Why the SR-71 Blackbird is the only aircraft with the SR designation

We Are The Mighty ^ | 1/11/23 | Blake Stilwell

[Libloather]

Saw the one @ Wright-Patterson AFB. Always impressive.

[IAGeezer912]

SR-71 and A10 Warthog. Two amazing aircraft.

[Libloather]

See inside the SR-71 cockpit; learn about the U-2, former reconnaissance satellites and more during ‘Secrets Revealed’ event March 7-8 at National Museum USAF

https://www.wpafb.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2095966/see-inside-the-sr-71-cockpit-learn-about-the-u-2-former-reconnaissance-satellit/

[mad_as_he$$]

Thank you for posting this!

[tlozo]

Why the SR-71 Blackbird is the only aircraft with the SR designation

No Blackbird has ever been lost or damaged due to hostile action: in fact, even though according to Airman Magazine over 4,000 missiles have been fired at the SR-71 during its service life, none of them hit.

https://theaviationgeekclub.com/sr-71-rso-tells-the-story-of-the-first-time-the-blackbird-was-shot-at-by-a-missile/

[MrKatykelly]

One was shot down in D.A.R.Y.L.

[scouter]

Johnson revealing highly classified information to the world for personal gain is treason. He should have been impeached and thrown in prison.

[xp38]

Saw them do flybys at the local air show many times. Loudest engines by far from any other aircraft.

[abb]

Truly a bucket list museum. Just about everything that ever flew is there.

[Alberta's Child]

No Blackbird has ever been lost or damaged due to hostile action: in fact, even though according to Airman Magazine over 4,000 missiles have been fired at the SR-71 during its service life, none of them hit.

LOL. Do you really believe your government would tell you if one of those things was shot down?

[tlozo]

LOL. Do you really believe your government would tell you if one of those things was shot down?

I believe anyone shooting down on would gloat.

[gundog]

”SR stands for ‘spy rocket.’”

[gundog]

Yeah. There would be parts on display. Same as with the U-2.... Shoot down, wait for US government denial, produce wreckage.

[Texas resident]

The SR-71 was designed without the aid of computers.

Awesome engineering for the time.

[matthew fuller]

I was shown a film while on active duty in the USAF probably in about 1965, not before Aug 1964. It was being called the YF-12 at the time. The aircraft is the one shown here-
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_YF-12 .

[grcuster]

I do have a photo of a SR-71 covered in foam after crashing at Kadena AB.

SR platform was the best assignment I worked on when I was on active duty.

[Alberta's Child]

Or they would say nothing and pretend they didn’t know anything while they combed through the wreckage and salvaged as much sensitive military technology as possible.

[tlozo]

Or they would say nothing and pretend they didn’t know anything

Right, for more than 20 years an enemy of the US would keep it quiet. Okay

[Alberta's Child]

The 1960 U-2 incident had an added complication: the Soviets captured the pilot alive. He wasn’t worth much to them unless his capture was highly publicized.

[Alberta's Child]

Just yesterday there was a thread about a U.S. Navy pilot who shot down 4-5 Soviet fighters on one mission during the Korean War.

The U.S. kept the incident secret for more than 50 years until the records were declassified. The story is in the news now because the guy is still alive and is being awarded the Navy Cross.

What makes you think the Soviet government was any less capable of keeping secrets than ours?