The SR-71 Blackbird
The SR-71, commonly called the “Blackbird,” was a long-range strategic reconnaissance jet capable of flying at speeds above Mach 3, developed from the Lockheed A-12 and YF-12A.
The SR-71’s first flight occurred on December 22, 1964, and the first operational aircraft was delivered to the 4200th (later 9th) Strategic Reconnaissance Wing at Beale Air Force Base, California, in January 1966.
The Blackbird represented an entirely new class of aircraft, unlike anything that had flown before.
The SR-71 could fly faster than 2,000 mph. While a few contemporary aircraft could theoretically reach similar speeds using short bursts of afterburner, the Blackbird could sustain its record-breaking velocity for hours at a stretch.
SR-71 RSO F-101 pilot
This story is taken from an unpublished book, “The Very First,” written by Colonel Richard “Butch” Sheffield, who served as an SR-71 Blackbird Reconnaissance Systems Officer (RSO).
“Sometimes, early in the program, in January 1967, I believe, we aborted and landed at Buckley Air National Guard (ANG) Base near Denver. The base was home to an F-101 squadron. The F-101 was an interceptor assigned to defend the US in case of war. The fighter community considered it a ‘hot’ aircraft.”
“After we got out of our pressure suits and arranged for the takeoff the next day, we went to the Officer’s Club wearing loaned flying suits and our white pressure suit boots. The fighter pilots who came around wanted to know all about our aircraft, like how fast, how high, and the rate of climb. What they really wanted was to race us as we climbed out after takeoff. We declined all offers of information and races.”
“The next day, on takeoff roll, an F-101 came upon our wing; he was going to race us whether we wanted to or not. Apparently, the F-101 had been orbiting the field just waiting for our take-off.”
“The SR could climb fast but was no match for the F-101 at those altitudes. He stayed right on our wing up to 25,000 feet, where we leveled off to hit a tanker, as we always did. About the time we leveled off, someone from the F-101 came on UHF and said, ‘You guys aren’t so hot.’ So I replied, ‘How fast can you climb above 80,000 feet?’ The F-101 made a quick exit.”
Check out Habubrats SR-71 and Born into the Wild Blue Yonder Facebook pages for further Blackbird photos and stories.
Photos by U.S. Air Force
