One fast bird

[Carbon_One]

http://www.afasf.org/post.cfm/from-an-sr-71-black-bird-pilot-very-interesting-read

[mraf]

I seen the one at the Air Force Museum in Ohio a few years back. What struck me most about the plane was the size of it. It wasn't a very big plane. In person it looked as if was made by ED Roth. You know, all engine and hardly any plane!

[mbrood]

The time of it's evolution and the technology that was developed just to bring it to life is an amazing stories... It's mission accomplishments will leak out bit by bit and we will all be a bit more astonished. When you read published performance numbers... just smile... remember, some people keep secrets.

[meach]

Used to actually see them come and go from our bomber base when I was stationed in Thailand during Vietnam. They would land and go straight to a hanger, when they took off they would get just part of the way down the runway angle up about 45 degrees or better it looked like, be like a rocket they would be gone so fast, pretty impressive. At night would just see the glow from the afterburners for a few sec. Would be out working along the flight line and just by chance be out there to see em.

[bill in mn]

We had one at our MPLS /St Paul Air National Guard Museum and this plane gives me goose bumps. I went there and we got to get right up to this plane and put our heads in the landing gear , to cool.The reserve National Guard went and disassembled it brought to Minnesota re assembled it and put the SR 71 on display. There is a pilot that comes to Maple Lake airport days ( right by my house) and is fun to talk with but wont tell you much that someone that likes this plane doesn't all ready know.Then they took the plane to the National Museum and we don't have it there any more. I could shot my 7mm. magnum hi power rifle and this plane could slow down to read the writing on the bullet and then leave it in the dust , kind of like a 1st Gen.

[Guest Swifty]

I've visited that particular one at least three times. I'm always amazed at how those tires were good enough to make the last landing. Even more interesting is to listen to the Blackbird pilots give talks at Oshkosh on flying that beast.

[Gary N.]

I saw the one at the PMEA air and space museum (and bone yard) in Tucson AZ a couple of years ago. An awesome looking machine.

http://www.pimaair.org/index.php

[Phoneman1981]

Interesting Read. Thannks for sharing.