Look at All These SR-71 Blackbirds Together!

Ok, I'll bite. I was in the SR-71 program from 83-89, and yes, it was the highlight of my military flying career. Not only was the plane so incredible in its design and performance, but the people who maintained it, supported it, and in-flight refueled it made up the best team of professionals, both military and civilian, that I have ever had the privilege of being associated with. It was alwaays a thrill. As I watched the MIGs try to catch us time after time, only to fall back as we blew by them, I recall the overwhelming pride in the Blackbird, then and now, its 25+ year's service to our country, with never a single one lost to enemy fire. What a plane! Bill Orcutt, Col, USAF Retired

I did my 3 leg solo cross country in 1968 from SJC to Marysville (Near Beale) and then on to Sonoma and back to SJC. As I was nearing Marysville a 71 took off from Beale and disappeared in about 15 seconds on what looked to be a ballistic trajectory. WOW.

2nd leg took me over Sacramento "Municipal" a 747 doing touch and goes directly underneath me.

Pretty nice day for flying that day.

WOW. Great photo, compelling story. Ready to buy to book! Thanks

The stories I have listened to from those who worked near or on the Blackbird spoke with a high degree of reverence for it. It wasn't until I got to see the real deal up close at the USAF Museum and the B model at AZO that I had a much fonder appreciation for it, and the technological innovations that came as a result of its creation. We were certainly blessed to have geniuses like Kelly Johnson and his successor Ben Rich, on our side!

I would rather ride in a BB than any other plane. Period!!

Loved this comment - "The plane was flying a mile every 1.6 seconds, well above our Mach 3.2 limit. It was the fastest we would ever fly"

Love PlanePorn in the morning!

Ror those who have never seen in real life this bird I suggest you make a visit part of your next vacation.

The bird is awesome, during the after Cuba monitoring, probably looking at South America as it's last missions, after the crisis (maybe 10-12 years ago) one had to land at Macdill for a minor repair. THEY QUICKLY got her back in the air at 05:30 and the noise was heard 20 miles away in my condo. The TV crews who had a chance to shoot it got about three seconds.... I'm in the flight path for a few airports (TIA, PIE, SPG) and jet noise is taken for granted especially on the top floor where my condo is. This one blew the doors off.

I met Brian Shul early on the air-show circuit attending his seminar while he was talking about survival training. His parents lived in Tampa not far from MacDill. If you take the time to read Brian's story, his personal story of being shot down in Nam, severely injured, given last rites, pure survival, beating the odds many times and his incredible career, you will of defined the "human element" to it's greatest degree and fully relate the caliber of the individual who tamed the beast.

Few people In my life I have had the honor of meeting whom I remember the most in aviation. Brian Shul, Bruce Crandall and Bob Hoover... it's all about Man and Machine...

What airbase ?

Years ago while enroute from Cal. to TX in a lear I heard center come on the air and say
" (military call sign) show you leaving flight level 600, squawk VFR, good day". Don't know if it was a U-2 or SR-71 but I got a kick out of hearing it.

this is a good read!

I remember in 1971, I had just gotten into Kunsan AB, ROK. Working Flight Surgeons office; Crash phone rang; modified B-57 on final with flame out on one enginge. Wing commander was on the line as well, and called for me by name, told fire chief to give me whatever I needed and all the rest that it was my show. I didn't have a clue as to what was going on. I had been at ABQ around the 57's and wern't nothing special about them. We got to the flightline, had a low cloud deck, and out of it came a blackbird. Had lost the one engine and there was some damage to the other so they put down there and there was a C-141 with equipment and full crew already lifting off at Kadena. I was the only one on base with PSD(Physiological support)experience from my U2 days at DM, to handle the suits and plane temperature. We got them recovered and in a hangar, under tight security, and the HABU APPROVED bunch from Kadena was in there in about 2 hrs. It was tore up bad enough that they were there nearly a week.

OMG. I can neither confirm or deny that I got to sit in the cockpit of an SR-71. It was in the mid 80's at Mildenhall AFB England. It kinda looks like the interior of a T-38. I stayed in the Q rooms with the HABU pilots. Those guys are awesome. I have always loved the SR-71.

Back during the Falklands war I was training Hawk missile crews at Fort Bliss. One day while everyone was at lunch I was sitting at one of the two firing consoles in the control van tracking targets in and out of El Paso International when I caught some incredibly strong doppler in the headset. The target was invisible on the acquisition radars and absolutely pegged out the altitude and speed meters on the console. I tracked it way into Mexico before it outran the tracking radar, which didn't take long. Had to have been a 71.

yes..DROOL..I want to go see one. Where are they? And can the public go see one or them?

I've met Brian Schull. He and all the other "Sled Drivers" are singular men of courage and nerves of steel.

I was lucky enough to be one of those that got the SR-71 experience at Oshkosh.Sat in on all the pilot lectures and witnessed up close and personal the power behing this machine. I dare say it lingers always.

You know, what is funny here. All of us have been around or have seen these birds and are literally drooling, but there hasn't been a single sled pilot make a comment here. I can't believe that none of them aren't on FA. They probably are and just reveling in all this drooling and feeling that quiet fortune & satisfaction that comes with it.lol

Amazing story!

Great article, I was stationed at Kadena in 1968 and saw the Blackbird up close. It was so futuristic at the time. These guys must hve been the crew. I wish I could have talked to them at the time. What a ride!!

I was stationed at Kadena AB between January 1972 and June 1973. No matter where you were when a "Habu" took off you stopped a marveled at its beauty. Nothing is more beautiful than an SR-71 when it pitches to the right just after takeoff.

When I was stationed in Okinawa we would feel the Habu before we would see it. The windows in the BEQ would start to vibrate, and several men would run outside and start looking into the sky as if we were kids. I recall seeing it take-off once right before my first AWACS flight as we were waiting near the fligth line at Kadena. Great memories.

I remember getting to see one in Marietta, during the late 80's. At first I could not figure out what all the drip pans were for, but a Lockheed Enginer (friend's father) later told me all about it and gave me a little book with some specs and drawings. I think then was when I fell all out towards airplanes. That bird was simply amazing, just sitting there, surrounded by armed gaurds, it just looked like the supreme go fast machine. It actually had a Presence, like an aura.Thanks to Mr. S, I got to actually grasp how and what everything did that made those such special planes.

WOW, AWESOME Planes.... Wish they were still in service.

I had a chance to see the habu (SR-71) take off from Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan. What a awesome site it was. Also scene the plane land back at Kadena Air Base with it's very large orange parachute with the blackbrid colors it is hard to put into words in how it had taken my breathe away! So said to see this plane in retirement. Just think that this plane was built by Kelly Johnson a man did not use a computer to build this plane back in the day.

The photo and excerpt from the book is fantastic. I have always been fascinated by and loved the SR-71, ever since I was a child. They sure don't make them like that anymore....

Wow, beatiful photo.

Porto Alegre, Brazil.

WOW!...Awesome! I have seen the "Blackbird" upfront and personal at the Boeing Flight Museum in Seattle and that "Bird" is an amazing flying machine! Standing next to it, makes you feel like a pin prick! What will out perform the "Blackbird"? "Stealth", is a remarkable aircraft, as well! Love it!

DROOL!

It is a pricey book, but well worth it. I bought my copy from Mr. Shul himself at the Reno Air Races several years ago!

That is a beautiful story. Ahh the romance of aviation

Clicked on the link the only thing I get is gizmodo no BB

Epic photo of the SR-71!

I enjoyed the story very, very much! Thank you, Bob!

Look, up in the sky. It's a bird, it's a plane....nevermind, you missed it!
Loved watching these babies at Kadena in 1969. HMC(SS/SW), USN, Ret

absolutely beautiful. To imagine flying at mach 3.2 and outrunning a missile over the African desert must have been the most breath-taking thing in the world. Would love to see one of these sleds in real life one day. Thanks so much for the article!

In Palmdale,California there is "Blackbird Airpark" where one might gaze upon the SR-71 and some other black aircraft. One should access the site on the internet prior departure for the airpark visiting hours. There is no entry fee and pasrking is free. Likewise for the Joe Davies Heritage next door which has more aircraft on display.
WARNING ! Attending these two aircraft parks without a camera can be extremely disappointing. VBG.....
You are clear for takeoff............................

best

Just an unreal pic! Sled Driver seems a must have.

Magnificent !!!

I believe all the excerpts dealing with the missions over Libya are actually from Maj Shul's second book, "The Untouchables", published in 1993. Whereas "Sled Driver" is full of anecdotes about training in and flying the SR-71, "The Untouchables' is solely about the Libya missions, from both aircrew and support points of view. Both are beautiful books, full of Shuls wonderful photos. I managed to order a second-edition copy of "Sled Driver" before they were sold out and found a first-edition copy of "The Untouchables" in the late '90's.
A couple of years after I left Beale and was stationed at Randolph AFB Tx, I ran into a Lt who had been the aide to the Air Division commander at Beale and was given an official copy of the SR-71 group picture.

I saw that people are having trouble seeing this article as I did (just saw this in my Monthly FA email) so I found it at the Australia Gizmodo site. I can't wait to read it after reading through all the comments.

http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2012/10/incredible-shot-of-sr-71-blackbirds-together/

I am very proud to say I have several of Maj. Shuls' books, all personally signed by him. He has an uncanny ability to relate his experiences in print and pictures and they are a delight to read. If you have never seen one of these menacing aircraft then I suggest a visit to the Steven F.Udvar Hazy museum adjacent to Dulles Airport near D.C. There's one parked inside just in front of the Space Shuttle Discovery. AWESOME!

If you'd like to read more about 'oxcart', the plane that the SR-71 was derived from and other things that fly, this is a good read:
http://www.amazon.com/Area-51-Uncensored-Americas-Military/dp/0316202304/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1350192664&sr=8-1

Absolutely incredible story. Thanks.

Truly amazing!
Wayne Gorsek
Embraer Phenom 300 pilot and owner
Founder & CEO
http://www.drvita.com

I wasn´tt wrong about my choice. It´s the most beatiful and amazing jet. The story about pilots asking atc about their ground speed and then the blackbird. Why do the call it sled

Was an AIO living on Kadena in the late 70's. Got pics of my 17 yr old blonde daughter getting suited up in the HABU's Q room. Seems a great figure and a pretty face bypasses security concerns every time. Worked PARPRO mission planning and take for a number of years. Beats spam in a can every time.

Omg! !!!! What a beautiful sight!

Worked in weapons control at NORAD's 27th Air division in Phoenix in the sixties. We got to control test flights out of Edwards AFB on the Blackbirds fighter version(YF12A).What a rush! Normal fighters of the day would run @ Mach .8-.93 @ 30K altitude in there cruise profile. The Norms for the Blackbird were Mach 3.25 @ 75k. and it could engage multiple targets at differant altitudes,directions&speeds without changing it's flight profile. What a machine.Makes you wonder of the classified specs on todays war planes.

Isn't there one missing?

I was a flight surgeon at Beale AFB when the SR-71 became operational and deployed with the 9th SRW to Kadena subsequently. Everything about the operation - the science, the engineering, the organization was (and remains) awe inspiring to me. The level of professsionalism from the enlisted personnel in the PSD to the Pilots and Command Staff was exemplary. Several of the Pilots I knew rose to become General Officers. Reading Major Shul's story takes me back 45years.

I bet you're a really riot at parties.

With apologies, what came to mind reading this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BmianZoxlRw

I see no Blackbirds only a gizmodo site ????