How F-14 and F-15 pilots trained to take down the SR-71
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- čas přidán 2. 11. 2023
- Throughout its three decades of service, the Blackbird famously had over 4,000 missiles of all sorts fired at it, and managed to outrun every single one. But no aircraft is invincible and the Blackbird was no exception.
With looming concerns about high-speed Soviet fighters closing the capability gap, the Air Force decided to pit its Mach 3+ Blackbird against America’s own best fighters, both of which have also become legends in their own right: the U.S. Navy’s Grumman F-14 Tomcat and the U.S. Air Force’s McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle.
But even for these incredible airborne predators, the Habu was no easy meal.
Thanks to Hector Tinoco for editing this video!
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Original Write-Up:
www.sandboxx.us/news/how-f-14...
Colonel Richard H. Graham's books:
www.amazon.com/Complete-Book-...
www.amazon.com/SR-71-Revealed...
Other Citations:
www.sandboxx.us/news/how-hype...
theaviationgeekclub.com/sr-71...
theaviationgeekclub.com/tomca...
/ habubrats71
www.sandboxx.us/news/the-f-14...
theaviationgeekclub.com/f-14-...
theaviationgeekclub.com/sr-71...
www.key.aero/article/legend-s...
www.globalsecurity.org/milita...
theaviationgeekclub.com/the-s...
www.popularmechanics.com/mili...
www.thesr71blackbird.com/Airc....
theaviationist.com/2013/12/04...
theaviationgeekclub.com/vigge...
theaviationist.com/2018/11/29...
I could be wrong about this but I think the viggen actually saved the blackbird. What I mean is if I’m remembering correctly the SR-71 had an engine out just after leaving Soviet airspace. With Soviet interceptors closing in two viggens intercepted them first and the Soviets backed off. That is if I’m getting the story right.
In the late 70's I dated a girl whose stepfather flew 100+ mission over North Vietnam in F-105's including some of the first Iron Hand missions. Then he transitioned to the SR-71 and flew out of Okinawa and Beale until he retired. I was looking some his pictures and awards at the ranch and noticed his 'Mach 3' and '300 Hour' pins. I asked about the '300 Hour' pin because that didn't seem like a lot of hours in a particular aircraft? He grinned and said "At Mach 3+ it doesn't take all that long to get, well, anywhere." He had some great stories.
Neither of the aim 7 and 9 missiles are long range...... Sidewinder has an effective range of around 25 mi and the sparrow has a range of 50 miles.....
The F-14s and F-15s are hot rods. Combined w/advanced radars + missiles for strong BVR capes and it’s not even mildly surprising that they could intercept the SR-71 with current generation radar and BVR ordinance. The fact they could barely get kills with HABUs throwing the game. The F22 having more power than the SR71 seems crazier. But, yes, I know the SR71 gets much of its speed from the ramjet at high speed.
the Blackbird will probably always be my favorite aircraft. the way it was built and designed, its capabilities, just being able to outrun missiles and bullets, and to think she was designed so long ago and was still a marvel of engineering even today, it boggles the mind what aviation engineers are capable of with the tools and materials we have now.
F-15 better fighter, F-14 better interceptor.
I love the estimation of the SR71's radar cross section being that of a Cessna 172 because it makes me imagine some ATC somewhere going "Hey, that looks like a Cessna on radar...but what's it doing at 80,000 feet....and it's going HOW FAST?!?!?"
Not every Blackbird was nicknamed the HABU. Those were only the ones stationed in Japan.
A story about the SR71 that broke apart at M3+ is a story that needs to be told. The piolet that passed and the one that lived through an ejection above 80k and moving at over 2,100 mph deserve to be reminded.
I believe it was Stalin that said “The west will sell us the rope with which we will hang it.” I bet the CIA was laughing itself silly as it was buying Soviet titanium to build the SR-71.
The proudest portion of my AF career was being part of the cadre of the SR-71 wing at Beale AFB (9th SRW). I was there 9 months before we received the first bird. I even had the honor of meeting its designer, Kelly Johnson.
I saw a 15 zoom climb at an airshow.
I used to maintain and operate a system called the MIST. It was primarily used with U2s for microwave links to transfer data. When I was at the L3 West plant in SLC back in the day, I saw a reply of the MIST system tracking a SR71. I guess they managed to stick the articulated dish somewhere in there. Anyway, the system acquired the black bird and tracked it. When it flew over, the system moved so fast to track it, it hit mechanical limits and had to spin around quickly to catch it on the other side of overhead. It really put into perspective how fast those things are.
As a Swede I'm glad you mentioned SAAB JA37 Viggen being the only foreign aircraft with confirmed radar lock(s) on the SR71
I refueled the Blackbird for almost six years. The crews were amazing and their mission planning was stellar. Their routing either in Europe and Asia limited their speed to meet the exact routing. It was a great mission before we built and fielded outstanding satellites. The cost of continuing the program became too costly compared with modern imagery capabilities. A single training mission would run $1M a piece. It was an awesome aircraft before stealth even existed. .
I am commenting here so that this post doesn't disappear. Everything in the 60's was incredible. Landing on the Moon 1969 and today, we can't even leave orbit.
This is one of your all time BEST presentations, Alex. Highly informative and even more Highly Entertaining. Don't ever stop doing this.
The Blackbird is hands down my favorite aircraft ever built.
Imagine how hectic it was inside the cockpit of a Foxbat making the one-way, engine - ending sprint.
Fact: The SR-71 used an astro - intertial navigation system that could determine position with GPS - like accuracy within minutes of departing the hangar, midday.