SR-71 and The Company's event of 2009
Larry Dighera
[The following was sent to me by a friend, and I thought it would be
appropriate for this newsgroup.]
Tremendous! Little known piece of American aviation history.
I saw one of the SR-71 Blackbirds land at Wright Patterson AFB when it
was being put into the museum.
Actually I had no choice because the highway had become a parking lot
and folks were standing outside their cars watching the aircraft.
I could never accurately describe the show, but suffice to say the
pilot knew he had an audience and decided to show the taxpayers
exactly what the plane was capable of on its last flight.
I will never forget it.
The link to the video is at the bottom of the e-mail
A Must See For Pilots And Military Vets and any other patriots.
In 1968 (1967?) a SR-71 made an emergency landing at Grand Forks AFB
(ND) and was "parked" between two B-52 hangers close to the N/S road
that paralleled the base runway. The aircraft was completely visible
to
anyone using the road.
Immediately after landing, GFAFB security established machine gun
"nests" close to the plane.
The two man crew could not exit the plane until a C-130 arrived from
Edwards AFB with the ground support equipment and aircraft technicians
to evacuate the crew and "fix" whatever the problem(s) were.
Of course, everyone on the base came to see the 71 and security had to
control traffic. After the "fixes" were accomplished (two days?), the
71 exited the base heading north.
A few minutes later it returned at a very low altitude at tremendous
speed in a fly by.
It was awesome and was probably witnessed by about everyone on the
base.
Eye candy for people who like airplanes
Grab your beverage and relax for a few minutes of awesome beauty.
The SR-71 was the creation of Kelly Johnson, Lockheed, Eisenhower and
the Air Force.
It was envisioned in the '50s, first flew in the early '60s, retired
in the '80s, briefly brought back in the '90s.
In all, 13 units of the single seat A-12 were built, and 32 of the
Pilot + Recon two seat SR-71 units were built..
Five A-12 were lost, one is stored.
Twelve two seaters were lost.
The remaining 27 are on display around the USA .
The closest is at Atwater , the old Castle AFB museum at Merced with
50 other classic warplanes.
You probably have a better opportunity of viewing the one in San
Diego.
Ask me and I'll tell you where the others are. NY, OR, OH, DC, etc.
I can find most answers to most questions..... Just ask.
Start with the 2000+ mph, the 80,000 feet + altitude.
More if you wish.
So enjoy.
One more thing. The author of the captions to the picture in this
video made one mis-statement, due to youth.
The U-2 Recon aircraft was created in 1955, flew operationally in
1956.
Kelly thought the USSR would shoot it down in 18 months.
Lucky us, it flew until Gary Powers was downed on 1 May 1960.
But Kelly Johnson already had the go-ahead from Ike for the A-12.
It first flew in 1962, JFK kept the manufacture of it active.
No one told LBJ, 'cause everyone knew he would spill the secret.
He wasn't told till the week after JFK left us.
And sure enough, LBJ gave out the secret in a matter of months.
Anyhow, the most interesting, most exciting five years of my life were
spent in the program, as a KC-135 refueling pilot.
Where the Blackbird went, we went.
You will see several refuelings in the following.
Enjoy.
Click here to view the slideshow:
http://www.greatdanepromilitary.com/SR-71/index.htm
http://www.greatdanepromilitary.com/
[Followup set to: rec.aviation.piloting,rec.aviation.military]