SR-71 “Habu” - 50 years ago! Hard to imagine, but this remarkable airplane was flying missions over 50 years ago. Also called the “Blackbird” it was called the “Habu” by the Okinawan...

JimRPhoto Loc: Raleigh NC

Hard to imagine, but this remarkable airplane was flying missions over 50 years ago. Also called the “Blackbird” it was called the “Habu” by the Okinawan people, where it was first deployed in the late 1960s (Habu being a snake). I took these photos in 1971 when I happened to be in the right place at the right time with a camera and long lens. The slides are somewhat degraded, as local developing at that time was not up to the standards of U.S. labs, but it was expensive to send film to the U.S. for processing. Camera was my first internal light meter SLR, the Canon FT-QL. Do not recall the telephoto zoom lens I used - too long ago. I got each shot only one time, and never had the opportunity again. JimR

newsguygeorge Loc: Victoria, Texas

texasdigital Loc: Conroe, Texas

If I’m not mistaken the records it set are still unbroken. When it flew over Moscow, the plane was already gone before radar pinpointed it location.

I’m not sure why it was taken out of service, but I’m not sure it was because it was outdated.

Paul Diamond Loc: Atlanta, GA, USA

texasdigital wrote:

If I’m not mistaken the records it set are still unbroken. When it flew over Moscow, the plane was already gone before radar pinpointed it location.

I’m not sure why it was taken out of service, but I’m not sure it was because it was outdated.

Saw some youtube videos on the SR 71. There was at least 1 russian missile that flew as fast/faster than the SR 71. The SR 71 would take off with full fuel tanks. Just taking off from a runway and getting up to a cruise altitude would almost completely drain the SR 71's fuel supply. They would resupply in mid-air and then fly on their mission.

Per these people who closely watch the weapons systems (airplanes, drones and missiles) of various countries, there are now American, Chinese and Russian plane designs that will fly faster. And the newest hypersonic planes/missiles being developed are far faster with greater range. - The future is becoming a more dangerous place for all humans living on this little blue marble.

nervous2 Loc: Provo, Utah

Amazing. Hard to believe that it has been 50 years.

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

I was next door to Kadena at Camp Foster in 1971-72 with the 3RD MARDIV for a year. Saw the Habu many times, albeit the sightings didn't last too long!

I left just after we gave Okinawa back to Japan.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Cool.

JimRPhoto Loc: Raleigh NC

Dave O, I too left shortly after reversion. Had to get Japanese license plates, but fortunately left before they switched from the right side of the road to the Japanese standard left side of the road. Of interest, the SR-71 in the photo I took in 1971, later crashed while landing at Kadena in 1972. There were strong cross winds as the plane was landing and the ‘chute caught a cross wind and was pushing the airplane off the runway. The pilot quickly detached the landing chute and went full throttle, but on his second try, blew tires and the plane was irreversibly damaged. I was at Kadena from mid 1969 to mid 1973. JimR

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

JimRPhoto wrote:

Dave O, I too left shortly after reversion. Had t... (show quote)

Wow, sounds like an accompanied tour!

MCAS Futema with all the OV-10's was on one side of me and Hamby airfield with loads of CH-47's was several hundred yards away, so I enjoyed watching the aircraft. We pulled a lot of base restriction before the reversion, but you know how that goes! Sneaking across Hiway 1 was a piece of cake!

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

texasdigital wrote:

If I’m not mistaken the records it set are still unbroken. When it flew over Moscow, the plane was already gone before radar pinpointed it location.

I’m not sure why it was taken out of service, but I’m not sure it was because it was outdated.

High costs of maintenance and operation.

Look here for the story of the last record setting flight of the one in the Smithsonian. https://theaviationgeekclub.com/story-sr-71-blackbird-set-four-speed-records-final-flight/

I happened to be in my driveway in Azusa CA getting in my car to go teach in East Los Angeles when I looked up and saw a contrail coming from the west so fast it passed over me and disappeared to the east in just a short time. I remembered the SR-71 was supposed to make its run that day and later went on line to confirm that was what I had seen.

Kmgw9v Loc: Miami, Florida

I lived on Okinawa from 1961-1963 when my Dad was stationed art Kadena; but I guess that was before the “Habu.” I did see the snakes.

Quixdraw Loc: x

Check out the Skunk Works. Brilliant!

Retired CPO Loc: Travel full time in an RV

I was in Kadena in '74 and got some nice photos of the Habu. First photos I ever sold. No, not treason. There were big poster sized photos of them in the shops out in town.

JRiepe Loc: Southern Illinois

Interesting shots and interesting comments from others.

sr71 Loc: In Col. Juan Seguin Land

Paul Diamond wrote:

Saw some youtube videos on the SR 71. There was a... (show quote)

The "sled" never took off with full fuel tanks, caught a KC topped off and continued on with their mission. As far as missiles goes they fly around Mach II, the sled can fly 3+ so not faster. Brian Shul had 2 of em shot at him during a 3 day mission. Their have been over 200 sams shot at her none never connected.