SR-71 Blackbird Heavyweight Takeoff AF Plant 42, Palmdale CA

A fully fueled SR-71 takes off from Air Force Plant 42, Palmdale, CA with a T-38 chase plane. SR-71 pilot: B C Thomas, RSO: J T Vida; T-38 crew: Tom Tilden, Phil Soucy, October 1987, photographed by Mike Relja. The SR-71's airspeed at pullup was 460 mph (400 knots). The SR-71 aircraft is #972 which now resides in The Smithsonian Air and Space Museum at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center near Washington Dulles International Airport.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• SR-71
• Blackbird
• Habu
• Lockheed
• Martin
• Skunkworks
• Bredette
• heavyweight
• takeoff
• chase
• plane

[jaytotheell]

why is there a chase plane?

[bcthomas2h90]

@jaytotheell SR-71 flights out of Palmdale, AF Plant 42, were test missions. This meant that usually there was nonstandard equipment on-board.  The chase plane was responsible for observing any visual discrepancy with the SR-71 and to clear for other aircraft until the SR-71 reached about Mach 1.2 when the T-38 would run out of power and could not keep up. The in-flight refueling for test missions were conducted in the

Edwards AFB test area where there were many uncontrolled aircraft.

[Tanvan180]

I thought they usually refueled in flight because the fuel leaked at normal temps.

[bcthomas2h90]

@Tanvan180 The SR-71 Flight Test Division at Palmdale, CA routinely took off with a full fuel load.

[boundaryzero]

good god that wouldve been loud

[bcthomas2h90]

Yes, extremely loud, but of fairly short duration. Mike Relja was fearless considering his camera vantage point.

[turboxr7]

that plane is sex

[longsweep1]

@MrSlammeddown

I would do pretty much the same thing mate, so don't bother the question that you would be alone doing that

[gfruy]

@Tanvan180 At supersonic speed the fuselage heats up due to friction. The sealant used wears out thus causing fuel leakage...

[MrSlammeddown]

I got fired from a job I had back in the 1980's because I stopped to watch the SR71 take off one day. The plane sat on the runway at Plant 42 for over 3 hours and I just couldn't bring myself to leave until it took off. When I finally made it back to work that day my boss said "Your Outta Here! Oh well. It was worth it.

[dyrdekrulz]

OMG ITS A BIRD

wait...

oh I get it

[911SHIZBO]

@Zethioth ahah how in the hell did you spot that or even know its a T-38? Good eye.

[MrKinghit]

The king

[Zethioth]

That T-38 won't be with it long. :)

[ericmarshall19]

those things can go mach 3

[HONDAMX08]

Wish I see that old girl fly around the AV still . Helluva plane