Pilot Shares Amazing Inspirational Story About Flying The SR-71 Blackbird!

a reply to: OrionsGem

A-12 flew faster / higher than the SR-71 . better camera but the SR-71 had more Elint systems. Bill Park took an A-12 to 90,000 feet.


ROADRUNNERS INTERNATIONALE

Amazing cockpit. Very limited view and no HUD or MFDs or fly by wire for this thing just old analogue gauges. Compared to something like an F-16C it looks ancient.

F-16C


SR-71 cockpit


SR-71 backseat

a reply to: Zaphod58

So what did I take a picture of at SAC? It sounds like you guys are saying it is an A-12 but at Sac everything posted said it was an SR-71 and they seemed to be very proud of the fact. I wouldn't put it passed them to be wrong but I would be surprised to hear it.

a reply to: sputniksteve

The SAC bird is an SR-71A ( S/N 61-7964). It seats two.

originally posted by: Zaphod58
a reply to: OrionsGem

OK so in the future find your own damn answers since I apparently don't post up to your standards.

LOL I never asked you anything, try doing what you do in real life and see what results you get.

I cant possibly imagine my threads surviving without your guidance and mentor-ship and omnipresence.

I will try to soldier on, but this loss will be felt throughout the community, please reconsider?

OG

originally posted by: ajsr71
a reply to: OrionsGem

A-12 flew faster / higher than the SR-71 . better camera but the SR-71 had more Elint systems. Bill Park took an A-12 to 90,000 feet.

Thanks now thats a great answer, from the person to whom the question was asked.

Is the difference in the flight envelopes that drastic? I mean the A12 looks like a carbon copy of the SR71?

OG

a reply to: Sammamishman

Ok thanks. Btw for who ever mentioned the boy in the picture, was my son and he had a blast there. He took is Airliner plane but came home with an SR-71, Space Shuttle, and Raptor models. He got major spoiled yesterday. We had fun playing planes last night. I am pretty sure I had more fun that anyone though.

a reply to: OrionsGem
The A-12 came first ( ff 1962) , then the YF-12A followed by the M-21 then the SR-71 ( ff Dec 1964)

Nose of the A-12 was shorter / sharper and flatter underneath, the boat tail did not extend beyond the trailing edge. Internal construction was different.

ROADRUNNERS INTERNATIOANLE

originally posted by: ajsr71
a reply to: OrionsGem
The A-12 came first ( ff 1962) , then the YF-12A followed by the M-21 then the SR-71 ( ff Dec 1964)

Nose of the A-12 was shorter / sharper and flatter underneath, the boat tail did not extend beyond the trailing edge. Internal construction was different.

ROADRUNNERS INTERNATIOANLE

I can totally see the difference in the nose shape, cant really tell unless you have both side by side..thanks for the link!

OG

a reply to: ajsr71

What I am now interested in, is did any other country ever build aircraft that could operate at the altitudes and speed these did? I can't believe no one has reproduced this since 19070 or whenever.

a reply to: sputniksteve

Russian Mig-25 Foxbat did mach 3.2

originally posted by: JimTSpock
a reply to: sputniksteve

Russian Mig-25 Foxbat did mach 3.2

Yea but didn't it run out of fuel real quick and still could not reach the sr71s altitude?

OG

a reply to: OrionsGem

Had it's first flight in 1964 and that's right much shorter range than the Blackbird and apparently was the first to go above 115,000ft. Not a bad plane for the time.

a reply to: JimTSpock

The Foxbat I will always admire, its huge gigantic engines were the real reason for its performance...

OG

a reply to: OrionsGem

The Foxbat had a slight problem though apparently it could only do mach 3.2 for a short time because the engines would overheat and die, but it did achieve a record of 123,000ft in a zoom climb. Now that is high. I wonder how high the Blackbird ever got? Anyone?

www.globalaircraft.org...

originally posted by: JimTSpock
a reply to: OrionsGem

The Foxbat had a slight problem though apparently it could only do mach 3.2 for a short time because the engines would overheat and die, but it did achieve a record of 123,000ft in a zoom climb. Now that is high. I wonder how high the Blackbird ever got? Anyone?

www.globalaircraft.org...

Looks like its still being used by Russia for those edge of space flights...all you need is a boatload of money and your set!

OG