SR-71 - Page 3

**Aedo** · #41 10-29-2009, 05:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnotherDunneDeal

Back during the Vietnam war I was sitting at my air intercept control console in CIC of the Guided Missile Frigate (USS Wainwright DLK 28). We were running NORSAR off the coast of Haiphong. We had several sorties up and around Hanoi and I was just keeping an eye on things. One of the other controllers onboard told me to look further north on my screen and tell me what I saw. We had an unknown object flying at over 70,000 feet at slightly below mach 3. We had been able to pick it up on the AN/SPS 48 long range air search radar.

The other controller reported it as a missile but then it changed course and took about 100 miles to make a wide sweeping fast turn and head directly back south again. We watched it for about three minutes while it made a few more turns. About that time we received a command to drop track on the object and to discontinue tracking it. We found out later it was an SR-71 snapping pictures..............First and only time I ever got to track one on radar. It was quite a thrill........

Cool story!!!

**NNO** · #42 11-01-2009, 01:17 AM

I completely forgot to come back and check on this thread. So many cool posts and stories!

If anyone has any more SR-71 anecdotes (AnotherDunneDeal's story was awesome), please share.

As for having it as a personal commuter - a guy can dream, can't he?

flyboynm · #43 11-04-2009, 09:12 AM

I can also recommend Ben Rich's "The Skunk Works". He talks about his time in the Skunk Works from the U-2 Days up to the F-117. He is the man that succeeded Kelly Johnson in running the Skunk Works. Interesting stories about the Blackbird in there.

**mwr4440** · #44 11-05-2009, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flyboynm

I can also recommend Ben Rich's "The Skunk Works". He talks about his time in the Skunk Works from the U-2 Days up to the F-117. He is the man that succeeded Kelly Johnson in running the Skunk Works. Interesting stories about the Blackbird in there.

Yep, and 2nd it.

**mwr4440** · #45 11-05-2009, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CornersWell

What I find to be so interesting is that the Blackbird is, essentially, a 50-year old plane. But, it was so amazingly advanced at that time that even today it's impressive. It makes me wonder why we aren't pushing the engineering limits. I'm sure I'm glossing over a whole host of more recent aeronautical achievements, but the truth seems to be that we (as in humans) haven't produced any plane that's equally or more capable than the Blackbird.

I'm sure economics has a lot to do with it, but any comments are welcome. I've heard much talk about scramjet technology, but nothing's here, yet. Moreover, satellites have obviated the Blackbird in many applications. So, was the Blackbird THE apex of aeronautical technology? Or, will we see even more fantastic planes in the future?

CW

A guy I know fairly well (he pays me when I travel) has a framed shoulder patch on his "I Love Me Wall." It is from his last unit of assignment. Best job he EVER had and he LOVED to HATE it. His weekly commute was a govt(?) provided aircraft with window shades drawn at all times. They routinely had their window shades closed (if they had windows at all) for no explained reason.

The yellow and black patch is in the shape of a western US State with a cute little stinky black and white critter on it.

The unit's Motto: "Area XX. We work in the shadows, to keep YOU in the dark."

Honestly, I think that answers your question. IMO there are allot of things out there that our adversaries, friends and even the US public has no need or even right to know …… for MANY years, if ever.

**Jet-X** · #46 11-05-2009, 05:34 PM

I can attest to "Sled Driver" - it's a fantastic book (yes, I own a copy signed by the author). As cool as the stories are in the book, the photography is out of this world (literally). Seeing what appears to be the aircraft at 90,000+ feet in black outerspace is just awe inspiring.

Carbon, if you put gloves on you can peruse my copy

**NNO** · #47 11-05-2009, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jet-X

I can attest to "Sled Driver" - it's a fantastic book (yes, I own a copy signed by the author). As cool as the stories are in the book, the photography is out of this world (literally). Seeing what appears to be the aircraft at 90,000+ feet in black outerspace is just awe inspiring.

Carbon, if you put gloves on you can peruse my copy

I'm buying gloves.

1ual777 · #48 11-06-2009, 07:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mwr4440

A guy I know fairly well (he pays me when I travel) has a framed shoulder patch on his "I Love Me Wall." It is from his last unit of assignment. Best job he EVER had and he LOVED to HATE it. His weekly commute was a govt(?) provided aircraft with window shades drawn at all times. They routinely had their window shades closed (if they had windows at all) for no explained reason.

The yellow and black patch is in the shape of a western US State with a cute little stinky black and white critter on it.

The unit's Motto: "Area XX. We work in the shadows, to keep YOU in the dark."

Honestly, I think that answers your question. IMO there are allot of things out there that our adversaries, friends and even the US public has no need or even right to know …… for MANY years, if ever.

Having been at a particular airport and seeing aircraft departing on a schedualed basis for a particular location in the middle of no-where, it is very interesting that over the years NO ONE has talked about what they do.
It is comforting that in todays world, your word means something.

**Jet-X** · #49 11-06-2009, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mwr4440

His weekly commute was a govt(?) provided aircraft with window shades drawn at all times. They routinely had their window shades closed (if they had windows at all) for no explained reason.

Sounds like the daily Janet Air flight out of LAS to Groom Lake.

**mwr4440** · #50 11-07-2009, 11:30 AM

1ual777 & Jet-X,

Sorry. I am dumb as a post.

Other than what I have said, I have no FREAKING IDEA what either of you are talking about.

I ..... have NO NEED To Know.

Not now; Not ever.

**mwr4440** · #51 11-07-2009, 11:37 AM

As to Satellites ...

They have so many limitations don't EVER believe it when ANYONE tells you they can "DO THE JOB." Your BS meter should be bent around the peg when you hear that.

They are good, they are VERY good, they are Unbelieveabley good, BUT NO WHERE near the END-ALL.

Not even close.

flyboynm · #52 11-07-2009, 01:59 PM

Unfortunately, I think they are going to start doing drones that have long loiter times over the battlefield of choice and are stealthy enough that they are hard to detect. By doing that, if we lose one, we don't have the possible liability of a living pilot to tell the tale and cost us in politics ala Gary Powers....

I personally would love to see the SR-71 still fliying despite what you may have interpreted from the above. Why do you think I have traveled around and have seen 8 of the SR-71s currently on display in museums? LOL

Working where I do and in the programs I do work in, I know a lot about the capabilities of drones and am amazed at their capabilities. Heck, even with off the shelf components that you can buy at Best Buy, you can come up with one heck of a reconnaissance setup. You would just need an airframe to put it on.....I am talking about that from experience, and it wasn't to follow my GF around via RC plane :P

Quote:

Originally Posted by mwr4440

As to Satellites ...

They have so many limitations don't EVER believe it when ANYONE tells you they can "DO THE JOB." Your BS meter should be bent around the peg when you hear that.

They are good, they are VERY good, they are Unbelieveabley good, BUT NO WHERE near the END-ALL.

Not even close.

**NNO** · #53 11-09-2009, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flyboynm

Why do you think I have traveled around and have seen 8 of the SR-71s currently on display in museums? LOL

Are you allowed to post pictures of the ones you've seen in museums?

Where can I take one for a test drive?

**nthfinity** · #54 11-09-2009, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DMC308

A lot of pics on the NASA site.
http://www.dfrc.nasa.gov/Gallery/Photo/SR-71/index.html

I have more than a few original copies given to my father shortly after they were taken

Amazing photography, and some WACKY aircraft

BMW.SauberF1Team · #55 11-09-2009, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NNO

Are you allowed to post pictures of the ones you've seen in museums?

Where can I take one for a test drive?

Here's a pic of one I took back over Thanksgiving weekend 2007 in DC:

http://img139.imagevenue.com/aAfkjfp..._122_781lo.JPG

flyboynm · #56 11-09-2009, 11:03 PM

This is a GREAT website to visit re: SR-71
http://www.wvi.com/~sr71webmaster/sr-71~1.htm

List of all the A-12, YF-12As and SR-71s....where they are or where they crashed, etc:
http://www.blackbirds.net/sr71/srloc.html

**NNO** · #57 11-10-2009, 11:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BMW.SauberF1Team

Here's a pic of one I took back over Thanksgiving weekend 2007 in DC:

http://img139.imagevenue.com/aAfkjfp..._122_781lo.JPG

Unfortunately, that link doesn't work.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DMC308

A lot of pics on the NASA site.
http://www.dfrc.nasa.gov/Gallery/Photo/SR-71/index.html

Quote:

Originally Posted by flyboynm

This is a GREAT website to visit re: SR-71
http://www.wvi.com/~sr71webmaster/sr-71~1.htm

List of all the A-12, YF-12As and SR-71s....where they are or where they crashed, etc:
http://www.blackbirds.net/sr71/srloc.html

Awesome links to lots of great photos and information! Thank you!

I really want one of these things!

BMW.SauberF1Team · #58 11-11-2009, 08:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NNO

Unfortunately, that link doesn't work.

I uploaded to another site so try this. If this doesn't work, I'll just email it.

http://img148.imageshack.us/i/img0259sq.jpg/

**NNO** · #59 11-11-2009, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BMW.SauberF1Team

I uploaded to another site so try this. If this doesn't work, I'll just email it.

http://img148.imageshack.us/i/img0259sq.jpg/

Awesome! Thank you!

I assume you didn't post it because you're not subscribed, so I hope you don't mind me posting it. If you want me to take it down, I will.

Thanks for the picture!

BMW.SauberF1Team · #60 11-11-2009, 05:49 PM

I didn't post it because I wanted the hi-res to go up. I have a few more I can email you (although each photo is like 3mb, lol).