For fellow SR-71 fanboys...

[snfaulkner]

I thought I’d share this article I saw today over on Foxtrot Alpha…

that-time-an-sr-71-made-an-emergency-landing-in-norway

[Duckster]

I like this one …

http://oppositelock.kinja.com/favorite-sr-71-story-1079127041

[Morgyn]

@snfaulkner

I thought I’d share this article I saw today over on Foxtrot Alpha…

that-time-an-sr-71-made-an-emergency-landing-in-norway

Fascinating. I had no idea the plane needed an auxiliary engine to get its turbines up to a safe starting speed. I couldn’t tell from the story if that was needed every time or just in emergencies.

Damn, I love those planes, and I curse the asshole general who ordered the program scrapped and all the blueprints and other information destroyed.

[thirdname]

Here are some great videos with SR-71 pilot Colonel Richard Graham:

SR-71 Cockpit Checkout
SR-71 Pilot Interview Richard Graham Veteran Tales
SR-71 J58 Engine Tour

He also did a couple AMA’s on reddit:
https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/2k06jn/iama_former_sr71_pilot_and_squadron_commander_ama
https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/3tktsm/iama_former_sr71_pilot_and_wing_commander_ama_pt2/

[LH75]

In Nebraska we keep our SR71 Blackbirds indoors

Note: My oldest daughter posing in front of the plane at The Strategic Air Command Museum at the beginning of a St. Patrick’s Day 10k

[The_Vorlon]

You gotta love the most advanced aircraft in the world (that stays in the atmosphere) that was designed before computers, pees like a race horse before it warms up, and has engines you can see thru.

We’ll overlook the whole *engine unstart *issue, however…

[The_Stainless_Steel_Rat]

We have an A-12 (the precursor of the SR71) on display at the Space and Rocket Center here in Huntsville. I still marvel at the thought that something that looks like it should still be in development for a 2050 debut was built in 1962…all hail the Skunk Works!

[Machine_Elf]

@Morgyn

Fascinating. I had no idea the plane needed an auxiliary engine to get its turbines up to a safe starting speed. I couldn’t tell from the story if that was needed every time or just in emergencies.

Standard procedure, I believe. There’s one on display in the Museum of Flight in Seattle, along with an M-21 (an SR-71 variant).

SR-71 engines at Wikipedia:

@Wikipedia

Originally, the Blackbird’s J58 engines were started with the assistance of two Buick Wildcat V8 internal combustion engines, externally mounted on a vehicle referred to as an AG330 “start cart”. The start cart was positioned underneath the J58 and the two Buick engines powered a single, vertical drive shaft connecting to the J58 engine and spinning it to above 3,200 revolutions per minute at which point the turbojet could self-sustain. Once the first J58 engine was started, the cart was repositioned to the other side of the aircraft to start the other J58 engine. Later start carts used Chevrolet big-block V8 engines. Eventually, a quieter, pneumatic start system was developed for use at main operating bases; the V8 start carts remained at diversion landing sites not equipped with the pneumatic system.