Clarence Leonard “Kelly” Johnson was an American aeronautical and systems engineer. He played a leading role in the design of over forty aircraft, including several honored with the prestigious Collier Trophy, acquiring a reputation as one of the most talented and prolific aircraft design engineers in the history of aviation. …
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On Mar. 6, 1990, SR-71 Blackbird S/N 61-7972 (tail number #972) made its final flight from Edwards Air Force Base, California, to Washington DC to be retired and put on display at The Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum. No reconnaissance aircraft in history has operated globally in more hostile …
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The Lockheed SR-71 “Blackbird” is a long-range, high-altitude, Mach 3+ strategic reconnaissance aircraft that was operated by the United States Air Force. It was developed as a black project from the Lockheed A-12 reconnaissance aircraft in the 1960s by Lockheed and its Skunk Works division. American aerospace engineer Clarence “Kelly” …
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In the Cold War era, Swedish JA-37 Jas Viggen fighter pilots were scrambled on 400-500 live Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) missions per year to intercept any unidentified aircraft approaching Swedish airspace. QRA targets came from both Warsaw and NATO nations During that QRA missions, JA-37 Jas Viggen fighter pilots were …
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On Dec. 22, 1964, the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird flew for the first time at Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale, California. The Lockheed Skunk Works (now Lockheed Martin) built the original SR-71 aircraft. The first aircraft to enter service was delivered to the 4200th (later, 9th) Strategic Reconnaissance Wing at …
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Lockheed SR-71A Blackbird #959 Big Tail was taking fuel from Boeing KC-135Q Stratotanker.(Credits: U.S. Air Force) In this post, we will share with you a video of KC-135Q tanker refueling Mach 3 SR- 71 Blackbird spy plane. The cool video in this post shows a rendezvous between an SR-71 Mach …
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In January 1984 a rare incident occurred when the SR-71 Blackbird drag chute doors opened inadvertently at high Mach, creating problems, as RSO Lt. Col. Curt Osterheld (Ret) explains in Col. Richard H. Graham’s book The Complete Book of the SR-71 Blackbird: Pilot Lt. Col. Joe Matthews and I were …
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There are very many aircraft that have exceeded the speed of Mach 2.0. Some of them are research aircraft, some are military and some are simply flying for reconnaissance purposes. But there is always something special with supersonic aircraft. If we ask the question that names the Fastest jet in …
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A left side view of an SR-71 aircraft from the 9th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing landing. The aircraft is silhouetted against the sunset. How fast was the SR-71? Let’s answer the question with someone who actually knows. Tim Yarrow an aviation Research and Analysis expert was an Electrical Engineer at Lockheed Martin’s …
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The Lockheed Skunk Works (now Lockheed Martin) built the original SR-71 aircraft. Each aircraft is 107.4 feet long, has a wingspan of 55.6 feet, and is 18.5 feet high (from the ground to the top of the rudders, when parked). Gross takeoff weight is about 140,000 pounds, including a possible …
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