If any of you are into military aircraft....

[red95gts]

http://www.greatdanepromilitary.com/SR-71/index.htm

Pretty cool flash movie put together by a former SR-71 pilot.

As a kid, I was really into the SR-71 and my Dad was a KC-135 crew member who often refueled them over California in the 80s.

Neat shit.... :)

[Guffinator]

Very nice.

When I first got to Germany and was training on F-16's my instructor was a former Blackbird 'chief. He told me some interesting stuff. In a nutshell...the plane was much faster then the public is led on to think.

[FE_rex]

Cool video.

It’s a shame most people are ignorant of the sacrifices and effort made for them to be oblivious of freedom’s cost.

[Guffinator]

Cool video.

It’s a shame most people are ignorant of the sacrifices and effort made for them to be oblivious of freedom’s cost.

Most people just want to bitch about Bush these days. They have no loyalty to our beloved country, they only want what they can get their hands on.

[Saleen91]

What gets me is how old this technology is, and that's it decommissioned. I read a story about the Navy's Sea Stealth. It's old, declassified, and they're willing to GIVE IT AWAY now. But it makes me wonder, if that's the old "secret shit" what's the new "secret shit" like?

[trbstang]

That is one of my favorite aircraft. We visited the one on display in Mobile on our way to Disneyworld back in 2000. I'll have to watch the video when I get home.

Thanks D!

[Timebomb]

My wifes uncle that recently passed away was a very high level tech representative for Lockeed Martin and worked exclusively on the U2 project and later on in the development of the blackbird. Some of the stories he has told me I will never forget including some first hand accounts of the Gary Powers incident. I can't wait to watch this in a couple of days.

[red95gts]

What gets me is how old this technology is, and that's it decommissioned. I read a story about the Navy's Sea Stealth. It's old, declassified, and they're willing to GIVE IT AWAY now. But it makes me wonder, if that's the old "secret shit" what's the new "secret shit" like?

I agree. Stuff like this is still amazing to this day, yet was built on 1950s and 60s technology, which is archaic to say the least. I can only imagine what would be capable with today's technology, but I bet it would have an iPod dock...:)

[HoustonLX]

I remember reading some very interesting facts about that aircraft once before. The one thing that stuck in my mind was how all the panels on the outer skin had to be made slightly undersize to accomidate for the expansion which resulted from the intense heat created at such high speeds. When sitting on the ground, the aircraft would literally leak jeat fuel from everywhere. So much fuel was lost from leaking and take-off that it would have to immediately refuel once in the air. It wasn't until it climbed and really got going fast that the heat would cause the panels to expand and finally seal the fuel cells.

[Rusman]

Most people just want to bitch about Bush these days. They have no loyalty to our beloved country, they only want what they can get their hands on.

Yep, just wait about 3 or 4 years, many of them will change their mind. Hopefully it will be enough to get another change in government.

[57x]

Most people just want to bitch about Bush these days. They have no loyalty to our beloved country, they only want what they can get their hands on.


... and the best part is the current regime just cut major funding for the F-22 and may have to leave participation in the Joint Strike Fighter. Maybe we need to keep those 50's and 60's planes.

[Saleen91]

I saw an SR71 in person at the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum near Dulles. It was amazing how close you could get it. BTW the Enola Gay is there too. What'a striking piece of history, and it's practically butted up next to the SR71.

What caught my attention was the swatches of carpet placed in specific places underneath the SR71 to catch the many leaks it has. I can only assume that the jet engines are still in the one at the Smithsonian as it looks like oil drips.