Tour of the SR-71  - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Homer J Simpson
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 03, 2016, 01:02:22 am
content: https://youtu.be/F4KD5u-xkik

author: AntiProtonBoy
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 03, 2016, 01:28:18 am
content: Always a favourite.

author: bills
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 03, 2016, 01:38:47 am
content: Thanks Homer, in the mid 1980's I took the family to an air show at Edwards AFB. and they had one on display, it was awesome the spec's they were giving at that time were 1600 mph. I asked one of the air Force personal if that was true, and got a look that said don't go there.Another reason they refueled after take off was the fuel would leak because the tanks had to expand as they heated up.again thanks for the link to the video, brought back some memory's. ( btw my visit was just after the first shuttle crash)

author: bills
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 03, 2016, 01:53:41 am
content: Still holds the record LA-Washington 1 hr. 8 min.I think the top speed is still classified.

author: vk6zgo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 03, 2016, 01:57:44 am
content: Quote from: bills on November 03, 2016, 01:38:47 amThe true specs as far as speed ,ceiling,etc ,were widely available in the aviation press,years before the '80s.I think they cultivate that look so as to deflect boring questions.

author: daybyter
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 03, 2016, 03:08:15 am
content: https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showpost.php?s=fa8134b03b717660857a4ae60102c9d1&p=4177546&postcount=5The sr-71 poster is in my bedroom for 30 years. Hope to replace it with a poster oft the aurora plane some day...

author: TheSteve
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 03, 2016, 05:07:51 am
content: The SR-71 has always been my favorite plane. Had multiple posters on my walls. There was one at an airshow near me once, I didn't go to the show but did get to see it leaving as it shook the house something fierce flying over. Amazing example of engineering, new stuff just doesn't seem as special.

author: Towger
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 03, 2016, 06:18:54 am
content: Quote from: bills on November 03, 2016, 01:38:47 amThe top speed and many other technical details are discussed with a former pilot in this edition of Omega Tau, well worth a listen.http://omegataupodcast.net/91-flying-the-sr-71/

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 03, 2016, 07:23:18 am
content: Quote from: TheSteve on November 03, 2016, 05:07:51 amA man after my own heart.I didn't have any posters - just one photo ... and never had the opportunity to get anywhere near one. But I do have the movie D.A.R.Y.L.

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 03, 2016, 09:03:54 am
content: That's a superb video, showing the benefits of:someone having having interesting stories to tellsomeone with personal knowledge knowing what is worth sayingsaying it, without superfluous chatterplanningeditingand the result is a video where it is necessary and delightful to give it full attention.Compare that with most modern documentaries, let alone youtube blogs.

author: blackbird
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 03, 2016, 09:44:43 am
content: <--------------- Need to say more??

author: Kilrah
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 03, 2016, 10:45:51 am
content: Quote from: Brumby on November 03, 2016, 07:23:18 amThat's one of the 2 movies that fascinated me and I watched multiple times as a kid. Managed to snatch a crappy rip a few years ago somewhere after looking for a copy for a long time.Downloading the tour video now...

author: ajb
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 03, 2016, 05:05:09 pm
content: One of my favorite planes at one of my favorite museums:The Smithsonian's Udvar-Hazy Centerin Dulles, VA. Where else can you see an SR-71, a space shuttle, and a Concorde, plus 160 other amazing aircraft all under one roof, and all for free?Another favorite is theNational Museum of the US Air Force, which has almost twice as many aircraft on display, including an SR-71, a YF-12, and a J58 (blackbird engine). Among other things, they have the last remaining XB-70, an Avrocar "flying saucer", a Titan IV, and several early supersonic research aircraft. Tours are given by Air Force vets, so it's a good chance to hear some "back when I was flying this plane..." stories. Only downside is that things aren't arranged or lit nearly as well as at Udvar-Hazy, and of course being the Air Force Museum there's no civil aviation.Colonel Richard Graham, who was an SR-71 pilot and eventually commanded the 1st Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron, has written a couple of books about the SR-71:https://amzn.com/0760301220I've read SR-71 Revealed, and it's an interesting mix of technical information, first hand accounts from several pilots and RSOs who flew the plane, life in a unique squadron, and eventually some of the politics that ultimately killed the program.

author: Sal Ammoniac
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 03, 2016, 06:02:31 pm
content: Must have been a high pucker-factor flying one of those over Soviet territory and not knowing if the Sovs might have come up with something capable of shooting it down.

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 03, 2016, 06:08:10 pm
content: Quote from: ajb on November 03, 2016, 05:05:09 pmUdvar-Hazy is a great place to visit. I can't agree on the lighting being good, though - try and take a photo of the Do 335 during the day..

author: rdl
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 03, 2016, 06:11:36 pm
content: If you want to get an idea of what flying one was like, search YouTube for "flying the SR-71 Maury Rosenberg" and "Brian Shul SR-71". Mr. Shul was also a bit of a photographer and took many amazing photos that no one but a pilot could have gotten.

author: Tom45
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 03, 2016, 07:12:46 pm
content: Here are some images of a local SR71. The first is what I call my bird panorama, a goose and a blackbird.Some more views:

author: Tom45
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 03, 2016, 07:15:13 pm
content: Some engine photos:And a tire:

author: Kilrah
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 03, 2016, 08:03:36 pm
content: Wow that Goose is enormous. Never realized how big those were.

author: Reminx123
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: November 03, 2016, 09:34:57 pm
content: For anyone interested on the background of Lockeed Martin secret project, including U2, SR-71 and F-117, have a read to the gorgeoushttps://www.amazon.com/Skunk-Works-Personal-Memoir-Lockheed/dp/B003WZ344E/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1478208407&sr=8-5&keywords=skunk+worksbook!It is just fantastic and full of informations on how Ivan had tried, but not succeeded, to stop the fastest spy plane in history

author: Alexei.Polkhanov
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 03, 2016, 10:05:42 pm
content: "Built from Russian Titanium"Well looks like now Cold War is slowly coming back and arms race will follow. Expect lots of new, exciting and cool military toys to be built !!!

author: Jr460
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 04, 2016, 01:02:55 am
content: Quote from: ajb on November 03, 2016, 05:05:09 pmYep right down the street from me. The other great thing about that place is the collection of Air Force Ones. Even the one that brought JFK home from Dallas. You can walk inside those planes. There is a tad of civil aviation of know what planes were dual use.Little known fact. Three SR-71s are in flyable storage with NASA, all of others you see on display around the world official belong to the National Museum of the US Air Force and are on loan. My understanding this type of deal is common with museums. I'll loan you this, if you loan me that.I've had a chance to talk a lot with one SR-71 crew member.Marta Bohn-MeyerShe would answer any questions I had about the SR-71. The next time I saw her, I'd always have more to ask.I've also had a chance to talk a few times withBrian ShulIf you can, attend one of his talks. His story telling and wonderful photography is very moving.

author: mtdoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 04, 2016, 01:10:55 am
content: Love the SR-71. My dad worked on the navigation system for it while at Northop Electronics division.He brought me a model of it home once. I played with extensively and broke it (one of the wings I think) - then me and my friend blew it up with firecrackers. I later found out it was a collectors item and worth quite a bit.- True story.The Evergreen Air and Space museum south of Portland is where those Spruce Goose and SR-71 photos are from. It's a great museum with a great water park next door that my kids love.Even after 50 years - the SR-71 still looks like something futuristic - amazing what they built so long ago!Here's a photo I took of the electronics from the camera the last time I was at that museum (apologies for the poor quality phone pic):

author: Tom45
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 04, 2016, 02:21:15 am
content: Quote from: Kilrah on November 03, 2016, 08:03:36 pmYes, the Spruce Goose was for a long time the largest airplane ever built. And I think it still holds the record for largest wingspan. Only one was built. It now resides in the Evergreen Air and Space museum, about 15 miles from my house.

author: Alexei.Polkhanov
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 04, 2016, 07:34:01 pm
content: This guy on Youtube has lots of interesting detailed tear-downs of Soviet and British avionics equipment from that era. I really enjoyed some of his videos, but he is lacking the analysis part of it IMHO.

author: ajb
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 05, 2016, 12:27:54 am
content: Quote from: Monkeh on November 03, 2016, 06:08:10 pmIt's far from perfect, but miles better than the USAF Museum. The latter is entirely windowless, and the lighting in most areas is insufficient and poorly blended, so the whole place is gloomy and irregular. The new fourth building is much better. Udvar-Hazy also makes nice use of vertical space for a lot of the smaller aircraft; USAF has nearly everything displayed on the ground, so everything's crowded together with planes practically on top of each other.Quote from: Tom45 on November 04, 2016, 02:21:15 amThat place is going on my list.

author: Homer J Simpson
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 10, 2016, 05:28:11 pm
content: SR-71 Cockpit Checkout

author: retrolefty
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 10, 2016, 08:24:28 pm
content: Quote from: bills on November 03, 2016, 01:38:47 amThey didn't take-off with less then full fuel load because of leaking tanks but rather the tire wear taking off with full weight load. Even with 450# PSI the tire life/wear was drastically less using partial fuel load (half I think) and air refueling to top off. Also required unique for the SR-71, special JP-7 fuel, which also meant their refueling tankers had to be specialized modified to service the JP-7 missions. Simply speaking it just became too costly to run Vs improved and lowering cost satellite service(s).Most impressive is a full fuel load would last 3 hours or so even with both engines in full afterburner the whole 3 hours. Again very expensive missions to operate.

author: CatalinaWOW
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 11, 2016, 03:56:59 am
content: I once read a translation of a Soviet article on the SR-71. Presumably their information on speed was based on radar data during overflights. As I recall the number given was far higher than what has come out of the various war stories and the official statements. I have always wondered if that information was accurate, or disinformation from the USSR to serve some unknown purpose.

author: TheSteve
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 11, 2016, 03:59:04 am
content: If was capable of going even faster I think they would have done so when they set the speed records on the final flights.

author: retrolefty
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 11, 2016, 04:22:54 am
content: Quote from: CatalinaWOW on November 11, 2016, 03:56:59 amThe SR-71s never overflew the USSR.

author: CatalinaWOW
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 11, 2016, 04:41:23 am
content: Quote from: retrolefty on November 11, 2016, 04:22:54 amWell perhaps it flew within radar range of the USSR. Over Turkey, East Germany, Poland and similar places. I suspect the Soviets did know how fast it did fly, even if they didn't know the maximum capability. The only question is whether they ever revealed that knowledge.

author: mtdoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 11, 2016, 05:27:50 am
content: Quote from: retrolefty on November 11, 2016, 04:22:54 amAre you sure about that? We know the U2 did. Why not the SR-71?I should ask my dad if he knows - though the last time I asked him about details of his work he said there were still things that he was not allowed to talk about.

author: chriswebb
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 11, 2016, 06:51:43 am
content: Quote from: mtdoc on November 11, 2016, 05:27:50 amIf it did, it is most likely still classified. But according to everything I have read or viewed on the subject, it didn't need to. It could skirt the outside and take pictures of the interior with enough detail that made it unnecessary to fly over.

author: AntiProtonBoy
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 11, 2016, 07:41:02 am
content: Quote from: Alexei.Polkhanov on November 04, 2016, 07:34:01 pmGood find!

author: Homer J Simpson
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 15, 2016, 03:17:44 pm
content: SR-71 Pilot Interview Richard Graham