The USAF's SR-71A two-seat strategic-reconnaissance aircraft originates from the remarkable Lockheed A-11, detail design of which began in 1959. Almost certainly intended to follow into service the Lockheed U-2, the A-11 derived from the design team led by C. L. 'Kelly' Johnson. Four A-11 were ordered, the first being flown on 26 April 1962.
Three were later modified into YF-12A interceptors, entering service for evaluation in 1964. They were capable of speeds in excess of Mach 3 and of sustained supersonic flight at heights of up to 24,385m. Consequently construction was largely of titanium to maintain structural integrity, for as a result of kinetic heating, localised skin temperatures of up to about 427°C could be reached. To retard as much as possible the effects of such heating, these aircraft were finished in a high-heat-emissive black paint, leading to the name Blackbird.
The fourth A-11 (ordered on the original contract) was subsequently redesignated YF-12C. From it was developed the SR-71A reconnaissance aircraft, the first of which flew on 22 December 1964. The readily recognisable configuration of this aircraft results from extensive wind-tunnel testing to evolve a minimum-drag fuselage providing maximum speed while keeping kinetic heating to the minimum; and to maintain the best possible handling characteristics at supersonic, take-off (about 370km/h) and landing (about 278km/h) speeds.
Power plant comprises two 144.6kN Pratt & Whitney turbojets. The 36,287kg of special fuel for these engines - which is contained within upper-fuselage and inner-wing tanks - acts as a heat sink for the entire aircraft, fuel temperature being raised to 320°C before being injected into the engines. Highly complex air intakes with computer-controlled fail-safe systems are essential to ensure that smooth airflow to the engines is maintained over the enormous forward speed range of 0-3,200km/h, at the upper limit of which the engines are virtually operating as turbo-ramjets. SR-71A began to enter USAF service in January 1966 and it is believed that as many as 31 may have been built. They have the capability to survey an area of 155,400km2 within an hour and in 1976 established a closed-circuit speed record of 3,367.221km/h; a world absolute speed record of 3,529.56km/h; and a sustained-altitude record of 25,929.031m.
I had the pleasure of working in the Program from December 69 to May of '76 when I retired from the AF. My years at Beale and Kadena were the highlight of my AF Career. I never tired of watching the "bird" come and go!! I worked in the Photo Lab at Beale and the mobile unit at Kadena. Made a number of trips in the back of KC-135 to and from Okinawa. I am convinced that the people I worked with and those in the program were, without doubt, some of the finest the AF had to offer. It was a sad moment for me when I watched the l
Worked the flight line at Kadena from 1970 to 1974. Watched many SR-71s take off. On one clear cloudless day two blackbirds taxied out. First one rolled into position hit the trottle. By taxiway 2 the front was up at about 20 deg. By taxiway 3 the whole plane was at about 60 deg. I looked at my watch and within 15 seconds he was out of sight. I waited until I could no longer hear him. It was 20 minutes. I still get goose bumps.
Like the Valkyrie, one of the most outstanding and impressive aircraft ever built! Beautiful yet kind of predatory at the same time, a true aviation classic by Lockheed!
I spent 12 years in the Air Force, Security Police, and my last station was Macdill AFB, Fl. While I was there, I had the opportunity to see the SR several times. I've Always been a big aircraft fan, and used to know about most of the aircraft we had in inventory at the time, and what most of their mission capabilities were. A couple times while working in dispatch, I received calls from the WCP (Wing Command Post) that there was an IFE (In Flight Emergency) on call sign yada-yada.. with the designated problem. I figured, "OK, plane in trouble", so WCP gave the time inbound as like 20 minutes, more to follow. Well after decoding everything in a few seconds, I'm on the radio calling units to respond to both ends of the runway ASAP for the aircraft with orders to follow it to one of the hangers. When it landed and pulled into the hanger, my thoughts were, "20 minutes out,... must have been over Arizona!", lol. Upon being able to look this craft over, from the perspective we were allowed, all I could think, was how awesome it must be to fly one of those birds. Hats off to Lockheed for their ingenuity and forward thinking, and for their service to our country.
was station at beale afb from 66 to 1970 made may trips across the pond as a kc135q crew chief in support of the 71s which i earned the air medal at this time
Stationed at Beale 1982-85, Avionic Comm tech, got to watch an SR being fueled in the air from the boom pod of kc tanker, awesome. Sat in the cockpit to preflight for missions, watched one drop in the hanger to the ground on one wing after the landing gear was not properly secured. Those guys are probably still in Levenwourth!
I was a maintenance officer at Beale and had several friends who flew the "Blackbird". I was not in the 9th SRW but was always impressed by this plane. It leaked fuel like a seive on the ground due to expansion panels in the fuselage...and the area beneath the a /c was covered with "drip pans". Once it was airborne, no more leaks but a helluva lot of speed. Photos taken from altitude were amazingly sharp. A "Blackbird" pilot friend took a photo from + /- 35,000 of the housing area and I could pick out our house without any problem. I can only imagine what recce can do today. GOD bless the military! It was an honor and privilege to serve for 31 years...rd
Was in Okinawa from 83-87 at Kadena AFB, my wife (Bev) lived on Kadena, the frist time I heard the SR-71 take off threw me out of bed. The powerful noise that the SR-71 pushse out of those powerful engines are awsome, if you where there you could tell when that mighty plane was getting ready for take off. Worked at the marina and when they ran engines make sure you had your mickie-mouse earson, you can not hear a thing. I remeber when the rubber duckie was on and SR-71 squdroon was in the race the Black Bird may a fly by , how cool was that, what a plane.
I worked in ground radar during the Vietnam war. I had the opportunity to handle this aircraft in Okinawa and in Vietnam. At the time the SR-71 was a restricted aircraft, meaning it was housed in the hangars before and after every flight.....no cameras. Even though they were deployed to Okinawa, you couldn't just walk up to one and check it out. For missions, they came out of the hangar hot, hit the runway and were gone. They came back the same way. The speed of over 2K mph and altitude over 80K ft.was unmatched by any other manned aircraft of the time. With a 250 mile radius on the scope, we would only "paint" them 3 times and they were gone. In Vietnam we would bring them in and track them over Laos and Thailand. They would do their job and be gone before the enemy could scramble anything from the ground. I see comments here from pilots and technicians for this aircraft. Being part of the team was an awesome experience.
When the Blackbird was retired to Dayton Air Museium,I was on the road south of Cinncinatti. I hurried home, got my wife and drove to Dayton to see it come in.It made several passes over the field to burn off fuel and then landed. Several days later we went to the museium and it was on display. WOW, what a bird.
I'm curious about fuel as heat sink on the Blackbird. Without divulging classified information, can anyone answer questions? (I have only enough understanding to be stupid!) Does the fuel have to be in contact w / the outer surface to achieve the heat sink? If so, what displaces the burned fuel? How much, if any, additional fuel has to be kept on board to provide this function? Or, at some point, is the heat dealt w / by some other method than the fuel heat sink so that, by some point in the deceleration to land, only the normal fuel reserves are sufficient for heat sink purposes? (I have seen statements that fuel was "part of" the heat sink "system.")
Back in the early 70's, will flying in a search in Colorado, I got to see the ATC tape that showed the path of a missing aircraft. It would be a dot every few inches, also there were two dots at each end of the read-out. I was told that was an SR-71.
In 1983 at the age of 15 I spent a summer in Okinawa visiting my sister and brother in law who were stationed at Kadena AFB. I was playing golf on the base golf course when a BB took off and flew right over our heads. It was amazing!! The plane appeared to be going fairly slow, all of a sudden it angled upward, engaged its afterburners, and took off like a saturn rocket, climbing like mad and amazingly loud! It was gone from sight in no time. I'm so glad I got to see that plane take off - it's one of my best memories from what was an amazing summer.
Wish I could share my memories of the early days of the Blackbird. (I crossed my heart and was told I would die if I did.) The first aircraft I worked on (ship 2) is now sitting on the deck of Intrepid in NYC, along with a Buick start cart. I finished my years at LCC running production flight test at Palmdale and arranging deliveries to Beale. I knew all the Lockheed pilots and many of the early AF pilots from Beale. Such a fun and exciting life for a young ex-Navy pilot /engineer. I was scheduled for a suit and back seat assignment in the test SR-71 but a new baby derailed my career track. Never got to fly in it, but sat in it occasionally and chased them down the runway in a truck.
Need to correct my base it was Mountain Home AFB ID where the BB made its emergency landing. Sry went to Bergstrom AFB the Homestead AFB after that been a few years since then LOL
I remember when an SR-71 had engine trouble over SE Asia and had to call for an emergency landing in the 70's. I was on the flight line at Homestead AFB Id when they shut down the base closed all roads to and from for 70 miles in all directions. It took him a very short time to arrive and land. Of course it took a few hours for the repair crews from CA to get there.LOL We had to sign our lives and that of the next 15 generations away if we ever mentioned it. Slept on the flight line for the next three days with my three sons in the car even though we lived on base no movement was allowed. That has to be the greatest memory of our family outings in 22 yrs with the AF. Recently was in Kansas and visited there museum nearly died when I walked in the door and one was hanging from the ceiling in the lobby had the pilots seat and suit displayed underneath and could see down in the cockpit from the balcony. Plan on going back this fall and take my good camera. Even though I live next door to the runway for the B-1's in Tx and have been around the stealth fighters and bombers I still love the BB. Often wonder when they will be flying again as they are still able to just not needed for visual aids as much any more.
I had the good fortune of being assigned to the 9th srw at Beale AFB 1972-73 and was a tech on one of the sensor systems. I still can hardly believe the capabilties of this plane and its systems. Being part of this program still makes me proud thirty some odd years later and is an experience I will never forget.
