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Great article - SR-71 Blackbird...
"One day, high above Arizona, we were monitoring the radio traffic of
all the mortal airplanes below us. First, a Cessna pilot asked the air traffic controllers to check his ground speed. 'Ninety knots,' ATC replied. A twin Bonanza soon made the same request. 'One-twenty on the ground,' was the reply. To our surprise, a navy F-18 came over the radio with a ground speed check. I knew exactly what he was doing. Of course, he had a ground speed indicator in his cockpit, but he wanted to let all the bug-smashers in the valley know what real speed was 'Dusty 52, we show you at 525 on the ground,' ATC responded. The situation was too ripe. I heard the click of Walter's mike button in the rear seat. In his most innocent voice, Walter startled the controller by asking for a ground speed check from 81,000 feet, clearly above controlled airspace. In a cool, professional voice, the controller replied, 'Aspen 20, I show you at 1,742 knots on the ground.' We did not hear another transmission on that frequency all the way to the coast." http://maggiesfarm.anotherdotcom.com...-that-jet.html |
Great article - SR-71 Blackbird...
On Sun, 09 Mar 2008 20:49:11 +0000, Short Wave Sportfishing wrote:
http://maggiesfarm.anotherdotcom.com...-Brian-Shul-I- loved-that-jet.html That's one special plane. I don't know how true it is, but I read somewhere that the SR-71, once ran out of fuel over Tennessee, and still managed to land safely at it's base in Texas. Kelly Johnson's Skunk Works did some amazing development, quickly too. |
Great article - SR-71 Blackbird...
On Sun, 09 Mar 2008 20:23:20 -0500, John H.
wrote: On Sun, 09 Mar 2008 23:10:44 GMT, Short Wave Sportfishing wrote: On Sun, 09 Mar 2008 22:40:01 -0000, wrote: On Sun, 09 Mar 2008 20:49:11 +0000, Short Wave Sportfishing wrote: http://maggiesfarm.anotherdotcom.com...-Brian-Shul-I- loved-that-jet.html That's one special plane. I don't know how true it is, but I read somewhere that the SR-71, once ran out of fuel over Tennessee, and still managed to land safely at it's base in Texas. Kelly Johnson's Skunk Works did some amazing development, quickly too. I'm trying to remember the name of the book, but it detailed the SR-71 and U-2 programs. Came out a couple of years ago. That story about the SR-71 losing fuel is true. There was also one about a U-2 that was returning from a mission over Soviet Russia and ran out of fuel over Anchorage only to land at Nellis AFB. They figured the glide path at altitude with the U-2 could have taken them as far south as Luke or Williams AFB in Arizona. :) I remember during the first Tet Offensive, we were at Bein Hoa AFB on a lay over when the fecal matter started raining down. We were put on temporary assignment to reinforce the "black" hanger where the U-2 planes were until a "special unit" could arrive and take over security. I got a look at one up close and it was freakin' huge - not massive, but just plain huge - the wing span was amazing. The really interesting this were the chase vehicles - Chevy ElCamino SS 396s. Those CIA guys really knew how to live right. :) Did you ever make it to the Special Forces Club at Bien Hoa? Put down a lot of beer staring at the infrared image of Ann Margaret in that place! Never got there, although I remember stories of the picture. We didn't have a lot of time at Bein Hoa. When the CIA security guys showed up from Saigon, we were put in support of a Air Police detachment chasing the NVA off the base. After that, as soon as they could get us out of there and back to Danang, they did. It was safer. :) |
Great article - SR-71 Blackbird...
"John H." wrote in message ... And you can see one of those up close at the new Air and Space Museum! -- John There is also one on display at the main entrance to the San Diego Air and Space museum. That one was the first one I ever saw, other than pictures. http://www.sandiegoairandspace.org/collections/ Eisboch |
Great article - SR-71 Blackbird...
Short Wave Sportfishing wrote:
On Sun, 09 Mar 2008 20:23:20 -0500, John H. wrote: On Sun, 09 Mar 2008 23:10:44 GMT, Short Wave Sportfishing wrote: On Sun, 09 Mar 2008 22:40:01 -0000, wrote: On Sun, 09 Mar 2008 20:49:11 +0000, Short Wave Sportfishing wrote: http://maggiesfarm.anotherdotcom.com...-Brian-Shul-I- loved-that-jet.html That's one special plane. I don't know how true it is, but I read somewhere that the SR-71, once ran out of fuel over Tennessee, and still managed to land safely at it's base in Texas. Kelly Johnson's Skunk Works did some amazing development, quickly too. I'm trying to remember the name of the book, but it detailed the SR-71 and U-2 programs. Came out a couple of years ago. That story about the SR-71 losing fuel is true. There was also one about a U-2 that was returning from a mission over Soviet Russia and ran out of fuel over Anchorage only to land at Nellis AFB. They figured the glide path at altitude with the U-2 could have taken them as far south as Luke or Williams AFB in Arizona. :) I remember during the first Tet Offensive, we were at Bein Hoa AFB on a lay over when the fecal matter started raining down. We were put on temporary assignment to reinforce the "black" hanger where the U-2 planes were until a "special unit" could arrive and take over security. I got a look at one up close and it was freakin' huge - not massive, but just plain huge - the wing span was amazing. The really interesting this were the chase vehicles - Chevy ElCamino SS 396s. Those CIA guys really knew how to live right. :) Did you ever make it to the Special Forces Club at Bien Hoa? Put down a lot of beer staring at the infrared image of Ann Margaret in that place! Never got there, although I remember stories of the picture. We didn't have a lot of time at Bein Hoa. When the CIA security guys showed up from Saigon, we were put in support of a Air Police detachment chasing the NVA off the base. After that, as soon as they could get us out of there and back to Danang, they did. It was safer. :) Safer for you? The NVA? Or those in Danang? |
Great article - SR-71 Blackbird...
On Sun, 09 Mar 2008 20:49:11 GMT, Short Wave Sportfishing
wrote: "One day, high above Arizona, we were monitoring the radio traffic of all the mortal airplanes below us. First, a Cessna pilot asked the air traffic controllers to check his ground speed. 'Ninety knots,' ATC replied. A twin Bonanza soon made the same request. 'One-twenty on the ground,' was the reply. To our surprise, a navy F-18 came over the radio with a ground speed check. I knew exactly what he was doing. Of course, he had a ground speed indicator in his cockpit, but he wanted to let all the bug-smashers in the valley know what real speed was 'Dusty 52, we show you at 525 on the ground,' ATC responded. The situation was too ripe. I heard the click of Walter's mike button in the rear seat. In his most innocent voice, Walter startled the controller by asking for a ground speed check from 81,000 feet, clearly above controlled airspace. In a cool, professional voice, the controller replied, 'Aspen 20, I show you at 1,742 knots on the ground.' We did not hear another transmission on that frequency all the way to the coast." http://maggiesfarm.anotherdotcom.com...-that-jet.html And you can see one of those up close at the new Air and Space Museum! -- John |
Great article - SR-71 Blackbird...
On Sun, 09 Mar 2008 23:10:44 GMT, Short Wave Sportfishing
wrote: On Sun, 09 Mar 2008 22:40:01 -0000, wrote: On Sun, 09 Mar 2008 20:49:11 +0000, Short Wave Sportfishing wrote: http://maggiesfarm.anotherdotcom.com...-Brian-Shul-I- loved-that-jet.html That's one special plane. I don't know how true it is, but I read somewhere that the SR-71, once ran out of fuel over Tennessee, and still managed to land safely at it's base in Texas. Kelly Johnson's Skunk Works did some amazing development, quickly too. I'm trying to remember the name of the book, but it detailed the SR-71 and U-2 programs. Came out a couple of years ago. That story about the SR-71 losing fuel is true. There was also one about a U-2 that was returning from a mission over Soviet Russia and ran out of fuel over Anchorage only to land at Nellis AFB. They figured the glide path at altitude with the U-2 could have taken them as far south as Luke or Williams AFB in Arizona. :) I remember during the first Tet Offensive, we were at Bein Hoa AFB on a lay over when the fecal matter started raining down. We were put on temporary assignment to reinforce the "black" hanger where the U-2 planes were until a "special unit" could arrive and take over security. I got a look at one up close and it was freakin' huge - not massive, but just plain huge - the wing span was amazing. The really interesting this were the chase vehicles - Chevy ElCamino SS 396s. Those CIA guys really knew how to live right. :) Did you ever make it to the Special Forces Club at Bien Hoa? Put down a lot of beer staring at the infrared image of Ann Margaret in that place! -- John |
Great article - SR-71 Blackbird...
On Mon, 10 Mar 2008 00:36:57 GMT, Short Wave Sportfishing
wrote: On Sun, 09 Mar 2008 20:23:20 -0500, John H. wrote: On Sun, 09 Mar 2008 23:10:44 GMT, Short Wave Sportfishing wrote: On Sun, 09 Mar 2008 22:40:01 -0000, wrote: On Sun, 09 Mar 2008 20:49:11 +0000, Short Wave Sportfishing wrote: http://maggiesfarm.anotherdotcom.com...-Brian-Shul-I- loved-that-jet.html That's one special plane. I don't know how true it is, but I read somewhere that the SR-71, once ran out of fuel over Tennessee, and still managed to land safely at it's base in Texas. Kelly Johnson's Skunk Works did some amazing development, quickly too. I'm trying to remember the name of the book, but it detailed the SR-71 and U-2 programs. Came out a couple of years ago. That story about the SR-71 losing fuel is true. There was also one about a U-2 that was returning from a mission over Soviet Russia and ran out of fuel over Anchorage only to land at Nellis AFB. They figured the glide path at altitude with the U-2 could have taken them as far south as Luke or Williams AFB in Arizona. :) I remember during the first Tet Offensive, we were at Bein Hoa AFB on a lay over when the fecal matter started raining down. We were put on temporary assignment to reinforce the "black" hanger where the U-2 planes were until a "special unit" could arrive and take over security. I got a look at one up close and it was freakin' huge - not massive, but just plain huge - the wing span was amazing. The really interesting this were the chase vehicles - Chevy ElCamino SS 396s. Those CIA guys really knew how to live right. :) Did you ever make it to the Special Forces Club at Bien Hoa? Put down a lot of beer staring at the infrared image of Ann Margaret in that place! Never got there, although I remember stories of the picture. We didn't have a lot of time at Bein Hoa. When the CIA security guys showed up from Saigon, we were put in support of a Air Police detachment chasing the NVA off the base. After that, as soon as they could get us out of there and back to Danang, they did. It was safer. :) I'll say this - it took more than sirens to get those SF guys to leave a pitcher of beer on the table. If the damn building wasn't shaking, they stayed and drank. What a rip. -- John |
Great article - SR-71 Blackbird...
On Sun, 09 Mar 2008 20:20:41 -0500, John H.
wrote: And you can see one of those up close at the new Air and Space Museum! I was just there. Here's a few pics of the SR-71 they have the http://www.flickr.com/photos/sss_udv...81139456/show/ It's a tough place to photograph since it's kind of dark in a lot of areas. If you're interested in seeing more pics from there, here they a http://www.flickr.com/photos/sss_udvar_hazy/show/ These pictures capture only a small percentage of what's there. It's well worth the trip for any aviation buff. Steve |
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