Posted on 05/04/2003 5:49:15 PM PDT by FourPeas
Spy plane that kept the enemy 'honest' is here Saturday, May 3, 2003%%par%%BY BRUCE ROLFE
The only B-model Blackbird training plane in the world is now on permanent loan to the Kalamazoo Air Zoo. After arriving in Kalamazoo in late March in pieces on seven flat bed trucks, the SR-71B Blackbird has been assembled and moved inside the museum for the public to view. Kalamazoo Air Museum Executive Director Bob Ellis said he is thrilled to have the SR-71B training plane -- which was capable of flying three times the speed of sound -- available for public view. "This is the only B model in existence, so if you want to see a B model, you've got to come to Kalamazoo to see it," said Ellis, who said the Air Museum, 3101 E. Milham, has already received numerous phone calls and e-mails about the exhibit. "There's probably less than 15 total SR1s in museums. In major museums, there's nothing nearby, so it's huge. There's a lot of interest in this particular airplane." Retired United States Air Force pilot Col. Richard Graham, who flew the SR-71 for seven years, said the other trainer model crashed, leaving the SR-71B in Kalamazoo as the only one left. He noted, because it was a trainer, the B-model had the most flying time on it of any Blackbird. With the capability to fly at altitudes as high as 85,000 feet, the SR-71B proved to be a huge training asset for the Air Force pilots flying on reconnaissance missions around the world. The Blackbird series of planes was used in the Vietnam War and monitored Communist actions during the Cold War. When Graham flew the SR-71 A model, many of his missions were reconnaissance flights around the perimeter of Russia and over many Third World countries. Graham flew 210 combat missions flying F-41s in the Vietnam War. After reassignment to Okinawa, Japan, the SR-71s flying there caught his attention. He wanted to fly the plane, but recalled only a select few could get into the program. But when the time came to apply for the program, Graham didn't hesitate; he still feels fortunate that he was selected. "I remember I was in college when President Johnson made the first public announcement of the airplane in 1964 that it was even in existence," Graham said. "I watched this thing on TV and I just couldn't believe it. It looked so Star Wars. I just thought there would be no possible opportunity to have a shot at that plane." Graham retired from the Air Force after 25 years, and then flew for American Airlines for 14 years until he retired last August. He currently resides in the Dallas, Texas, area and has written two books on the SR-71 Blackbird, "SR-71 Revealed," and the newest release that came out last October, "SR-71 Blackbird: Stories, Tales and Legends." The retired Colonel does numerous book signings and lectures around the United States and in other countries. He said he eventually would like to make the trip to Kalamazoo and view the SR-71B first hand. Although Graham is glad the SR-71B plane will be a unique exhibit in Kalamazoo, he feels the SR-71 should still be flying reconnaissance missions. "I think this airplane is needed more today than it was 20 or 30 years ago," said Graham. "The instability we have in our world right now and the amount of rogue nations we have, the SR-71's forte in life was keeping the other guy honest. And we did that day in and day out -- keeping the other guy honest." Graham said he believes the SR-71 series was retired for various reasons, including politics in the Pentagon, lack of support from government agencies, and the expensive of the airplanes. "I am happy they are all in museums. Of the Blackbird family a total of 50 were built. We lost over the years, 19 of them, none due to unfriendly fire," Graham said. "Fortunately, all of the other ones are being well taken care of in museums all over the United States and overseas. There's one in England." The plane is on permanent loan to Kalamazoo from the U.S. Air Force Museum in Dayton, Ohio, the Air Zoo's Web site indicates. The ground transportation fee to get the SR-71B plane to the Kalamazoo Air Zoo on seven flatbed trucks was approximately $100,000. But Graham said he's confident the local Air Museum shouldn't have a problem recouping the fee because of its attraction of aviation fans.
SPECIAL TO THE GAZETTE
Obsolete
I don't think that's exactly the word I'd pick.
You may have seen the Tri-motor in flight then if you live in the Kazoo area - it was grounded awhile back to repair some corrosion in the wing area.
I was surprised to see that the outer skin on that bird was all corrugated - like a galvanized tin roof - but much smaller corrugations of course!
Still has been broken, but the aircraft was made obsolete by other intellgence gathering methods.
Isn't the Blackbird's payload capacity rather limited?
Actually, the Concorde cruise speed was just over Mach 2.
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Not much chance of that. The cockpit temperature in the 71 would reach 140 degrees. Pilots required special diets to withstand the stress, even with air-conditioned suits.
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