A little aircraft humor...

[DC_Targa]

Sled Driver, SR-71 Blackbird pilot Brian Shul writes: "I'll always remember a certain radio exchange that occurred one day as Walt (my back-seater) and I were screaming across Southern California 13 miles high. We were monitoring various radio transmissions from other aircraft as we entered Los Angeles airspace. Though they didn't really control us, they did monitor our movement across their scope. I heard a Cessna ask for a readout of its ground speed." "90 knots" Center replied. "Moments later, a Twin Beech required the same." "120 knots," Center answered. We weren't the only ones proud of our ground speed that day as almost instantly an F-18 smugly transmitted, 'Ah, Center, Dusty 52 requests ground speed readout.' There was a slight pause, then the response, "525 knots on the ground, Dusty." "Another silent pause. As I was thinking to myself how ripe a situation this was, I heard a familiar click of a radio transmission coming from my back-seater. It was at that precise moment I realized Walt and I had become a real crew, for we were both thinking in unison." "Center, Aspen 20, you got a ground speed readout for us?" There was a longer than normal pause .... "Aspen, I show 1,742 knots" No further inquiries were heard on that frequency.


In another famous SR-71 story, Los Angeles Center reported receiving a request for clearance to FL 60 (60,000ft). The incredulous controller, with some disdain in his voice, asked, "How do you plan to get up to 60,000 feet? The pilot (obviously a sled driver), responded, "We don't plan to go up to it, we plan to go down to it." He was cleared


http://home.flash.net/~larryd55/sr-71-1t.jpg

[Baritone Black]

I saw a blackbird athe the New Air and Space museum exhibit in Chantilly VA. My father remarked that it was quite large for a stalth jet. I noted that the cockit wasn't half the size it looks in the pictures.

[Agent 69]

The SR-71 is one of my favorite planes. I had the chance to see one do a fly over. It had a big flame coming out of the exhaust on one engine. Man that thing was LOUD!!! It's the loudest plane I have ever heard. The fly was for the Air Force's 40th anniversary. The celebration was held at the Air Force museum in Fairborn Ohio. They had all types of planes doing fly overs. I even saw an U2 :shock:

Shawn
Agent 69

[Justin Martin]

Hehe, those are two good stories. ^_^

I have a book written by Rich Graham (another Sled Driver) called SR-71 Revealed. Cool book, very detailed descriptions of everything from the technology of the plane, (what's declassified anyway) to how they flew missions. It's supprising how many of were built, 50 including A12 and other varients, and how many crashed/never returned, 19.

[chris]

I think one had been based here in Australia for a while, for research purposes, something about the hole in the ozone layer.

I don't know if it is still here though. Nice plane however.

Nice stories as well. ^_^

[DC_Targa]

Anyone ever wonder why the SR-71 was de-classified? It seems odd that such a thing would be done until...

Anyone like donuts on a string?

[chris]

Probably because a replacement for it is already flying.

There has been enough documented evidence of such a thing, flying very high, very fast, and making a very distinctive condensation trail. (the meaning of Dennis' last comment).

[Commander]

There are couple of reasons she was decomissioned. Largely, it is because the plane just doesn't serve a military purpose anymore. Since it is not stealth, it just flew too high to be detected, hence was a great spy plane in the day. With today's technologies, however, the SR-71 stands out like a sore thumb to satellites, no matter how high it goes.

Also, the thing undergoes incredible stress. It had to be constructed very loosely so that all the joints and couplings had room to expand when in use. The "seams", if you will, are so loose that the whole plane leaks like a sieve when it is on the ground. This constant flexing limits the life of the components significantly, and the SR-71 is simply worn out.

[Dogz]

When in the US i was lucky enough to see one on display in the Tusan mussum.....

It was a lot larger then I imagined........just one word for this Baby.....AMAZING

[Sepecat]

Originally posted by DC_Targa
Sled Driver, SR-71 Blackbird pilot Brian Shul writes: "I'll always remember a certain radio exchange that occurred one day as Walt (my back-seater) and I were screaming across Southern California 13 miles high. We were monitoring various radio transmissions from other aircraft as we entered Los Angeles airspace. Though they didn't really control us, they did monitor our movement across their scope. I heard a Cessna ask for a readout of its ground speed." "90 knots" Center replied. "Moments later, a Twin Beech required the same." "120 knots," Center answered. We weren't the only ones proud of our ground speed that day as almost instantly an F-18 smugly transmitted, 'Ah, Center, Dusty 52 requests ground speed readout.' There was a slight pause, then the response, "525 knots on the ground, Dusty." "Another silent pause. As I was thinking to myself how ripe a situation this was, I heard a familiar click of a radio transmission coming from my back-seater. It was at that precise moment I realized Walt and I had become a real crew, for we were both thinking in unison." "Center, Aspen 20, you got a ground speed readout for us?" There was a longer than normal pause .... "Aspen, I show 1,742 knots" No further inquiries were heard on that frequency.


In another famous SR-71 story, Los Angeles Center reported receiving a request for clearance to FL 60 (60,000ft). The incredulous controller, with some disdain in his voice, asked, "How do you plan to get up to 60,000 feet? The pilot (obviously a sled driver), responded, "We don't plan to go up to it, we plan to go down to it." He was cleared


http://home.flash.net/~larryd55/sr-71-1t.jpg


I seen the above two, at A.net. It was posted there last week in a thread called “Funny Radio Transmission” or something like that.

There were some good funny posts in there.

George`

[Mickk]

Originally posted by DC_Targa
Anyone ever wonder why the SR-71 was de-classified? It seems odd that such a thing would be done until...

Anyone like donuts on a string?

Heheh, donuts on a string, good one Targa.

The 'donuts' thing triggered off a random memory about a new hyper-sonic aircraft that made an effect like that some way or another.

I *think* it might be codenamed 'Casper', but I don't know for sure ;)

[chris]

It also was apparently designed to be semi-stealth, at least from the front, with a lower radar profile than other planes, but I guess the problem is those engines..

They create a giant target for heat seaking missiles, and any other device that tracks heat signatures.

But hey, those things would be long gone before any sort of threat could be readied against them.. :D

What could take them out? A SAM? It'd have little chance, and only a few at the time could go to such high altitudes I think, and they had rather poor maneuverability.

A plane might have a better chance, if it were already in the air, maybe a MiG-25 might have a hope, since it was also very speedy, and could apparently go up to about 80,000ft.

It must have annoyed the Soviet defence experts that a plane could operate with such devastating effectiveness, and little could be done about it.

Mickk: I think that aircraft might have been known as Aurora.. But there was also rumours of an XB-70 replacement too, that would function as a spy-plane. Other rumours point to a replacement for the B2 Spirit as well.

It would seem that this is a reasonably accurate representation:

http://www.fas.org/irp/mystery/f121-3-m.jpg

[Mickk]

Heh, I went for a look on the 'Net to see what I could find and I found THIS! (http://www.abovetopsecret.com/pages/aurora.html)

The codename is *NOT* Casper, but 'Aurora' and it's the same plane I was thinking of when Targa said 'donuts on a string' ;)

As for missiles catching it, umm well yes, they would have to try hard!
:p

[DC_apache]

Never let it be said that ground crews and engineers lack a sense
of humor. Here are some actual logged maintenance complaints
and problems, known as "squawks," submitted by QUANTAS pilots and
the solution recorded by maintenance engineers. By the way Quantas is
the only major airline that has never had an accident.
P = The problem logged by the pilot.
S = The solution and action taken by the engineers.

P: Left inside main tire almost needs replacement.
S: Almost replaced left inside main tire.

P: Test flight OK, except autoland very rough.
S: Autoland not installed on this aircraft.

P: No. 2 propeller seeping prop fluid.
S: No. 2 propeller seepage normal. Nos. 1, 3 and 4 propellers
lack normal seepage.

P: Something loose in cockpit.
S: Something tightened in cockpit.

P: Dead bugs on windshield.
S: Live bugs on backorder.

P: Autopilot in altitude-hold mode produces a 200-fpm descent.
S: Cannot reproduce problem on ground.

P: Evidence of leak on right main landing gear.
S: Evidence removed.

P: DME volume unbelievably loud.
S: DME volume set to more believable level.

P: Friction locks cause throttle levers to stick.
S: That's what they're there for!

P: IFF inoperative.
S: IFF always inoperative in OFF mode.

P: Suspected crack in windscreen.
S: Suspect you're right.

P: Number 3 engine missing.
S: Engine found on right wing after brief search.

P: Aircraft handles funny.
S: Aircraft warned to straighten up, fly right, and be serious.

P: Target radar hums.
S: Reprogrammed target radar with words.

P: Mouse in cockpit.
S: Cat installed.

[KyzrSoze]

My cousin Kip worked as a...I guess weapons specialist at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida 20-25 years ago. He was part of a ground crew and his job was to load bombs and missiles onto various aircraft. Back then he was giving my brother and I a tour of the base and he described his encounter with the Blackbird.

His crew was on duty when a call came down to the hangar where they were playing cards or something. The tower had just received word from the Pilot of an SR-71 that they were crossing the Canadian/US border and would be landing in 30 minutes or something insane like that. My cousin's crew were assigned to the plane, and no kidding, the rest of the entire base except essential personnel were sent home. A crew of specialists showed up shortly and took over ground operations, and it was explained to Kip's crew that they would wait in the hangar until the plane was brought inside. When the plane landed, it had to sit on the runway for 15 or twenty minutes. It was explained to him that the plane had to cool down before being brought inside or the heat would peel the paint off the hangar walls, and Kip said that he could see the sharp edges of the aircraft glowing red out on the taxiway. Once the plane was brought inside Kip's crew was only allowed to fuel the plane, while the specialist swarmed over it doing who knows what. Some sections of the plane were covered and blocked from view as the specialists worked. When the plane took off again, Kip only remarked about how incredibly loud it was.

Of course, I know nothing about the aircraft so I do not know how much of what just wrote is accurate. Just how it was related to me.

[Ayce]

^_^ ^_^ ^_^ ^_^ ^_^ ROTFLMAO @ DC-apache. That was absolutly hilarious. Hard to read the last couple for tears rolling down my face.:beer: :HB: :D

[DC_Deuxme]

Darn! I knew someone would eventually get the Aurora connection.

However, once again you can contemplate Dennis' remark. I believe that Aurora could be a planned diversion to better conceal its replacement.

[Venom800tt]

ROFL :rotf:
I actually saw a SR-71 at a museum. It was at Castle AFB (a ex AFB that was turnd into a museum/airport) here in California :D

[Commander]

Kyzr, that is quite correct. Not sure if you read what I wrote about the plane being built with very loose seams, but that is to allow for expansion and flexing when the plane is in use. It gets so hot, that if it was built tightly, it would disintegrate it got so hot that all the panels expanded. As a result, when the plane is on the ground and cold, all the seams and fittings are so loose that it actually seeps fuel and hydraulic fluid, which is normal for that plane. I can just imagine seeing a plane leaking all over the hangar and having a technician explain that "it's supposed to do that" ^_^

[D_Man]

I saw a documentary about the plane once and it was sitting on the airstrip leaking fuel while the technicians were working on it. They showed the gaps in the panels and explained that the plane expanded at altitude and the gaps closed. It all seemed very weird at the time :)

Dave

[blackice111288]

i saw a SR71 blackbird either at Eglin AFB or somewhere in VA. it was longer than i expected. it looked real neat though how the fusalage was shaped

[Justin Martin]

The interesting thing about the fuel leaks, is that since the plane is exposed to such high temps, they have to use a fuel with a very high flash point. So the fuel leaking on the ground isn't much more dangerous than water. You could probably light it off with a blowtorch, but not likely with a match or stray ember/spark.