SR-71--Now my Cobra feels Flaccid!

[olddog]

Originally Posted by lovehamr

What do you call the SA2 Volchovs that also shot down a U2? Granted not as effective against the SR71 but you wouldn't want to hang around and put it to the test either. Then there was the SA5 Vega, a Mach 8 high altitude AA missile with more than enough capability to get to an SR71 if the crew wasn't alert.

A U2 compared to a SR71 is like comparing a Cobra to Pinto. Yes the Russians managed to shoot down one U2 and maybe that was a lucky shot. No SR71 was ever shot down (unless that is classified). Not even the Russians could shoot one down. During the cold war neither side put their top of the line military technology in the hands of 3rd world dictators. Again I will state I do not think Libia had anything that would have been a threat to an SR71.

Originally Posted by lovehamr

The whole reason de'tere for an aircraft with those capabilities is so you don't have to try and get your intelligence from a satellite with its fixed flight path. If they needed shots that they didn't get and they thought they could on another pass with reasonable safety I'm sure that they would. I definitely wouldn't Monday morning QB those guys.

As I understand it, the crew of a SR71 at the time of flight would have no way of knowing what the pictures were like until after they were analyzed when back on the ground. That is what I recall of what has been reported anyway. I still doubt a second pass over the minor attack on Libia would have been needed, unless they wanted some extra shots of the French embassy so they could piss on it.

I am not questioning those guys (the real SR71 pilots). I am questioning if a real SR71 pilot did write that artical, as it appeared. Anyone can write anything on the Net and sign any name they want.

signed President George W Bush

Originally Posted by lovehamr

Two Pratt and Whitney J-58 axial-flow turbojets with afterburners, each producing 32,500 pounds of thrust. Shown below in action.

I did question if the SR71 used after burners. Obviously I was wrong to question that. You have to love that picture!