set back and enjoy

[Clem Z.]

not corvette related but one of the reasons we are still here to enjoy our corvettes. http://www.greatdanepromilitary.com/SR-71/index.htm

[Jack C.]

Re: set back and enjoy

Great tribute.

[Joel T.]

Re: set back and enjoy

Clem; Thanks for sharing this.... I have always been in awe of this aircraft and was sorry to see it retired. Makes you proud to be an American... I did get to see one once in a while on the deck of the Intrepid in NYC harbor (hopefully it is still there after the refurbishment).

Thanks!!!

Joel

[Roy B.]

Re: set back and enjoy

The air base is not fare from were we live and I knew a couple pilots so at the air show me and my son took pic's of our 55 and 57 in front of it. Saw it take off and do it's thing many times and fly over our house/

[Michael A.]

Re: set back and enjoy

Awesome, let anyone say the US doesn't have the greatest workforce and technology in the world.

[Wayne K.]

Re: set back and enjoy

Thanks Clem. Sometimes its hard to understand where are tax dollars go. Tributes like this give it some meaning.

[Dan L.]

Re: set back and enjoy

Saw it do a fly by before it was put into the museum here at Dullus, it was at tower level, stood it strait up, and disappeared in a few seconds, awsome.........

[John F.]

Re: set back and enjoy

Aim High-Aim Air Force! Saw a couple take off from Beale before I left for RVN in 69. I tear up every time I see our proud men and women do fly-overs at sporting events. John F. USAF 66-70.

[Stuart F.]

Re: set back and enjoy

My first exposure to those babies was in 1962, before they were made public. They would fly from Nevada and do a turn over White Sands Missle Range where I was stationed. We didn't know what they were at the time other, than they flew very high and very fast. We had to shut down the range each time they flew over lest we plink them with a weather sounding missle, I guess. i remember telling some of my buddies back home about them when on leave and, of course, they thought I was nuts or pulling their legs.

As many air shows as I have gone to over the years where they have appeared (Oshkosh and the like), I can't say I've ever seen them pull any hot dog manuvers, rather only a burners lit fly by. They have a very temperamental special fuel situation where they leak like sives when they are cold, and burn it like crazy reaching altitude where they need to be refueled to begin a mission. They didn't lend themselves well to air show displays like say an F-14, F-15, F-16 or the F-18's.

Stu Fox

[Terry M.]

Re: set back and enjoy

Seeing this reminds me of my days in the USAF -- 1960-1964. I worked on F-106, which at the time held the speed record. Of course that was only the one the AF wanted the public to know about.

[Erv M.]

Re: set back and enjoy

It is amazing how quick these articles float on the internet. My mother sent this to me two weeks ago. This is definitely the most advanced airframe we ever built!

[Terry M.]

Re: set back and enjoy

It is a lot older than that. I got it from a fellow NCRS member last year about this time.

It still gives me shivers looking at it.

[Tony S.]

Re: set back and enjoy

Very kuhl!

[Joe R.]

Re: set back and enjoy

I dunno guys, my 54 is PRETTY FAST too!

Great tribute! I really enjoyed it>

Joe

[Anthony S.]

Re: set back and enjoy

When I was in Italy (1992-1995) I was the Personal Security Advisor for Major General Eldon Joersz. He set the world absolute speed record in the SR-71 in 1976 and the speed was 2193 MPH. When he had the time to talk with me he shared some great stories of his achievements in the SR-71. It was an awesome aircraft!