BeechTalk - BT - SR-71 breakup story

Username Protected · **Posted:** 15 Nov 2013, 17:15

Here's the Link

The best part is his 1st flight afterwards!

And lots of other Stories on his main site: http://www.barthworks.com/aviation/

Username Protected · **Posted:** 15 Nov 2013, 17:25

What an incredible story; I got chills reading it! You're right about the little light in the rear cockpit ... sometimes God has a strange sense of humor.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 15 Nov 2013, 18:44

Thanks for the great read! I enjoyed all of the other links listed at the bottom, especially the Flight Over France.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 15 Nov 2013, 19:20

Bar none, the SR-71 is my very favorite aircraft. I find it sad that a plane has not exceeded its capabilities but it has been retired....supposedly.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 15 Nov 2013, 20:08

Amazing survival!

Username Protected · **Posted:** 15 Nov 2013, 20:47

Riveting tale. Thanks for sharing.

Dale

Username Protected · **Posted:** 15 Nov 2013, 21:12

That is nuts!!!! :bow:

Username Protected · **Posted:** 15 Nov 2013, 21:46

Wow,and I was complaining about some low level bumps earlier today!! :whiteflag:

Username Protected · **Posted:** 15 Nov 2013, 21:50

It was my good luck to be at the end of Edwards years ago working on a construction project. I heard something coming down the runway and just had to go outside and see what it was. A SR-71 was just lifting off early in the day. Magnificent! :rock:

Username Protected · **Posted:** 15 Nov 2013, 22:14

The last tale on the website, "Comments by John L.", is mostly BS. I was at Kadena for 2 1/2 years while the Blackbirds were there. I was a very junior Lieutenant at the time and spent a lot of time in mobile control next to the runway, checking that everyone's gear was down. I watched lots of SR-71 takeoffs and landings and they were never escorted by F-4s. I was flying the F-4 and we had no tasking to escort the SR-71s. We were flying a pretty heavy traing schedule in the F-4. The flights of F-4s mentioned in the article were normal training flights that happened to depart about the same time.

We made no special arrangements for an SR-71 launch. Indeed, I don't think anyone except maybe the wing commander knew when they were going to launch. And there was no need for any special arrangements. The SR-71 was out of his hangar, on the runway and gone in a minute or two so his impact on other operations was negligible.

The article did get one thing right: the sound of an SR-71 taking off is absolutely awesome. The mobile unit sat a hundred yards from the runway and the whole thing shook when the burners lit. I could feel the sound as much as I heard it.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 16 Nov 2013, 19:40

Thanks Marcus, Good stuff