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#1
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02-24-2009, 12:30 PM
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 Super ********* Poster Rank:90 Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 17,370 17,370Posts 13,736Thanked 99Quoted 5Mentioned 0Contrib. |
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Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird: Mach 3 Reconnaissance Aircraft, 1964-1999
The Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird was a Mach 3 reconnaissance aircraft developed by Lockheed's Skunk Works under designer Kelly Johnson. It first flew in December 1964 and served with the U.S. Air Force from 1966 to 1990, with a brief reactivation from 1995 to 1998. NASA continued operating the aircraft until 1999. Of the 32 built, 12 were lost in accidents and none was lost to enemy action. An SR-71 set speed and altitude records on July 28, 1976, reaching 2,193.2 mph and 85,069 feet. On September 1, 1974, another flew from New York to London in 1 hour, 54 minutes and 56.4 seconds. During a retirement flight on March 6, 1990, aircraft 61-7972 flew from Palmdale, California, to Dulles International Airport in 64 minutes and 20 seconds before entering the National Air and Space Museum collection. The aircraft is shown in cockpit, air-to-air, landing and flyby views. One crash sequence depicts a Lockheed M-21 colliding with its D-21 drone off California on July 30, 1966, not an SR-71. Launch control officer Ray Torick died, while pilot Bill Park survived. |
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#2
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02-24-2009, 12:32 PM
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| Super ********* Poster Rank:90 Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 17,370 17,370Posts 13,736Thanked 99Quoted 5Mentioned 0Contrib. |
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Re: Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird: Mach 3 Reconnaissance Aircraft, 1964-1999
The videos below show low fly-by which give a great shot of the afterburners, and the other video shows... |
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#4
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02-26-2009, 02:19 PM
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| Super ********* Poster Rank:90 Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 17,370 17,370Posts 13,736Thanked 99Quoted 5Mentioned 0Contrib. |
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Re: Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird: Mach 3 Reconnaissance Aircraft, 1964-1999
cool, I didn't know they did planes as micro-machines, only saw cars and pick ups and so foth
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#5
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02-27-2009, 12:51 AM
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 ★ Legacy Member ★ Poster Rank:349 Penis Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 3,611 3,611Posts 1,569Thanked 73Quoted 0Mentioned 0Contrib. |
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Re: Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird: Mach 3 Reconnaissance Aircraft, 1964-1999
I remember seeing the SR-71 fly all the time in the more cash rich/low-tech times of the military. I live in Palmdale and have lived in the area for 32 years almost. Blackbird Park is just down the street from my house and I have a few friends that are firemen at Air Force Plant 42.
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