The reason they stopped using the Blackbird, Concord & Hoverlloyd SRN4 Hovercraft, all still ahead of there time, was due to fuel costs thanx to the barons & there middle men screwing the west.
I was stationed at Kadena Air Base, back in the 70's, and had the pleasure of seeing SR-71's taking off. I would stop whatever I was doing and watch them get airborne in seconds, and go straight up into the sky. The noise from their huge Pratt and Whitney engines was incredible.
I was there in the mid 80's. I didn't know about the SR-71 until one day I heard this noise and looked up and saw it going straight up into the sky with full afterburners, It was awesome, Later I lived in a house overlooking the runways on base. I lived next to one of the habu's Mechanic's. He told us some really interesting stories and facts about the habu, Like when there at top speed the outside of the plane gets bright orange, and when it comes back they have to cool down before they land.
@Davechop54 Absolutely correct! I remember well being in the middle of working on the ejection seats in the cockpits and both myself and my checklist reader watching the Habu taxi out and blast off. Even more cool as when it came home and popped that sexy orange drag chute.
The sated reson for retirement was satellites could do the job (they can do some of it) and cost savings. IIRC they said the JP-7 cost around $10/quart and the fuela tanks could hold over 10,000 gallons. So a fillup would run over $400,000. Most missions would have multiple fillups so figure most missions probably averaged around 4 to 5 fillups or more for over $1m/mission in fuel.
putthis reactor on a new f 35
ticul032 4 months ago
Sure miss that airplane.
asae01 5 months ago
f18 is in tha dust lol!!
Learnin2Fly08 11 months ago
Now thats POWER!!!
Learnin2Fly08 11 months ago
Ummm do I see a second canopy on the one taking off at the beginning?
wattstarr911 1 year ago
@wattstarr911 Yes, the SR in the beginning of the video is a trainer variant. You'll also notice a pair of lower stabilizers under the engine cells.
Eyeofnelms 1 year ago
8 dislikes?? Those individuals should be publicly punished.
Skyes9 1 year ago
The reason they stopped using the Blackbird, Concord & Hoverlloyd SRN4 Hovercraft, all still ahead of there time, was due to fuel costs thanx to the barons & there middle men screwing the west.
spiritinthe7thsky 1 year ago
Cool vid
shitmypants119 2 years ago
I was stationed at Kadena Air Base, back in the 70's, and had the pleasure of seeing SR-71's taking off. I would stop whatever I was doing and watch them get airborne in seconds, and go straight up into the sky. The noise from their huge Pratt and Whitney engines was incredible.
What a magnificent sight to behold.
Davechop54 2 years ago
I was there in the mid 80's. I didn't know about the SR-71 until one day I heard this noise and looked up and saw it going straight up into the sky with full afterburners, It was awesome, Later I lived in a house overlooking the runways on base. I lived next to one of the habu's Mechanic's. He told us some really interesting stories and facts about the habu, Like when there at top speed the outside of the plane gets bright orange, and when it comes back they have to cool down before they land.
docttrent 2 years ago
@Davechop54 Absolutely correct! I remember well being in the middle of working on the ejection seats in the cockpits and both myself and my checklist reader watching the Habu taxi out and blast off. Even more cool as when it came home and popped that sexy orange drag chute.
Farong36 1 year ago
i love america SR-71 is the best plane in the world,,,
i dont like ussr russia mig-25 plane,,,
america SR-71 is still number 1 leader,,,
russia mig-25 is a still loser and loser and loser last
bestamerica 2 years ago 2
you're a deep thinker
mikel1982 2 years ago
wish i woulda been able to see this plane fly at least once in person sadly i never got the chance
Monsoon08 2 years ago
How much runway space does the SR-71 need to takeoff?
n310ea 3 years ago
quick answer:alot
24sizehoofupyourass 3 years ago
ballpark?
n310ea 3 years ago
oh/alot more than that maybe 3 times the size of a football feild
24sizehoofupyourass 3 years ago
@n310ea
prob 8500 minimum
Triethylborane 1 year ago
thats cool a NASA SR-71B
ninjabgone 4 years ago
That is a trainer. Notice the second canopy. It looks like that was flimed out in Edwards AFB
turboxr7 4 years ago
man, those afterburners had a huge line of fire at take-off, why was it ever retired, iwish i could've seen it
cowboysfan28 4 years ago
The sated reson for retirement was satellites could do the job (they can do some of it) and cost savings. IIRC they said the JP-7 cost around $10/quart and the fuela tanks could hold over 10,000 gallons. So a fillup would run over $400,000. Most missions would have multiple fillups so figure most missions probably averaged around 4 to 5 fillups or more for over $1m/mission in fuel.
Multicsfan 2 years ago
I saw it fly at an air show at Norton AFB back in the mid 80's. It did a VERY loud fly-by and I temporarily lost my hearing.
Roboprop 5 years ago
One of a kind aircraft, I wasn't lucky to see it fly.
TopThrillDan 5 years ago
They'll never be another like it. Can you believe it was designed back in the early 60's
daytraderaz 5 years ago