My experience as an SR-71 Crew Chief in 1981
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- Опубликовано: 7 фев 2025
- I served in the USAF from 1977 through 1981, but my time as a crew chief on the SR-71 at Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan from July, 1980 through December of 1981 was by far the most rewarding time of my Air Force career! These clips are true vintage VHS. The launch and recovery video sequences were all shot by friend Dave Burns, who received special permission from Det 1 Commander Col. Raphael Samay to make the videos.
I was a 16-year-old kid back then. My best friend and his dad took me on vacation to CA around the time of this video... As my friend's dad had worked at Beale, we had the chance to go for a visit. Early one morning his dad woke us up and we drove to the base. Just before sunrise, we watched a couple KC-135s take off from the vantage of a nearby hanger.
Then, an hour and a half later, we climbed into the front seat of one of those green pickup trucks and drove to within 50 yards of a Blackbird going through its pre-flight, just as shown from about @12:00.
When those 2 amazing engines rambled up - the pickup truck shook like a carnival ride. When the 71 finally took off, the AF guy in the truck leans over to us and says the Blackbird will catch up with those tankers, (that had been flying west for at least an hour or so) in about 15 minutes. What a plane.
And then, as a bonus, we watched a U2 land with a chase car. I'm in my late 50s now - and recall that day like it was yesterday. OK, maybe at my age it was like last month. But that's not bad recall.
Back in ‘87 I had the pleasure of maintaining the oil/water separators for that JP7 fuel the plane used. This video brought back fond memories, I was amazed at this airplane. 👊🏽
Almost 60 years later, still the most beautiful plane ever built. Kelly Johnson was a national treasure!!!!
Robert Abernethy deserves credit for the engines which gave it its legendary speed
😆😅🤣😂👉Por Nuevos recor de velosidad y altura.
With the XB 70 and the Concorde
I was hanging out right next door in the Navy P3C hangar, 1980-81.
Who would have thought that a rather grainy video of a bunch of blokes futzing around with an aeroplane could be so damned interesting to watch!
I would like to say..THANK YOU. For your service and personal sacrifice to keep this nation free... and just kick ass on any other country that thinks they know how to build and airplane. Teehee!
You were fortunate to have such a choice assignment, and I know the memory of it will carry you through the rest of your life. Wright Flyer, USAF (1968-1972).
I worked as a stagehand (I.e.”roadie”) for 25 years. I’ve been in the presence of, met, & worked directly with the biggest names in music dating from the 60’s to present day, but at the end of the day, all those “rock gods” were nothing more than musicians who were fortunate enough to get paired up with some really good marketers. But the ground crews who maintained these machines, as well as those who flew & collected whatever it was that needed collecting hold such an amount of awe in my book, I have difficulty articulating it into words. The missions, the secrecy, the technology these guys & gals were immersed in, what their eyes saw, & the stories they can tell can blow out of the water any tales of drugs ingested or women screwed. Thank you for your service & my freedom.
This is amazing footage. Guess not too top secret at this point. Just the normal activity around the flight line is fascinating. Thank you.
My mother worked for the Skunk program at Lockheed Burbank until 89. She was a motion film technician. As a kid, it was cool to say, my mom, worked on the secret side of the fence. Thank you for your service, love old videos of something my brother and I grew up knowing. My father was P3 Orions
Watching old footage from say Edwards, the X-15 days even this footage you see these Buck Rogers, sleek prototypes, research aircraft. The space suit wearing pilots. Then a car or truck appears and you realize just how OLD and antiquated the vehicles are. Hits me like watching a old western movie and and if a Lamborghini Countach roared by.
Who can forget the first time they saw an image of the SR-71? It will most-likely be my forever favorite. (I'm 56) I do like to wonder about what the USA hopefully has flying and protecting our freedoms. Thank you so much, Chief Kristy. Is it possible to be grateful and yet entirely envious of you? Cheers!
In high school (when I was 15) I worked on the ‘92 Clinton campaign and met a retired SkunkWorks employee. His knowledge of all the Blackbird’s systems was incredible, most likely classified, but I loved it and soaked it up like a sponge while he was happy to share... stories you wouldn’t believe, I had trouble believing until he’d pull out photos and blueprints. I still have (which is impressive, I have almost nothing from that long ago) 2 of the *Lexan* (that’s plastic) and *asbestos* composite leading/trailing edge pieces that made up a (surprisingly large) amount of the outer skin. He was a great friend whom I miss so I’m always happy to see these incredible machines flying... many thanks :)
That's so cool bro. what all stories did he tell you?
My brother was Crew Chief on a tanker at Beale for about 6 years. He loved the whole SR program and was very proud to play a small part.
What an awesome life experience that must’ve been
I was stationed at Kadena from 1980-1982, crew on the RC-135 from the 6990th (Russian linguist). Loved the SR, my favorite all time airplane. We spend many hours watching the planes take off and land, I have lots of great pictures of the SR.
My world with 9th OMS, launch, recovery and all points between, 1972-75. Thanks for the memories.
It's cool to see you were a part of the program, who got to see up close to a miracle of a plane that was built, the speed, the altitude will never be matched, I saw this plane fly in Cal, 9 or 10 years, it was the coolest thing I had ever see, at age 48, it's still the coolest thing I have ever seen, thank you for posting this video. I love the Blackbird, I wish to see it fly again, an air show, the plane was and will always ahead of it's time.
Absolutely love this plane. I sought them out wherever I can in San Antonio, NYC and the Air and Space Museum. I read about a Senator coming to look at one in development in the 1950s sitting on the runway leaking fuel till the skin of the plane heats up and expands during flight like here in the hanger. How nice it must have been to be involved in its operation. Thanks for posting this.
top notch.SR-71.I would love to have been assighned to one these babys.
Brings back memories of the 70's. Thanks.
Wish they had kept 2 of them flying for us to see !!!
this is the best SR-71 video i've seen. It shows the process of preparation and disembarkation. Makes the plane more believable. My favorite part is in this video, or another one, when the pilot says, "there was so much speed with the Blackbird, it was as if it was limitless.."
Thnx for keeping the memories vibrant brother.... I changed a heck of a lot of tires and brakes on the SLED.... raised and lowered a lot of wings.... R&R a lot of spikes....replaced a few windshields....pulled several rudders....changed some cables....I really hated that mixer assy though! Thnx again for a gem of a video - not too many like it out there...
Rocco S, what years and locations did you work on them? My dad is in a Veterans home now. I’m trying to find someone who worked with him.
An absolute historical treasure with this video. I've never heard the engines that start this beast of an aircraft, they were no joke as well. Thank you for sharing this intimate portrayal of your experience with this aircraft. I would put life on hold to have had a mission like yours, as stressful as it might have been. Thank you for your service, and for keeping keeping this baby's secrets out of harms way.
I recently saw a video where a former crew chief said they initially used two Buick V8s until they exhausted, nationality, all of the same motors from junkyards. After that they switched to one Chevy big block 454 to do the same task. He then went on to say that the sound of both of those Buicks at 6,000 RPM was something to hear! The Chevy's didn't even come close!
The man was doing a guided tour of an SR-71 that was on display. Wish I could give you the link. I think if you just search here on RUclips you can find it. Have an awesome day and I completely agree with your entire comment. Take care!
@@andrewmiller3834 it might have been Dave Burns. I used to work with him and he is a wealth of information: ruclips.net/video/tSXckp6OP28/видео.html
My dad worked on the SR-71 at Beale AFB in the 70’s. I’ve always been awed by this aircraft.
John Staples I spent time at Beale for some training before heading to Okinawa in July of 1980. I am still awed by this aircraft too!
David Kristy I think he spent some time in Okinawa as well I just don’t know when. I was born when in 71 when he was stationed at Beale. My parents divorced shortly there after and I moved with my mom to Alabama. He stayed there and continue to work for several years until he left the military. I’m just trying to retrace some of his steps. He has some dementia
John Staples I understand. Last name is Staples, I assume? I don’t remember anyone by that name, but that doesn’t mean much. I honestly don’t remember that many last names! We all had one name, nickname or whatever.
David Kristy yeah. His name is Charles Staples. Usually went by Chuck or Charlie. Thick glasses and a Boston accent. He was in the Air Force from the mid 1960s through the early 1980s I think.
Like most kids who grew up in the 80's, I was, and still am, obsessed with the Blackbird family. I just can't imagine what it must have been like to be there when you cranked those J58's off the start cart, then shot in the TEB
You did your job with heart! Thank you for your service.
very cool to see this, thank you.
Good stuff. I was a air traffic controller there 81-83. Cleared the SR71 to take off and landing several times. What a beautiful sight. Was also fortunate enough to participate in a tour of the hanger, watch the crew brief then go out with onto the crew for the launch. Best times of my life!
Very cool video! Stuff few have seen before. Interesting they used a photo of a YF12a for the newspaper story.
Extremely rare and brilliant footage, thank you so much for sharing this treasure with us!
Do not apologize for this video David. To me the quality, of the content, was superb. I was lucky to see a few SR-71's here in England: at RAF Fairford, Mildenhall and at Lakenheath. Sorely missed....
Lived on Okinawa as a kid 80-83 your video brought back memories especially the night launch. Nothing roared into the sky like the Habu!
While I don't remember or have very fond childhood memories, I still 100% remember the first time I seen the SR71... It is to this day still the coolest thing ever built. Its unreal how ahead of it's time this plane/Jet/Spaceship was....
I got to Yokota Air Base, Japan in January 84. I was admin in a comm unit there. The only connection I have to you and yours was that the "Frequency Managers" for the entire Pacific theater were in my office. I never got wind of any attempts to shoot one of these birds down but I did know about every attempt at meaconing, intrusion, jamming and interference (MIJI) that so many fliers had to deal with. All of it was classified. You had an incredible job and you did it with distinction! The United States military, all volunteer, all willing to go when the balloon drops are the greatest people I can think of. Thank you for your service.
Andrew L. Miller, Sgt (Ret), USAF
David I had the honor in 1982 seeing the BB take off from Kadena AFB. We just landed on Tiger Airlines and was waiting on the Cattle Cars to pick us up to head over to Camp Butler. The BB rolled out with security and boom she was gone. It was an amazing experience. I ended up north at Camp Hansen 7th Comm BN.
Thanks for posting the video. It brought back many memories. My dad was stationed at Kadena AFB from 1979-1982 at the base clinic as a Physician's Assistant. It is quite possible that I actually watched one of these flights as a kid. I loved the the rare night and twilight flights because you could see the afterburners so well. Once the plane cleared the runway, it seemed like it was going nearly vertical soon after.
During the first six months there, we lived off base near I think gate 4, and my sister and I were bused to M&K elementary on base. Our route took us right behind the SR-71 hangers so I got to see them up to 5 days a week from probably no more than 200 feet away.The road seemed that close, at least, from what I remember 37 years later. Big excitement for a nine year old. I spent many an hour attempting to draw the "Habu" with little success since I was, and still am awful at art.
I also remember the base was still flying F-4 Phantoms with teeth painted on the nose when we moved there. Also cool for a nine year old, though the first F-15 Eagles arrived not long after we did.
BTW, I love the Star Wars fonts for the captions. I can tell it's contemporary for time, since I remember watching Empire Strikes Back for the first time down in a theater in Naha. Fortunately, it was in English with Japanese subtitles running down the right side.
Again, thanks for the trip down memory lane.
Great video and thank you for your service. Cool seeing the C-5 and C-141 in the old White and gray paint.
Thanks for the video! I assume these were the Chevy 454 start-cart engines? Or were they the OG Buick Wildcat ones? REALLY cool man - thank you again. Feel like I was born about 20 years too late.
I'm gonna say it was the Buick Wildcat ones because we just called them "the Buicks"! Thanks for your comment.
I was stationed at Okinawa 71-72
Then it was still classified TOP SECRET. If you were seen on that side if the base, you would be
arrested. If you could get within
50 feet of aircraft security was
ordered to shoot. If pics were
taken cameras were confiscated.
When it landed the chute was picked up and tire residue was
cleaned up. We were closer to
the runway than these pics. We
could see the pilots. Often we
would give thumbs up - like take
it strait up. So they did. So awesome and powerful. At night
the afterburners would show blue
rings. As I said we were close. I
think about 25 feet. It was ok to
watch it take off. Just could not
get close if in hanger. I never got
to know any pilots. Too much
security involved. I have seen
many take off. One even blew
the tires when landing. It was
carried down the runway on 2
flat bed trucks. I felt bad. Like a friend was hurt feeling. Still I
had a good time.
Crew Chiefs Rule! C-130 Crew Chief here for 22 years AF and then as a LM field rep another 13 yrs. I worked the 1986 Dayton International Air Show handling all aircraft that flew in and one female crew chief was having difficulty with removing the rail on the maintenance stand for the pilot to enter his SR-71. I asked if I could help and she said yes. All right! I get to get a peak at this monster!😆 I was amazed that the instruments were all analog. Guess I was expecting Star Wars. 😂 Thanks for sharing this video.
David, Thanks for posting this. Brought back a lot of great memories. I'm a Det 1 alumni, DRMS technician till we closed the unit in 1989 and we returned to the US. Best tour I had in my 21 years. MSgt (Ret) Dave Hemlock
I have many fond memories of Habu and growing up at Beal Air Force Base. A lot of amazing sights flights and trips to the Squadron meeting the pilots seeing engine tests first hand up close even got to announce my sister's birth and pass out cigars there memories I'll never forget. Did you know my father Chris D.Pheatt Sr. I thank you for sharing these memories videos takes me back.
Awesome thanks for your service and sharing this insider look into the SR-71!!
I was in security there around 85-86. Spent plenty of time walking around those magnificent machines. Loved it when you had a mobile patrol and could sit at the end of the flight line during a night take off! Shakin' !!!!!!
I know where you are on Kadena. Still classified. Could not go there. I watched you guys take off and land for 18 months. We were the 603rd Massq on the right side of the runway from the ocean. Feb 10-17
2022 I seen the SR-71 at a museum
at Tucson, AZ. It was a Bucket List moment. Thank you for being part of one of America's very best wonders.
Thanks Dave! Brings back great memories.
Eddie Tilschner, by any chance?
My dad was crew chief for the SR71 also. We were stationed at Beale Kaden then Beale again. Enjoyed watching this!!
Kadena
I was born in '69 and the first model I built was this masterpiece. Thanks to people like you I've met the many family members of Archangel that I never knew existed.
I thank you for your service and sacrifice for America.
The video was great.
Oh yeah I forgot I was stationed and in MAC (Militart Airlift Com-
mand at the 603rd MASSQ close
to the ocean end of the island.
It was so cool being there not
knowing history was being written.
I lefr just befote reversion. I
left 8/20/72. Still good memories.
Hi, David. I was a Security Policeman at Kadena from 1983-1985. One of my first security posts was an entry controller for the SR-71 area. I can still remember when the van came through with the pilots on board. They were both facing me seated on the drivers side of the vehicle....I was in awe!!! It will always be the highlight of my four years in the Air Force. We always knew when the plane was going to start it's engines. I think that it was a small block Oldsmobile 307 on the starting cart that let us all know. Just amazing!!! Thank you for this video and thank you for your service.
Todd, they were either 421 Buick Wildcats or 454 Marine block Chevy's.
I wish I could see and hear this amazing aircraft live. What a pity the program was cancelled.
Oh, I see I was here before. Still it was great to watch it again. Thanks for posting my friend and big salute from Slovenia, Pilot Robert
'salute' !
Thank you very much for posting David. Great video!
I was stationed at Det 1 from Jan. 1983 to July 1984. Great times. Wish I had stayed longer.
You were after me, but yes, great times!
Terrific to have your service and memories captured on video like this.
Probably the best years of your life.
I'll bet that was pretty cool working on that beautiful piece of machinery.
So cool. I wish I could have worked on these things, they are monsters!
Thanks for the video. I remember in 88 when I was TDY from a USMC squadron VMA-214 to Kadena, watching the Habu was always a thrill
I was TDY to Kadena several times for 1976 to 1980. Fantastic aircraft. Great deployment.
Great vid, brings back memories as a Tomcat Plane Captain,"Navy version of a crew chief". Thanks for your service, awesome bird!
That is so awesome !!! I live in San Antonio, Texas and my dad and I got to see the SR71 that’s in static display now come in for it’s final landing at Kelly AFB in the early 90’s.
Being a USAF Vet, really surprise that anyone was allowed to video the SR-71!
Awesome footage and thank you for uploading for all to enjoy
Thank you for sharing and thank you for serving. Salute!
14:23 I can only imagine the havoc that’s been wreaked on the cost of mustache rides due to 30 years of inflation
Astonishingly cool footage, excellent camerawork...WOW!
Just noticed this video
Awesome
Thanks for sharing 👌
David, thankyou so much for sharing this rare, special and beautifully shot documentary of the support of an aircraft that arguably helped to prevent World War 3. Best wishes!
Hi David I was oms on the sr-71 early 79 to 82. took one trip to the rock and one to Mildenhall. I'm sure we crossed paths but its a long time ago and my memory is fuzzy. thanks for putting this up
This is great stuff! Thanks for sharing.
So very awesome buddy , I love that blackbird😍
Just wish I could have heard the sonic boom ,my father in law Tom Huddy
was a tech rep for the SR I'm sure you have probably met him
I lived right outside of Beale AFB I used to hear the boom all the time
I knew Tom when he was in the instrument shop and as an ADP tech rep. Great guy.
I worked in the instrument inlet shop with Tom....
thgis video its fantastic !
i think was an incredible experience for you
Great video. Many thanks for posting.
David, thank you for sharing those phenomenal videos of Habu at Kadena. Although I saw one traveling from Camp Hansen to Naha in a taxicab in 1968, I had absolutely no idea what bizarre bat-like thing just flew over my head. Your videos capture the emotional essence of that beautiful aircraft like nothing... nothing I've ever seen before. What a gift!
Hey buddy. This is ROD, was there also at the"Rock" while you were there , thanks for capturing these great part of our lives.. it was also a pleasure to serve and be part of this elite group.
Must have been an absolute amazing experience that you couldn’t tell your friends about
Oh man....this is so frikin' cool!
I only wish MORE servicemen who worked on/around the SR and A-12 Programs would post some sort of slideshow here on RUclips. Or even just audio of the stories that they have... I don't know about anyone else, but ANYTHING that has to do with the Blackbird is Cool As A Fan in my book.
I could watch stuff about, and listen to stories about, the Blackbird for years on end and never get tired.
Thank you for your Service-- We all owe you a handshake & a pat on the back (...or maybe we owe you a helluva lot more?...) for doing your part to help keep us safe, both here in the U.S. and abroad.
....and also, thank you for taking the time to upload all this to RUclips: I've already sent links to your video to several of my friends...
Thank you for your service and also sharing your experience as a crew chief. What a great aircraft.
Habu! Habu! The afterburn on takeoff was tremendous especially when the sun was going down, then you could track it across the sky in the late evening with that big blue flame in the back.
Great video. I was there July 79 to December 80. Started the parachute shop there. Replaced by Jimmie Ross, but went back TDY for 6 weeks in '81.
amazing. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for posting this great video and sharing your experience with a great aircraft and a great crew. Many thanks for your service!
Oh the memories. Served at Beale AFB until 82 with the 9th SRW, 9th OMS. Nice job on this one. I used to love accompanying HABU to the various air shows. Again, thanks for the memories.
As a younger guy, I often wonder if you all who were involved with the SR and other special projects, understood and/or appreciated the opportunity to be a part of such a small group at the time? Was it just another "duty", or was it the one everyone wanted to be assigned to?
I am uber fascinated by this stuff, and often regret not joining. I worked for a contractor at Beale up until 2017 and certainly cherished my time there. Working along some of the old timers, one being an J58 engine guy, another being an SR crew chief, I was always eager to get them to talk...as much as I could get out of them anyways. :)
Thanks for capturing this footage and sharing it with all of us. I'm definitely envious of all who were fortunate enough to touch these planes in their heyday. Guess I was simply born in the wrong era...
Thank you for your service on this awesome bird!
Great video. Brings back a lot of good memories and wishing we could do it again
David, thanks for your service. My initial experience with the SR-71 was at RAF Lakenheath UK (around the same time as your experience) as an alternate base while the airfield at RAF Mildenhall was being worked on. I had the job as the environmental engineer on the base and was surprised at the amount of fuel that leaked out of the aircraft while on the ground. My second encounter was at March AFB California (@ '96) as the Base Commander - we had an SR-71 on display at our air museum, so as the commander I claimed that I once owned an SR-71. Thanks for posting the video.
That was awesome! Thanks for sharing.
Great ! Dave you always got to work on the cool stuff!
Hey Kurt! Great to hear from you. I’ve looked for you on social media a few times. Hope all is well. New Mexico was a long, long time ago!
@@dtkristy1 Good to hear back from you ,wasn't sure you would remember me, the only other social media I use is facebook sometimes. Let me know what you have been up to when you have some time, take care.
@@dtkristy1Dave you still ok?
@@MrPonca77 Hey Kurt, more than OK, just very busy! Thanks for checking back in. Give me some contact information and I can fill you in more, privately. Hope you are doing well!
@@dtkristy1 Dave you can reach me at kurtledesma@hotmail.com which I hope still works or text at 1-575-214-1460 hope to hear from you soon take care.
I was stationed at kadena at the same time! but I didn't see these planes often, the 930ish take off in Dec. 80 is memorable since my dorm was vibrating-it was dark and in a minute it corkscrewed up to what seemed like 800
Hi David, that was a great video brought back many memories. I was fortunate to work on the SR-71 and U-2 while assigned to the 9th from July 76 - July 82 as an egress technician. Just to be clear on taking pictures of the airplane, we could only take pictures when all of the mission bays were closed. The start cart consisted of 2 Buick wildcat motors with straight pipes an amazing sound in and of itself. The fuel is flammable but takes a lot of heat to ignite, that is why TEB (triethylbenzine) is used when starting. It burns at about 1 million degrees. The ejection system had a 100% success rate the time I was in and was designed by Lockheed. It had a zero/zero capability which means zero airspeed and zero altitude. It can eject a 250 lb. pilot 450 feet in the air in a blink of an eye. In fact, when the first space shuttle was built it used the same seat but was later removed because of the weight. The same seat is also used in the U-2R, TR-1 and U-2S models. I always enjoyed working with the various ground crews throughout my career and felt the we were the best of the best, some of the things we had to do were to say the least were inspiring. I wish I could remember you, David however I was TDY for about 9 months out of a year.
Correction the TEB is triethylboron
I love raw video, thank you for your service and for sharing.
Great video 👍🏻 Thought it was funny the paper said the same type of aircraft when the picture of the YF-12A was the most different of all the variants.
Yes, it goes to show that the press could be just as inaccurate 35 years ago as it is today! Guess that was the only picture they could round up for the article!
Probably there was no good picture of the aircraft available to the public back then, so they used what they could
Hello David about myself 9th OMS Beale 86-90. I need help finding TEB servicing video. I serviced TEB and would much appreciate a video. Great video.
Very nice bird David. And good to know a real pilot. Oh yeah... I salute you from Slovenia. Cheers, Pilot Robert ;)
The most alpha plane on the airfield! Thanks for the upload! Amazing.
Thanks for these awesome pics and videos David! I remember seeing a nighthawk fly over NAS Whidbey Is in 1991, what an aircraft to see first-hand. I cannot imagine how cool it must have been to hear and feel an SR taking off! I have developed quite a fetish for the SR recently, and your video is one of the best I have watched so far! Thanks again, and thanks for serving.