boogerhookonthebulletbutton
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Apr 12, 2016 1:41 PM
boogerhookonthebulletbutton
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WillZMacht
As an Air Force brat who always adored the SR-71, I salute you, sir... whoever you are.
anotherdayolder
Even though I know the ending, this still makes me grin.
rubinei
I read this story 10s of times and I still think it's awesome.
cptwott
nice story.
zeethenomad
My dad was stationed in Okinawa during the cold war. I got to see these badasses take off and land when I was a little kid. Spectacular.
EverythingIThoughtItWouldBe
This still makes me happy every time I read it.
Thatguythatdidthatthingthatonetime
One of my buddies' dad worked on SR-71's at beale afb. I sit and listen to his stories like a child listening to his grandpa.
AerinRavage
I'll never not upvote the glory of this aircraft!
BoomerKeith
It was a true marvel of engineering. That was (and still is) one bad ass plane. I regard the guys that flew it just as I do astronauts.
kuradag
my grandpa worked on the electronics of those planes when he was in the AF. I think he "went to Alaska" to train, but stayed on base instead
MichaelHell
Take my upvote good sir, i care nothing about aircrafts, but you had me smiling and imagining you and Walt in that cockpit. #i salute you
noeljb
"Salt Lake Center, Aspen75 requesting FL600. Aspen 75, Sir if you think you can get that high, go for it. Aspen75 Descending to FL600."
SaintMaceToTheFace
Glorious
uitSCHOT
So... were are the other two? If you're gonna repost at least repost properly!
RichardPOsterior
No matter where or how many times I read this story, I never tire of it.
youllnevergetmeluckycharms
As an engineer, this story makes me proud to work on aircraft engines, yet humbles me on the achievements of the past.
ironballsmcginty
As a former USAF jet engine mechanic...We kicked ass :)
BuckeyeBTH
As a fellow engineer, 1st:
2nd:It will forever blow my mind they built a hybrid ram jet using a slide rule...
youllnevergetmeluckycharms
Agreed!
wackywoohoopizzaman
Can we get more of this stuff on imgur?
hepcat10
This old story again? AGAIN? I still love it. Have an upvote.
Behotti
I've seen this posted before, I will always up vote this
logant
I will never not read this post.
Justabuckeye
+1 for the awesome repost
GolFoehammer
Habu 3+ for the win
ataraxus
Does anyone know what museum these pictures are from? I would love to see one parked on the ground like this
tawny0
The Smithsonian Air and Space Museum's Udvar-Hazy Center, near Dulles Airport, VA. They have a space shuttle too! Great place.
ataraxus
TYVM! I live in CA and there are a few blackbirds here but they are usually propped up high. Even more reason to see the Smithsonian!
BuckeyeBTH
Also, there's one at the air force museum in Dayton Ohio.. along with an D12 and an engine.. its AWESOME.
thorr97
1.) In addition to the deserved love for the SR-71 & the fun of the incident itself - take in the writing here. Brian Shul has put us into
thorr97
2.) the cockpit of that SR-71 with him & has done so with a great smoothness. Yes, in the tale, he's the guy in charge - but look how he's
thorr97
3.) put the spotlight on his RSO, Walt, and Walt's actions. This is excellent writing all the way around. We're now rooting for Walt and in
thorr97
4.) this piece, he's the hero of the day. That takes great confidence in a guy who's writing a book about HIS experiences to so well honor
thorr97
5.) the achievements of others. To tell that tale so well, so descriptively without getting dull about it & to make it so engaging is
thorr97
6.) impressive as all get out.
zorbivore
So at least 30 speed Is how fast I'm assuming?
GuckFoogle
3,529 and a half speed
BuckeyeBTH
1900 knots = 2186 mph = 3518 kph = Mach 3.15 ish at 13 miles up.. Ya... I'm fun at parties.
DrunkenKarnieMidget
I will never not read this story, nor fail to upvote it.
MrSolomon
Do you even read my Christmas list!?
ImperialAceX
If this wasn't here I'd have done it myself. +1
SailboatWallpaper
Found you
jonstewartforpres
Can we have more of this stuff on Imgur, please?
GermanIrishEngineering
http://foxtrotalpha.jalopnik.com/the-sr-71-blackbirds-most-spectacular-flyover-was-also-1719654907 Try this story out. Good read
jonstewartforpres
thanks
G11marksman
I read this every time it shows up.
fatrustyfarts
Liek dis if u cry ever
StatisticallyInsignificantCanadian
Source: "Sled Driver: Flying the World's Fastest Jet" by Brian Shul. Fantastic read, if you can get a copy.
cptkipard
No it's just a repost
HINKTHEBATTLEBUCKET
.
CheesyOtaco
,
foriambill
as stated below, I thought, "Let me go amazon one for my son. this will be cool." $319.00 - $9,950.00. GAH!
AndreaCarafa
.
wpars
.
CatsPajamasCollin
https://www.reddit.com/r/SR71/comments/2gq85x/sled_driver_pdf/
PiGuy314
.
OnionCutter
Heard of another story about the SR-71 about the slowest they went. Now that was an impressive story
TheHenothy
.
bootygoobagels
.
ThisBeatIsBonkers
.
CalmlyProcrastinating
.
freddewi
Found on reddit :) https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/38807973/Sled%20Driver.pdf
JohnHReese
-
madpine
Thanks.
yeahboyyy
.
Edyr
.
hiimmat
This is the most useful comment, ever.
whoisbillnye
Oh wow nice
ZodiacHammer
.
ThatGuyWithPureSwag
A little reminder comment for later when I have time
perlcat
Thank you.
donegalforsam
.
h4xn00b
All the dots!
SayWhatYouMeanMeanWhatYouSay
Holy smokes, you're a beautiful human bean you are!
statelessnfaithless
You are a god. Thank you so much! I've been waiting to read this for years :D
EstebanWinsmore
.
Satantookmyusername
{Memory dot}
Braddaz
Unfortunately he only did a limited run, so copies go for around $300 used, and I haven't seen any available online for free :(
vipermx138
I just checked his website and it looks like he's selling them again for $250! Wish I had that kind of money to drop. The photos are breath
vipermx138
2. Taking and a pdf just doesn't do them justice.
Heisenbeer
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/38807973/Sled%20Driver.pdf
Kanzibrix
.
TheMadPatter
Woo! I was looking for this too!
Tieslin
MVP!
turbotricycle
You're awesome!! Thanks bro!
Braddaz
ohmygod, I can't give you enough upvotes :D
nemothebanana
Why don't they fly these anywmore? I know I've read it but I always forget.
BRM15EOL
Expensive to operate and maintain. Their role was overtaken by unmanned drones and satellite surveillance.
statelessnfaithless
Basically, its heat signature. It evaded radar but new technology meant it could still be detected. 1/2
statelessnfaithless
2/2 it was still too fast to be shot down or intercepted, but the countries being spied on knew it was up there,
Overlawd
Did leg work, retired via politics basically, Drone developers got the money via Lobbying. There are a few left in the hands of NASA.
gandraw
Because 10 seconds later a spy satellite asked for his ground speed and was clocked at 15k knots
RossMcSim
That's the best comment on imgur i've ever read. Thank you.
DefendersZero
They crash a lot (I think)
GuckFoogle
out of 29 built, 11 were lost but 5 of those were ground-based fires or malfunctions not involving a crash.
DefendersZero
I was wrong
GuckFoogle
Average flight time for SR-71s was somewhere in the thousands of hours, so 6 crashes with a collective hundreds of thousands of hours flying
9point3x62
It's a surveillance plane, basically replaced by satellites. Still awesome though.
Makecba
And the U2. Orbital dynamics are a bitch when you need info ASAP
Overlawd
I could be wrong, it's been so long sense I read up or tried to stalk em.
Overlawd
If I remember correctly, We destroyed the molds for these plans years ago, There are two in museums along with 2 still somewhere? I think.
GuckFoogle
NASA operated one until late 1990s for high speed research, there are a few that are mothballed and more in museums. Replaced by satellites.
ImReallyVent
Wow. Lots of fun guesses there. These are spy planes used for high altitude resonances. Satellites took over that job though.
theloneponderer
And you don't have to worry about hostile airspace.
spaghettiThunderbolt
Actually, anti satellite weapons are a thing. The US has one that can be launched from an F-15; not in service, though.
SilleeCookie
Although this plane is the fastest ever...it had a lot of issues with fuel. Had to use expensive "jelly" fuel or it would leak. 1/2
Itsnotdapopo
You could drop a match into a bucket of the stuff and the match would go out
SilleeCookie
Plus it was designed for reconnaissance which was surpassed by the U2 "Dragon Lady" which had better cheaper equipment
Azated
Didn't they piss out fuel unless they were actually in the air and off the ground? Something about designed cracks to allow expansion.
SilleeCookie
Yea so they would use the jelly type which they would burn out just getting to cruise altitude then refill in air to recon altitude 1/2
SilleeCookie
When they returned they would have to run out of fuel and essentially crash into the ground. Very inefficient yet seriously epic plane 2/2.
Overlawd
There are a few reasons. Biggest being no one wants to see orbital bombers.
GuckFoogle
wat.
HeavyMetalMonk
These were not bombers lol
Overlawd
Had you, or anyone else bothered to read. You should see this was clearly a joke, and i followed it with the real reason.
HeavyMetalMonk
If it was clearly a joke it should have been funny. I don't go through every thread and compare posters to see if they said something else
Overlawd
Jesus, Imgur is filled with little whiny bitches these days.
HeavyMetalMonk
aka people who make corrections to incorrect info.
Overlawd
It was a literal joke. I mean, I LITERALLY gave the honest reasons after it. Because it was a joke. I digress, internet > arguing