In most Air Force buildings, at least the flying squadron buildings I used to frequent, there were numerous locations where the base fire marshal had posted information regarding fire classifications and appropriate reactions upon discovering different types of fires.
These posters were displayed in the restrooms, in the halls, near the duty desks, in the crew briefing rooms, and next to all of the fire extinguisher. The whole process from departing Lakenheath until returning back to Lakenheath took about two weeks. During the visit to Beale, I heard and read a number of times that the unclassified speed of the SR was listed as Mach 3-plus.
My dinner partners remembered the fuss over the posters and figured now was an appropriate time and place to get the real scoop as to how high and how fast the Blackbird really did fly. I finally got them leaning in toward me as we sat around the dinner table.
I did a pretty good acting job as I began nervously looking around the room be sure no one else was eavesdropping on what they thought would be a classified conversation. A wonderful aviation poem was written the early days of powered flight. The author is John Gillespie Magee Jr. As Orson Wells recited this poem with his marvellously deep and resonant voice, the final TV pictures for the day were that a T dashing in and out of clouds and doing aileron rolls, etc.
It was a combination of sight and sound that stirred the blood and emotions of everyone who had the slightest interest in airplanes and the wonders of flight. The poem is as follows:. You can even use me as the source document. You must be logged in to post a comment.
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. The initial aircraft were flown completely unpainted, showing a silver titanium skin. They were first painted black in , after the realization that black paint -- which efficiently absorbs and emits heat -- would help lower the temperature of the entire airframe. The "Blackbird" was born. Same plane, different names. The A was soon evolved into a variant that was designed as an interceptor -- a type of fighter aircraft -- rather than a surveillance plane.
Effectively, this meant adding air-to-air missiles and a second cockpit, for a crew member to operate the necessary radar equipment. This new plane, which looked identical to the A except for the nose, was called the YF A third variant was produced around this time, called the M, which had a pylon on its back for mounting and launching one of the first unmanned drones. Two were built, but the program was halted in after a drone collided with its mothership, killing one of the pilots.
Project Habbakuk: Britain's secret attempt to build an ice warship. The final derivative of the A, with a twin cockpit and larger fuel capacity, was called the SR -- for "Strategic Reconnaissance" -- and first flew on Dec. This is the version that would go on to perform intelligence missions for the US Air Force for over 30 years, and a total of 32 were built, bringing the final tally for the Blackbird family to The double cockpit of a Lockheed SR Stealth before stealth.
The fuselage of the SR included some of the very first composite materials ever used in an aircraft, which made the plane harder to spot for enemy radar. Flying at a higher altitude than anti-aircraft fire could reach, faster than a missile, and barely visible to radar, the Blackbird could enter hostile airspace practically undisturbed.
As a result, no Blackbird was ever shot down by enemy fire. I was a crew chief on the KCQ tankers that refueled them. Spent a lot of time at altitude just a few feet away. Something I will never forget. According to the flight manual, page , max Mach when authorized is 3. Mach 3. However, when authorized by the Commander, speeds up to 3.
And if a pilot and aircraft were in danger of being shot down by a SAM you can be sure the pilot was told he did not have to call the Commander and get his permission, he could push the plane beyond C if by doing so he could go fast enough to get away from the SAM, even if it meant he overtemped the engine and would eventually have to eject and the aircraft would be lost.
The whole purpose of designing and building a triplesonic spy plane flying at 80, feet and higher was to take recon photos over enemy territory but NOT risk shooting down the aircraft and the life of the pilot. And if on a recon mission a pilot had to push the aircraft to speeds that caused the limit CIT of C to be exceeded so be it. Shul may be the only Blackbird pilot who ever did because I have never seen any pilot say he pushed a Blackbird to 3.
Every Blackbird pilot has his own personal maximum Mach number and likely every one exceeded 3. No Blackbirds carried tattletale recorders to keep them honest. Your Name:. Your Email Address:. Comment: characters remaining. Evergreen Museum. Pure Speed! SR Blackbird. Got something to say? We want to hear from you! Leave a Comment Daniel Cullen November 21, - pm Always a pleasure seeing art and science collaborate. Earl Holmes December 17, - am Always was inspired by the black hawk any formation on it I would always and still do take time to read it.
Sam Blackwelder March 29, - pm Hello! Geoff April 23, - pm I have read that when it was operational, it set the speed record, but if it was beaten then they would take it up again.
Alan Burch April 27, - am Sam Black Welder even though the aircraft was retired in the top speed and altitude are still classified as Top Secret. Anonymous July 28, - pm I mean I know this thing is fast, but I'm pretty sure it isn't the fastest: I believe that honor goes to the x, the first space plane Anonymous July 28, - pm Nvm, I'm not sure of the authenticity of my source for the x, and the x might not be in the same category as the sr, as it's not an air-breathing vessel, using rocket propulsion Pat Price August 19, - am I had the pleasure of working up close and personal with these amazing aircraft.
Skip hosler October 10, - pm According to the flight manual, page , max Mach when authorized is 3. Follow Us. Upcoming Events.
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