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.
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!
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 ?
SR-71 was the first aircraft designed to take into account the Lorentz contraction (relativity). It leaks fuel like a sieve on the ground, but as it picks up speed the titanium fuselage actually shrinks and the aerodynamics consider the shrinkage.
Refuels after it gets up in altitude, then continues its flight plan at the behest of the pilot.
Whatever happened to the classified 20-yr old "Aurora?"
My best SR-71 Story.
I was a Crew Chief on A-10’s from ’85 to ’88 at RAF Bentwaters, England.
One day we were towing a plane to the “Wash Rack”, which as on the other side of the runway, and I was the “Brake Rider” sitting in the cockpit of the A-10 as it was being towed. As we approached the runway, I radioed the tower and requested permission to cross the active runway. Their reply included the phrase, “Proceed without delay.”
As we moved across the runway, I looked to the right and saw a black speck in the sky.
Now, if you know US cold war era aircraft, you know that the A-10 cockpit had probably the best all around visibility of anything in the inventory at the time.
JUST as we cleared the runway, a Blackbird zooms not more than 100 feet or so over the runway right behind me, gets about half way down its length, lights the burners, points it’s nose to the sky and is gone. And I had an absolutely perfect unobstructed close up view of the entire pass.
IT. WAS. AWESOME.
Former days of glory and national pride. These beautiful masterpieces have had their guts pulled out and most are now collecting bird shite... what a shame.
Stationed at Beale 81-84.
Watched the 4 AM launches at least 3 times a week.
200 feet of flame and the loudest alarm clock on base.
Awesome airplane
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