SR-71 Blackbird - How to Fly the World's Fastest Aircraft
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- čas přidán 25. 09. 2014
- During the Cold War, the US Air Force operated the world's fastest air-breathing aircraft - the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird.
It was a plane which flew at the edge of space; so high that most other jet engines would seize because of the lack of air. A plane that flew so fast that its airframe heated and grew during flight. A plane that, if needed, could outrun missiles launched to bring it down. Amazing stories of the Cold War's ultimate spy plane
The Lockheed SR-71 was a product of airplane maker Lockheed's Skunk Works, a secretive project which came up with some of the world's most advanced aircraft. It was designed after the loss of a U-2 spyplane over the Soviet Union in 1960 -- a plane thought to fly too high to be shot down. The Blackbird would fly even higher, and at speeds of Mach 3.3 it would be fast enough to outrun any missile fired at it.
From 1966 until its last mission in 1989, the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird flew thousands of missions around the globe, photographing military installations from China to Egypt, the Arctic Circle to North Korea.
Colonel Rich Graham flew the Blackbird from 1974 until the mid-1980s, first as a mission pilot and then as a trainer. He later took command of all Blackbird detachments -- in California, Mildenhall in the UK and at Kadena on the Japanese Island of Okinawa.
Here, he talks about what made the SR-71 such a remarkable aircraft to fly and operate.
That has to be the sexiest man made machine ever built. It doesn't matter from what angle you look at it, it's simply too beautiful
One of the most memorable experiences in my life was getting to see this bird take off.
At every U.S. Air Force air shows in the 80s I took my boys too, there was usually a Black Bird on display and getting ready to take off. It was aways a thrill and a sense of pride to observe its power.
I got to watch an SR-71 fly at an airshow at March Air Force Base when I was a teenager in the late 80's. I'll never forget it. Even below mach speed it was an amazingly fast & loud aircraft & sinister looking in sleekness.
Genuinely amazes me how these things are designed and made. So many 'but how' moments. Unreal.
This is the only plane I'd let Concorde take a bow at.
I touched the SR-71 at Duxford. I've dreamed about this aircraft all of my life and to see and touch it was amazing
AWESOME PLANE AT IT TIME, And these guy's that flew them had "BALLS". THANK YOU, MY FAVORITE AIRCRAFT!
The pilots of this magnificant aircraft are the only true ones worthy of saying "I am speed.."
everything about this airframe was a miracle.
Papy gave monumental payload of info that no one ever cared to give out or explain the why and the whats! Thank you so much from an avid SR71 enthusiast.
One of the coolest toys America ever made
A dream machine in all aspects :)
If you want to see one in person, come to the Museum of Aviation in Warner Robins, GA. You can get up-close and personal to check one out.
What an amazing aircraft! I have a diecast model of one. Makes me gasp each time I look at it. Beautiful piece of engineering
Alien tech. 100%
SR71 = USA at its best.
It used to fly into raf akatiri incyprus under the darkest of nights
Wow amazing plane SR-71 was nice video again
I was lucky enough to see the one that flew last flight to Wash DC /N. VA from Calif in 1990. Saw it coming in off Rt. 270 from West and did not know it set world record that day as I saw it angle for final approach but it stood out clearly and beautiful day. It was really coming in fast, and truly looks like something from outer space in real life.