StanMac Loc: Tennessee

Sad but true. The problem is that it is not the people that are making it dangerous - the power hungry leaders in the world who demonize other countries to reinforce their standing are the culprits. I fear for my son’s future in the world with the direction it is going. I won’t be around to experience the worst of it.

Stan

texasdigital Loc: Conroe, Texas

With today’s hypersonic missiles that may be a different scenario but in its day the SR 71 had more than 4000 missiles shot at it and not one of them came close to connecting.

joecichjr Loc: Chicago S. Suburbs, Illinois, USA

Excellent shots🖤💢🖤

k2edm Loc: FN32AD

from what I read, over 4,000 "things" were shot at it, none sucessfully. Was a fun job, full of wierd things. I was cleared for it....(secret/sa) ...it was cancelled due to it hugh cost in (about)1990...

TheShoe Loc: Lacey, WA

It was expensive to operate and was rendered obsolete by satellites years ago, even before the Russian hypersonic hardware. Its first retirement, in the 1970s, was considered to be political. It was brought of retirement for the turbulent years in Eastern Europe and lasted until 1997, when it was retired for good.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Didn't NASA and the weather service use a few for upper atmosphere research after the military retired most of them?

scooter1 Loc: Yacolt, Wa.

When I was working for the FAA as a controller we would have them come into our airspace from the east on our scopes. It would take the whole state of Oregon for them to turn south to California to land. Our computers could not accurately read their speed. Amazing aircraft for it's time. Nice photos.

denoferth Loc: Portsmouth, NH

When I was in the weather squadron at Kadena AB, Okinawa our mission was to provide support for Black Bird operations with upper air measurements (my maintenance job) and weather satellite photos. The Black Bird people used both to determine if the area over the target was clear of clouds and climatic conditions were conducive for safe flight operations. Both determined if the mission was a go or not. They kept the bird in an underground hanger out of sight where it was refueled and serviced. When ready the engines were started and it taxied up the ramp, immediately took off and headed out over the ocean toward a cloud it would pop up into. That was supposed to hide its ultimate course from prying eyes. It all seems so sophomoric now. We were actually briefed not to draw attention to it by looking up when it passed over even though it was the loudest plane on the field with the most distinctive sound signature. The ALL-BLACK SR-71 (WITH THE RAY-TYPE NOSE) attracted so much attention from the Japanese news photographers crowding against the perimeter fence the Air Force concocted a cover story that was published in the local Ryuku Island newspaper. The AF flew in a GRAY YF-12A (WITH THE POINTY INTERCEPTOR NOSE CONE), according to local legend at the time piloted by Daryl Greenamyer. This obviously different colored plane with the obviously different front end arrived over the field and did a couple of tight turns in full afterburner. Watching that delta shape staying within the field boundary making enough noise to shake the ground was great and was probably heard all over the island. That demonstration was supposed to convince everyone the YF-12A was assigned at Kadena AB to “provide air protection for the Ryuku Islands”. The article was published in the local paper but I don’t know if anyone actually believed it.

k2edm Loc: FN32AD

I think you are confusing the sr71 with the U2. Previous posts to the contrary, the sr71 terminated in 1991 ($$$/satalites). I worked on a system upgrade in 1979/80 and a spares system antennas a few years later. The system I worked on was removed from the sr71 and relocated to another vehicle at that time. I was "administratedly debriefed" from the program in 1986 or so, it remained classified and I believe some of it still is . Some of my dates may be a little off tho...They wanted it lit up again for the foolishness in the mid 90's and it may have been almost started again then(Schartzkoff wanted it)... We had a "field phone" which went from Long Island to California by twisted pair, never went microwave, can you imagine just the cost of keeping that line secure??? IMHO it was onlly cancelled once, in 1991 and may have been relit a few years later for limited service(to look, not listen)..

GregS Loc: Central Illinois, USA

It was mainly developed to take photos and was taken out of service since satellites take photos now. If needed, it could carry weapons. Long range missiles replaced that. The photo only bird was called an A-12.
Yes, it still holds the record as the fastest manned aircraft.
It could have been built earlier, but they didn't have two things; computers, and the metal that was needed to withstand the heat generated from friction. They needed titanium; which we didn't have, but Russia did. So the CIA formed many fake companies to buy titanium from Russia so they could build the plane..to spy on Russia!

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Just did a search, NASA used two out of Edwards for high altitude research and UV astronomy.
And yes the U-2 was used for weather research.

And CIA etc. used to sometimes claim their Blackbirds were weather research craft that strayed off course when they were spotted being places the locals didn't want them.

k2edm Loc: FN32AD

Yep, and some of the parts we needed for our system were delivered (sales tax paid) to dummy corporations @ our private homes....BTW : Area 51 was chosen and built for the sr71 family of vehicles...in I believe the 1964 time frame, & Janet, etc.

JimRPhoto Loc: Raleigh NC

Reading the comments, this posting brought back quite a few memories for some of us. Thank you all for looking and adding your thoughts. JimR

k2edm Loc: FN32AD

in the '70's? Are you sure your are not confusing it with the B1A? that was cancelled and re-lit later as cover for the stealth bomber... I dont think "Senior Crown" was ever cancelled before 1991..then partially re-lit for the mid-east foolishness..I worked on a system upgrade in 79/80. there were about 30 built, but they repainted tail numbers on the vehicles so no one ever knew what was what.

Blair Shaw Jr Loc: Dunnellon,Florida

I was in Okinawa in 68 and also got to watch those black birds depart frequently but have no photos to share.

They were mysterious and magical then and now.