Now this is speed!!

[mr0077]

A former boss of mine was stationed at Okinawa during the Viet Nam war and told me some interesting stories about them. He said they would take off at ten am, run over north Viet Nam and Cambodia and be back by noon. When they were on final approach a Jeep with armed MPs would wait at the approach end of the runway. As the plane crossed the threshold the camera pod would eject, and parachute down to the runway while the plane landed and went immediately to a guarded secure area (shoot to kill level security). The MPs would run down the runway, pick up the camera pod and take it to be developed and evaluated to expedite the intel dissemination.
My old boss said he asked one of the pilots how fast it would go, and the guy gave him the "official" top speed, but added that he had had it that fast there was still a lot of throttle left and that it would go a LOT faster than he would.
What an amazing missile/aircraft.
And I second the book "Skunk Works", it's not specifically about the Blackbird, but it gives you an insight into some of the amazing things Lockheed did there.

[Michael P. Wole]

Wife and I visited the NASA complex in Huntsville 2 years ago...it is an awsome thing to see....makes your chest swell up to know the USA can and will do what is necessary to insure freedom. Kinda off thread, but just how many veterans are on this site...could someone start a poll? Maybe show 1.Branch 2. Era served
I dont know how to do it or I would attempt...I am computor illiterate(just a user)

[Excaliber]

So Jim, you gonna nail down that 'source' for us? Sounds like a great book, get back to us on that if you would.

[427 S/O]

You can bet your sweet ass there are amazing things we won't know about for a few years...

[HI Cobra]

Perry - amen to that! Just as well - I can hear the doves now if more were
out. Nice having a big stick! Keeps things a lot quieter.

[Jim Vander Wal]

Just a few books on the Blackbird.

"Lockheed SR-71" by Paul F. Crickmore. Paperback, lots of photos
"SR-71 Blackbird - In Action" Squadron/Signal Productions. Paperback, lots of technical data
"Lockheed SR-71, The Secret Missions Exposed" by Paul F. Crickmore Hardcove, technical and mission data.
"The Untouchables" by Brian Shul and Walter Watson Jr. Hardcover with photos and many sections written by other involved parties.

Amazon should have way more than my library and there's a lot on the web.

There's a YF-12 with the only surviving drone at the Boeing Museum in Seattle, you could reach up an touch this one. NASA/Huntsville has a SR-71 as does Battleship Park in Mobile, AL. Wright/Patterson has a 71 as does The SAC Museum outside of Lincoln, NE and the Air Zoo in Kalamazoo, MI. There are others out there.

Thorconstr. I'd "kindly not reprimand you" if you'd kindly not mislead and provide your source in the original post. It really would have been simple and I did read all of the posts and wasn't the only one that mistook you for the author. You are most certainly a really nice guy and post was great but the source, if not you, is important.

Over and out.

Jim

[Excaliber]

Jim thanks for posting some interesting book references, now which one did you say included the quote Al posted for us?

Let me be more blunt:
Quote:
Originally Posted by thorconstr
Guys, I didn't mean to mislead you, the pilots name is Al O'Connor. I wish it were me! Flying in an SR71 is right at the top of my ultimate wish list. It is a great story and gives me more of a feeling of what it is like to fly in that plane. Glad you enjoyed it, I know I did!


Al apologized and cleared the issue up many posts ago, there was a misunderstanding, it has been rectified. I find your comments toward Al rude, excessive and demeaning. As Al mentioned he passed along something he got in an email, THAT is his source.

A list of possible books does nothing to clarify the source any better than citing an email, please stop misleading us as to the source unless you have specific information.

[Jim Vander Wal]

There is very similar text in "The Untouchables" but with a quick review I didn't find the exact text.

[thudmaster]

As far as the only surviving drone........Don't beleive it........We have one here at Beale AFB. It is parked next to an SR71 and U2. The home of both.

[Jim Vander Wal]

Thank you for the correction; I will have to make a point to see it. The drone at Boeing is mounted on a YF-12 and perhaps that's what their info was referring to.
Jim

[lovehamr]

Originally Posted by thudmaster

As far as the only surviving drone........Don't beleive it........We have one here at Beale AFB. It is parked next to an SR71 and U2. The home of both.

There is a pair (YF12 and drone) at the AF museum at Wright Pat as well. In fact the only place that I've ever seen that would rival the Wright Pat museum is the National Air and Space Museum. Really where else can you see the last XB70 Valkerie, or the only XF107 etc., etc.? Really, if you're into aviation at all plan to spend at least a full day there. It’s like Disney for aviation geeks.

Steve

[Tim Brewer]

Wow! I really enjoyed that story! But like Joey said, I would like to know what replaced the SR-71. It's probably top secret though.

[mr0077]

This link attributes it to by Brian Shul, from his book SLED DRIVER...2663 mph, not too shabby...

SR-71: Now, That Was Some Airplane » article » What Would Dad Say

[jshel1]

When I was a kid, my Dad was stationed at Wright-Patterson. We were there when the XB-70 made its final flight and was inducted into the Air Force Museum. It was a huge event. I remember the crowds walking under it as it sat on the tarmac. Really a sight to see.

[Jerry Clayton]

And I think the plane at Mobile is the yf12--

[thorconstr]

original post by Jim Vander Wal
Thorconstr. I'd "kindly not reprimand you" if you'd kindly not mislead and provide your source in the original post. It really would have been simple and I did read all of the posts and wasn't the only one that mistook you for the author. You are most certainly a really nice guy and post was great but the source, if not you, is important.

Jim, As I said, I received this as an email, just as it is, and posted it as a thread because I found it entertaining. When going back to the post I saw that guys thought that I had experienced this (I wish I had). I immediately posted thread #11 saying that I had not meant to mislead them but posted it because I enjoyed it and thought they would too. I have no idea what or who the source is and didn't know it was my duty to provide that. At this point I wish I had not posted the thread. Thanks Jim!

[mr0077]

Jim...I mean Al W..., not to worry, most of us are glad you did, we enjoyed it too.

[will butterwort]

thanks for posting--we don,t care--we are patriotic--we like that machine, excellent read---even bests our little cobra tales, Dang ,I can see me pulling them throttles all way down or up myself.Wish i could of done something that exciting with my life, other than being cannon fodder for lyndon johnson in vietnam.Just have to be resigned to my little ground shaking red cobra for now.Thanks,Jim, do another one.Will-alabama

[Excaliber]

Again, a great post Al W. A bit of a faux pas 'getting up to speed' but all in all a most enjoyable tour of duty.

[thorconstr]

Your welcome, glad you enjoyed!