.au wrote in message <6sgulg$fk8$1...@nnrp1.dejanews.com>...
Gregory Bond
> Hmmm where are the rest??
Various museums or sitting in the Mojave desert next to all the B-52s,
would be my guess.
I was an A-12 (SR-71 predecessor) on the Invincible in NY - it was
just awesome.
--
Gregory Bond ITG Australia Ltd, Melbourne, Australia
<mailto:g...@itga.com.au> <http://www.bby.com.au/~gnb>
From: br...@itga.com.au (Do not use this address. It catches junk email.)
From: br...@bby.com.au, br...@melba.bby.com.au (So do these ones)
Peter Degotardi
I've 'patted' one in a static display at Lackland (sp?) airforce base
San Antonio Texas. (When I got home, my wife said "photos of planes -
boring)
(Ask the guard at the gate for a pass to 'view the base' - no problem
as long as you've driven up - they *need* a car rego number to process
the pass)
Graham Lea
(used) to frequent it a lot...
She is (was?) the head flight test engineer if I remember, and
designed the (new) test ptogram for the sr-71 with them (NASA).
When the Russinas were offering flights in some of their newish
equipment for $$$ I asked her (<VBG>) if she would send done out here
for similar purposes. She apologised and said they couldn't do it.. as
did one of her superiors. Something about airframe life and running
across the pacific if I recall.... and the actualy operating costs
versus the tourist dollars, and of course, space in the a/c :-)
She's flown most of the US Airforce stuff, and is very good on
replying ..her CV was up there one time (on the NASA flight progrma
site)...
She would almost certainly know where they are.. she loves them!
Some of the other people there would also help I am sure....Ed
Rasmussen could point almost certainly point you in the right
direction too...
Jsut sk about sr-71's there.
Also, there is, at Waverley Library in SYdney, NSW the only copy in
Australia of a book about the skunkworks.. and of course, lots on the
SR-71.
I know, I got them to buy it in from the USA a couple of years ago and
it cost them $heaps ..but then they did it on the basis that they are
a military library. :-)
--------------------------------
Sometimes I wake up grumpy
But mostly, I let her sleep in..