How To Fly An SR-71 Blackbird

[Blue_Tires]

How To Fly An SR-71 Blackbird
We've read what it feels like to fly the SR-71 Blackbird. Now learn how to do it yourself. Here's the Air Force's official, and recently declassified, operations manual for the gorgeous, evil-looking spy plane. Who wants to go 2112 mph?

A few quick tips: Stalls, spins, and inverted flight are strictly prohibited. Maximum Mach is Mach 3.2, or 2112 mph at 40,000 feet. The cockpit sunshades are officially known as "bat wings." Detailed cold and hot weather procedures have not been established, and Survival Quick Launch should only be used to avoid destruction of the aircraft. You have been warned.

Note: This is the manual's first section, entitled "The Aircraft." We've also included excerpts from sections dealing with supersonic acceleration, extreme conditions, bailout, and maximum Mach. See it all in one horrific-to-load page here.

http://jalopnik.com/5532546/how-to-fly-an-sr+71-blackbird/gallery/

[denbot]

1. I could not resist touching one at Edward's Air Force Base

I worked there during the 80's and was surprised at how small it was in person. For some reason I expected a larger craft.

[Blue_Tires]

4. I got to see AF1 at Edwards and some other fun stuff as well...

[tango-tee]

6. I was a US Navy jet engine mechanic for ten years

but had no chance of getting anywhere within miles of that aircraft. What a piece of engineering!

[AngryAmish]

7. In NY there is one on an aircraft carrier

Actually it was an older model but cool nonetheless. Lots of signs says do not touch. I touched it. 'cause I'm an f'n rebel.

[pokerfan]

15. On a carrier?

:shrug:

[A HERETIC I AM]

18. It is on the USS Intrepid, docked at pier 86, at 46th street on the Hudson...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intrepid_Sea-Air-Space_Museum

I've been onboard her also. Did a display for NEXTEL's NASCAR effort on the pier next to her in December 2004.

[pokerfan]

19. I would like to see a Blackbird try to take off from a carrier

let alone land on one.

[backscatter712]

21. The USS Intrepid's a museum ship.

It's got an A-12 (the predecessor to the SR-71, which looks nearly identical), and a Concorde, among many other aircraft.

No, they didn't fly onto the ship and land with arrestor cables...

[pokerfan]

22. Maybe it's just me

but I think a carrier museum should have carrier aircraft.

[MrScorpio]

8. I saw plenty of U2s at Osan

But I was never stationed anywhere near a Blackbird

[Ikonoklast]

12. That surprised me, too.

I saw one of the first ones decommissioned after it was flown to WPAFB to be put on static display.

New aircraft for the museum are taken to a hangar for temporary display before being gone through and restored, have fuel and other fluids drained, and taken to one of the main buildings.

Most people never go the other buildings; there is so much to see in the main museum, I guess.

I took the kids, we spent the day, went to the annex and saw the Blaackbird, with metal pans underneath it to collect the fuel dripping out of it. We were the only ones there.

You could reach up and touch the wing, and bump your head on the engine nacelle if you didn't duck.

Marginally bigger than an F-15.

[realisticphish]

23. I've seen the one at Wright Pat

the AF Museum is one of the few benefits to living in Ohio :D

I NEVER get sick of it. I've probably been there 10-15 times in my 25 years. When I finally saw the Smithsonian A&S Museum last year, I was severely disappointed. WP kicks its ass in almost every way

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

24. Funny, I saw one at Lackland, I thought it was big.

It's just sitting there on display. I was amazed at how big it is. Compared to the obsolete fighters parked nearby.

The one at Lackland was a different model than the one in your picture. It only has one cockpit, not the "piggyback" dual cockpit in the picture.

Just an awesome airplane.

:hi:

[brendan120678]

2. Very very fast!

[Deep13]

3. Step one: find a qualified pilot which I am not. nt

[Blue_Tires]

10. Actually, step one for me is to FIND an SR-71 available for a 'test drive'

[Rabrrrrrr]

5. I bet I could crash one! I bet I could crash the living shit out of it better than anyone!

Just sayin'.

[denbot]

13. I bet with proper training, one could punch a really big hole in the desert with a SR-71

Not suggesting, just saying..

[jobycom]

9. So no barrel rolls?

[av8rdave]

11. Interesting link. I had long forgotten how poorly written Air Force dash ones are

I think I still have a couple in the attic somewhere...have to see if I can find them.

[guitar man]

14. WARNING

Airspeed may increase rapidly after Mach 1.1 is reached. :evilgrin::evilgrin::evilgrin:

pg 51 :P

[RZM]

16. Just don't stick chewing gum on the surveillance camera . . .

Hopefully someone gets that ;)

[Blue_Tires]

25. I'm with you...

I was about the same age of those kids in the movie when i saw it...B-)

[Orrex]

17. Heh heh. "Bat wings."

I hate when that happens.

[backscatter712]

20. One of the pics in the comments is badass!

It was captioned as being a picture of the last time the SR-71's J58 engine would ever run - the engine was on a test stand, and it was burning the remainder of the Air Force's inventory of JP-7 fuel.

The entire back end of the engine was glowing bright orange - that's how hot it gets! :wow: