Posted on 03/10/2015 4:49:57 PM PDT by DUMBGRUNT
In 1976 they smashed the world aviation speed record by blasting across the Western United States in America's super spy plane, the Lockheed SR-71.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
I read where it was really secret until Johnson let it be known ....
Brian Williams soloed in an SR-71.
I love the videos of SR-71 engine starts with the big V8 starter engine going WFO. Sounds like Lions Dragstrip from the 70’s.
luckily... Mclame was not with him
LOL
Saw them a number of times at air shows and even spoke to a pilot of one. Easily the loudest engines of any plane at the air shows as well.
One landed at my base in Korea. After they got it fixed, the driver did a low level passover then pointed it almost straight up and hit the burners. By the time you blinked, they were gone.
My late husband had a picture of the SR-71 on his desk at work.
And no, he did not work in the aerospace industry...He just LOVED that Aircraft!
Hell, he designed it an built it.
Brian “Skunk Works” Williams
It looks like Carson City, NV and Lake Tahoe below in that picture.
SR-71 Blackbird Communication to Tower - Brian Schul—former sled (SR-71 Blackbird) driver.
“We had made the turn in Arizona and the jet was performing flawlessly... Ripping across the barren deserts 80,000 feet below us, I could already see the coast of California from the Arizona border.
The predominant radio chatter was from Los Angeles Center, far below us, controlling daily traffic in their sector.
We listened as the shaky voice of a lone Cessna pilot who asked Center for a read-out of his ground speed. Center replied: “November Charlie 175, I’m showing you at ninety knots on the ground.”
Just moments after the Cessna’s inquiry, a Twin Beech piped up on frequency, in a rather superior tone, asking for his ground speed in Beech. “I have you at one hundred and twenty-five knots of ground speed.” Boy, I thought, the Beechcraft really must think he is dazzling his Cessna brethren.
Then out of the blue, a navy F-18 pilot out of NAS Lemoore came up on frequency. “Center, Dusty 52 ground speed check.” He’s the fastest dude in the valley today, and he just wants everyone to know how much fun he is having in his new Hornet.
‘Dusty 52, we show you at 620 on the ground,’ ATC responded.
As my hand instinctively reached for the mic button, I had to remind myself that Walt was in control of the radios. Still, I thought, it must be done—in mere seconds we’ll be out of the sector and the opportunity will be lost.
Then, I heard it—the click of the mic button from the back seat. That was the very moment that I knew Walter and I had become a crew. Very professionally, and with no emotion, Walter spoke: “Los Angeles Center, Aspen 20, can you give us a ground speed check?” There was no hesitation, and the replay came as if was an everyday request.
“Aspen 20, I show you at one thousand eight hundred and forty-two knots, across the ground.”
But the precise point at which I knew that Walt and I were going to be really good friends for a long time was when he keyed the mic once again to say, in his most fighter-pilot-like voice: “Ah, Center, much thanks, we’re showing closer to nineteen hundred on the money.”
L.A. came back with, “Roger that Aspen. Your equipment is probably more accurate than ours. You boys have a good one.”
In today’s PC world, could it even be named “Blackbird” with out starting a riot in Ferguson and a stump speech from Obama, apologizing ?
Kadena, 4 years watching habu take off. Never forget it.
I’ve seen this a number of times and I still lol, get goose bumps, and cheer every time
Megga Bump!
Fly High, Fast and Smoking.
The trainer.
And Barry Goldwater flew one. And he flew the Dragon Lady, the U2.
“Brian Williams soloed in an SR-71.”
No, but he wing-walked one.
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