On Jul. 4, 2019, Robert J. “Bob” Gilliland, former Lockheed test pilot and the first man to fly the iconic SR-71 Blackbird spy plane, died at the age of 93 at Rancho Mirage, California retirement facility where he had been living for several years. The death was announced by his …
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On Jan 11, 2018, Boeing unveiled a conceptual model for a new hypersonic jet that would replace the SR-71 Blackbird at the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics SciTech forum in Orlando. Here are Details: Boeing unveils its Mach 5+ ‘Son of Blackbird’ conceptual hypersonic jet design to replace the …
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on Jun. 1, 2019 Former SR-71 pilot Lieutenant Colonel Ben Bowles has passed away. Ben Douglas Bowles, 87, of Salem, was born on Jan. 14, 1932. Ben was born in Richmond and raised near Roanoke and in Detroit, MI. The family relocated to Salem, VA where he learned to fly …
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On Jan. 31, 1986 Captain Mikhail Myagkiy claims to Achieve a RADAR lock on SR-71 Blackbird while participating in Peacetime Aerial Reconnaissance Operations Program (PAROP) missions to the Barents Sea area. Here is our previous article, retired Soviet MiG-31 pilot Major Mikhail Myagkiy share details how he was able to …
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The Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird Mach 3-strategic reconnaissance aircraft remained the world’s fastest and highest-flying operational aircraft throughout its nearly 24-year career. From 80,000 feet, it could survey 100,000 square miles of Earth’s surface per hour. And in the off chance an enemy tried to shoot it down with a missile, …
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On Jan 11, 2018, Boeing unveiled a conceptual model for a new hypersonic jet that would replace the SR-71 Blackbird at the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics SciTech forum in Orlando. This ‘Son of Blackbird’ could become a high-speed strike and reconnaissance aircraft in the warfare of the future, travelling …
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On 20 July 1972, an SR-71A ( 61-7978 ) Nicknamed the “Rapid Rabbit” piloted by Captain Dennis K. Bush and Reconnaissance Systems Operator (RSO), Captain James W. Fagg was written off during the rollout phase of its landing. In extreme crosswinds, the pilot a landing at Kadena AFB deploying the drag …
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Everything about the SR-71 Blackbird was unique even its tires. SR-71 Blackbird spy plane was the fastest plane ever that can cruise at Mach 3+ Flying more than three times the speed of sound generates 316° C (600° F) temperatures on external aircraft surfaces, which are enough to melt conventional …
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Colonel Thomas S. Pugh was selected for the SR-71 program and was transferred to the 9th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing in 1969. While assigned as an SR-71 pilot in both the 99th and the 1st Strategic Reconnaissance Squadrons, he performed worldwide reconnaissance missions from overseas locations. He was selected for duty in …
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Speed and agility are decisive advantages in any form of aerial dominance. An airspeed record is the highest airspeed attained by an aircraft of a particular class. Modern Fighter jets operate at supersonic speed Supersonic travel is a rate of travel of an object that exceeds the speed of sound. …
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