# For fellow SR-71 fanboys... **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 17, 2016, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-fellow-sr-71-fanboys/749328 "2016-03-17T22:48:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2016, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-fellow-sr-71-fanboys/749328/1 "2016-03-17T22:48:21Z")
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](http://foxtrotalpha.jalopnik.com/that-time-an-sr-71-made-an-emergency-landing-in-norway-1765436508) ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2016, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-fellow-sr-71-fanboys/749328/2 "2016-03-17T23:12:33Z")
I like this one … [http://oppositelock.kinja.com/favorite-sr-71-story-1079127041](http://oppositelock.kinja.com/favorite-sr-71-story-1079127041) ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2016, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-fellow-sr-71-fanboys/749328/3 "2016-03-17T23:15:15Z")
> [@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](http://foxtrotalpha.jalopnik.com/that-time-an-sr-71-made-an-emergency-landing-in-norway-1765436508) 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. ---
**Author:** ![thirdname](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@thirdname](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thirdname)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2016, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-fellow-sr-71-fanboys/749328/4 "2016-03-17T23:45:07Z")
Here are some great videos with SR-71 pilot Colonel Richard Graham: [SR-71 Cockpit Checkout](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tj9UwKQKE3A) [SR-71 Pilot Interview Richard Graham Veteran Tales](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CeBu6mRDaro) [SR-71 J58 Engine Tour](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VpZfBFlTC_c) 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/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/](https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/3tktsm/iama_former_sr71_pilot_and_wing_commander_ama_pt2/) ---
**Author:** ![LH75](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lh75/32/4438_2.png) [@LH75](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LH75)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2016, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-fellow-sr-71-fanboys/749328/5 "2016-03-18T01:30:54Z")
In Nebraska we keep our SR71 Blackbirds [indoors](http://s1217.photobucket.com/user/longhair75/media/IMG_0168.jpg.html) 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 ---
**Author:** ![The\_Vorlon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@The\_Vorlon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Vorlon)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2016, 9:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-fellow-sr-71-fanboys/749328/6 "2016-03-18T09:15:38Z")
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… ---
**Author:** ![The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_stainless_steel_rat/32/5727_2.png) [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Stainless_Steel_Rat)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2016, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-fellow-sr-71-fanboys/749328/7 "2016-03-18T12:49:33Z")
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! ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2016, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-fellow-sr-71-fanboys/749328/8 "2016-03-18T13:30:30Z")
> [@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:](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_SR-71_Blackbird#Engines) > [@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.