SR71 Blackbird, a great read - Page 2

***RWBlue*** · 10-10-2012, 22:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by JMS

Check out the new Air and Space Museum in VA, they have the Blackbird along with the Concorde, etc, etc, etc. I'm not even into planes and I felt like a kid in a candy shop.

You mean this guy..

At

JBnTX · 10-10-2012, 22:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by Indianashooter

I believe that the Air Force never should have retired it. The only thing I can think of is they must have developed a usable scram jet.

Satellite reconnaissance replaced the SR-71.
Satellites can do it cheaper and more efficiently.

NickC50310 · 10-10-2012, 22:38

Be sure to check out the skunk works special on military channel and great planes!

HollowHead · 10-10-2012, 22:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by NickC50310

Be sure to check out the skunk works special on military channel and great planes!

The SR-71 could fly coast-to-coast during their commercial breaks alone. HH

Al Czervik · 10-10-2012, 22:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by AK_Stick

Would have been a mean fighter if it had panned out.

While not much could hang with it at speed and altitude, a turning radius of 100 miles would not have made for a good fighter.

scwine · 10-10-2012, 22:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Al Czervik

While not much could hang with it at speed and altitude, a turning radius of 100 miles would not have made for a good fighter.

Depends on the objective of the "fighter".

***RWBlue*** · 10-10-2012, 23:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by JBnTX

Satellite reconnaissance replaced the SR-71.
Satellites can do it cheaper and more efficiently.

In theory yes, in reality.....

This is the reason the SR-71 was retired and then brought back. The satellite can do the job, but re-tasking the satellite took too long. Or so I have been told by someone who should have had the right job at that time to know.

HollowHead · 10-10-2012, 23:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by Al Czervik

While not much could hang with it at speed and altitude, a turning radius of 100 miles would not have made for a good fighter.

What would it actually be fighting up there? HH

scwine · 10-10-2012, 23:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by HollowHead

What would it actually be fighting up there? HH

Exactly!

AK_Stick · 10-10-2012, 23:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Al Czervik

While not much could hang with it at speed and altitude, a turning radius of 100 miles would not have made for a good fighter.

No, but it would have been hell on bombers with its ability to hit them, without ever being vulnerable itself.

***RWBlue*** · 10-10-2012, 23:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by HollowHead

What would it actually be fighting up there? HH

UFOs?

AK_Stick · 10-10-2012, 23:16

easier to shoot a target below you, than a target above you.

HollowHead · 10-10-2012, 23:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by AK_Stick

No, but it would have been hell on bombers with its ability to hit them, without ever being vulnerable itself.

Would that not be an interceptor's role, much like the Mig-25 and F-104? Not designed to fight...just get a missle near bombers as fast as possible. HH

AK_Stick · 10-10-2012, 23:30

Yes, I suppose I should have said interceptor.

I was just going off the YF designation when I said fighter.

***faawrenchbndr*** · 10-11-2012, 02:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by w30olds

There is a SR-71 on Display at the Air Museum down in Warner Robins, Ga. Pretty awesome plane! Also have a B-25, B-29 and my favorite the B-1B. Also have a U2 spy plane and a A-10 Warthog. Pretty cool place to visit!

They also have an EC-135N,.....the aircraft Schwarzkopf used in
Desert Storm & Franks used prior to & after Sept 11th.

Restless28 · 10-11-2012, 04:44

At the Huntsville Space and Rocket Center, there is a plane very similar to a SR-71 out front. What is it?

harlenm · 10-11-2012, 05:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Restless28

At the Huntsville Space and Rocket Center, there is a plane very similar to a SR-71 out front. What is it?

A-12?

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_A-12

HexHead · 10-11-2012, 06:03

Problem with the A-12 was that it could overfly it's ordinance.

HexHead · 10-11-2012, 06:20

Some SR-71 pics I took at an air show at Beale AFB in the late 1980s. The SR-71 and the U2 operated out of there. You pretty much had to know someone that worked at the base to see the show, and my business partner's FIL worked at the base. I talked to the SR-71 pilot, he told me when they took off, they were going to fly a short mission, then do a Mach 3 flyover at 80,000 ft and release a fuel trail so you could see them. We were in N. CA, and he told me they'd be over AZ before they slowed down enough to turn around for the landing. Interesting guy.

HexHead · 10-11-2012, 06:21

Watching the U2 being chased by a 5 liter Mustang down the runway while landing was prett cool too. As was the B-52 take off, low altitude fly by and landing. The Thunderbirds were boring as hell compared to the rest of the show. Best air show I've been to!

Tvov · 10-11-2012, 06:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by harlenm

http://t.co/yTNNzTJR

Plus some cool pictures.

That was a good read, thanks!

GVFlyer · 10-11-2012, 08:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Indianashooter

Great read! I believe that the Air Force never should have retired it. The only thing I can think of is they must have developed a usable scram jet.

Satellites, the Key Hole-12 Advanced Crystal/Lacrosse/FIA, do a better job.

professorpinki · 10-11-2012, 09:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by GVFlyer

Satellites, the Key Hole-12 Advanced Crystal/Lacrosse/FIA, do a better job.

Dont forget UAV's.

686Owner · 10-11-2012, 09:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by w30olds

There is a SR-71 on Display at the Air Museum down in Warner Robins, Ga. Pretty awesome plane! Also have a B-25, B-29 and my favorite the B-1B. Also have a U2 spy plane and a A-10 Warthog. Pretty cool place to visit!

I think Dayton has all of that and more.

686Owner · 10-11-2012, 09:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by JBnTX

Satellite reconnaissance replaced the SR-71.
Satellites can do it cheaper and more efficiently.

And more predictably. ie they know when it's coming.