I was a teenager in the 80s and met a SR 71 pilot at a family gathering. Of course I asked him “how fast does it go?” He said he was at top speed over North Dakota, throttled back to idle, coasted all the way to Texas.
I saw the SR-71 in flight. It must have been around 1982. Word went around that the SR-71 would be featured in the airshow at Fairchild. I was downtown Spokane the day before the airshow when I heard this incredible sound. I knew instantly it must be the blackbird! I stretched my head out the truck window and saw it straight overhead. With the tall buildings on both sides I only got a split second glimpse, but I’ll never forget it. It gave me goosebumps!
My father was was in the Air Force and worked in Photo Reconnaissance during Vietnam out of Thailand. In 1973 he was stationed at RAF Alconbury in England were we lived for 3 years. He developed the film from the U2 and SR-71. He wanted to retire at Fairchild so he cross trained into Avionics working on the B-52 and retired at Fairchild. I remember the event you mentioned well. During that time the land just beyond the flightline was accessible, and he took us there in his Ford 4X4 truck. We were just past the the perimeter fence past the runway and I witnessed the SR-71 take off. It thundered down the runway and took off very low directly over our heads, and an intense heat from the engines was felt. It was an awesome view as the massive plane passed very low overhead and accelerated quickly away. I also was in Basic Training during the official retirement ceremony for the SR-71 at Lackland AFB in early 1990. Most of the recruits in my flight/squadron were in formation on the parade grounds during the events, and warned not to look up during the fly over. I was fortunate to be posted near one of the entrances into the grounds directing people. After a long ceremony it was announced the the plane was approaching and by the time the intense sound was present the SR-71 was just past were I was passing over. Then after the first of several sonic booms the plane quickly disappeared out of sight, soon future announcements of what state the plane was currently passing over were given, and at least one more sonic boom arrived as it was accelerating above.
As an outside contractor, I provided service at the Palmdale CA airfield where Northrop (B2, F117), NA Rockwell (B1, F22 Tigershark) and Lockheed (U2, SR71) were often in sight. One of the NAR engineers knew my 'affection' for the Blackbird & came running up to me. "Come quick"- I did as directed- we raced up ~10 flights of stairs in one of the production buildings. Almost out of breath, he told me that he was talking with the Control Tower & the SR71 pilot had called in to advise his pending arrival / OK to land. ETA was ~10 minutes. He was just entering Texas airspace from the Gulf of Mexico and had to slow down! DANG!!!! Reflecting on seeing those planes up close still sends shivers thru me!
When I was in the USAF many years ago, I was introduced to a gentleman who was one of the original test pilots. He told me the top speed was NOT due to the abiliy to go fast, but that the titanium skin would start to glow white hot which was visible in the cockpit and they'd pull it back before it melted. It was well capable of traveling much faster other than that.
And that titanium skin also was one of those "rubbing someone's nose in it", since they bought the titanium from the Soviets through "dummy" companies.
@burnerjack01 I think this all the time I see them release something. When they retired the space shuttle, I couldn't help but wonder what they actually have to replace it lol
My father was Top Secret clearance with SAC as a jet engine mechanic and served from '50 to '73. He worked on B-52, KC-135, and a slew of others. He told me that he once taxied the SR-71 onto the runway during the 60's. That's the kind of story I'll never forget. I miss you, dad.
As an 80s kid, the SR-71 has probably always been my favorite aircraft. It's maybe not AZ cool, to some, as some fighter jet, and its sneaky, instead of openly combative, but I don't care. I've always loved stealth craft, like the B2 Spirit, the F117 Nighthawk, and the XB70 Valkyrie, and the Blackbird is simply the top of my list. I will be sad when something officially finally breaks its speed, and altitude, records, but if it's the direct Successor to it, I'll take the news better. 😊
My first viewing of the SR71 happened over Norwich in the UK in the 80s. As I approached a traffic light-controlled junction, I saw that the traffic had come to a halt, and people were climbing out of their vehicles to catch a glimpse of something in the sky. I did the same and immediately saw this black thing in the sky. It was easily recognised as some sort of aeroplane, but not like anything I had ever seen before. It was gorgeous and sleek and simply breathtaking. The traffic jam grew as more drivers emerged to see what everyone else was pointing to. Eventually, after the Blackbird turned, quite slowly it seemed, it flew off to the south, and normal traffic resumed. I finished my journey home just dying to tell my boys and wife, but they had seen it while playing in the back garden and were just as excited to tell me. We visited the Mildenhall air shows and saw some up close (guarded by armed sentries, as well as watching it fly past a few times. It was always a favourite after that first amazing encounter. (Still is.)
I got to put my hand on the nose of a Blackbird as a kid. That’s all the recruiting that Lockheed needs to do to turn bright children to the path of becoming an aerospace engineer. It just blew my mind, I could’ve walked around that plane for hours.
I gotta tell you, I was amazed while visiting The Little Little A'Le'Inn on 375 last time I was in Vegas. The wife wanted to visit so we took a ride, this was a week after the advertised "Bum Rush" on Area 51 a few years back. Long story short we came out after having lunch and heading for our rental I heard a faint rumble. Looking out over my shoulder I saw a dot, it was very high. It wasn't a B52, just a single contrail and it was moving very, very fast covering the sky I observed in just over a minute. Then I spotted another silver dot, directly in it's contrail following. The first aircraft executed a 180* turn and it was tight and proceeded back in the direction it came from headed for Groom Lake I imagine. The second aircraft was directly following in the first's contrail, right through the turn and back on the same heading with both eventually disappearing behind some mesas' and horizon. This viewing took less than 4 minutes and I can't even begin to guess at the speed and distance covered or at what altitude but after working just outside Griffiss AFB in Rome, NY and observing B52's scramble and at altitude overflights that was nothing like I had ever seen. I was happy to see my tax dollars at work.
SR-71 was named officially as RS-71 but President Johnson mispronounced as SR-71 during official introduction so it became SR-71 as the official name. I heard this story from Lockheed engineers as well as a Blackbird pilot.
Well that's not quite true. The text of Johnson's actual speech read "SR-71", so he did not mispronounce it. The designation had already been changed, but the press kit still included the earlier "Reconnaissance/Strike" designation.
@marasmusine I may be a bit younger, but I was once told the RS- designator was meant to be a confusion device to be interpreted as reconsat or rorsat and thus give no indication to it being an aircraft. Wonder if any of these are stories are really true?
At Mach 3 depending on the outside temperature, the life of the compressor is quite low, no the average cruising Mach number is closer to 3.16 NOT 3.3. The actual speed is the Mach number times the local speed of sound. The speed of sound is c=√(gama × R × Ta) The compressor temperature is Tc = Ta × ( 1+ (gama-1)/2 Mach²)
There are 2 SR-71's on display at the "Blackbird Airpark" in Palmdale. It's on the grounds (or near it) of the Palmdale Regional Airport. Lock-Mart's Skunkworks facility is also nearby. :)
Just remember anything the military actually releases to the public is 30 to 50 years old to the military. There are programs that you could not imagine.
I've heard the same saying before only 10 years, but I don't think it's true because our government relies on private sector to spend the money into research and development so they just go after what works best.
My father was was in the Air Force and worked in Photo Reconnaissance during Vietnam out of Thailand. In 1973 he was stationed at RAF Alconbury in England were we lived for 3 years. He developed the film from the U2 and SR-71. He wanted to retire at Fairchild so he cross trained into Avionics working on the B-52 and retired at Fairchild. During that time the land just beyond the flightline was accessible, and he took us there in his Ford 4X4 truck. We were just past the the perimeter fence past the runway and I witnessed the SR-71 take off from an Airshow there. It thundered down the runway and took off very low directly over our heads, and an intense heat from the engines was felt. It was an awesome view as the massive plane passed very low overhead and accelerated quickly away. I also was in Basic Training during the official retirement ceremony for the SR-71 at Lackland AFB in early 1989. Most of the recruits in my flight/squadron were in formation on the parade grounds during the events, and warned not to look up during the fly over. I was fortunate to be posted near one of the entrances into the grounds directing people. After a long ceremony it was announced the the plane was approaching and by the time the intense sound was present the SR-71 was just past were I was passing over. Then after the first of several sonic booms the plane quickly disappeared out of sight, soon future announcements of what state the plane was currently passing over were given, and at least one more sonic boom arrived as it was accelerating above. Also as a kid we had an after school "Aeronautics Club" which I'm sure my father had a hand in organizing. At the time there was a local news chopper pilot Dan Schmarr and former U2 Pilot who worked with my Father in England assisted with the Club. We build model rockets and balsa model planes and learned about Aeronautics. I had a huge interest in the U2 and SR-71 since my time in England and studied all about them. I even had the rare chance to be around them. I had a photo of an SR-71 pilot in his spacesuit in the cockpit flying taken from another aircraft, and also a photo from the SR-71 taken at such a height you could see the curvature of the Earth. I joined the Air National Guard while working as a Civilian at Fairchild and spent over a year active duty for Basic, and Avionics Guidance and Control Tech School afterward. then back to Fairchild for additional active duty during the start of Desert Storm were my unit was activated for Air Refueling Missions using our KC-135's. I had several opportunities to go up on Refueling Flights during my 6 year Enlistment including a deployment to Japan for a "Red Flag" Operation. We refueled many fighters during the flight. Another Flight was really awesome to be on was doing refueling for other ANG Units circling over Washington, Idaho, and the vicinity around. The Guard Units flew many older Fighters. During that Mission we refueled F-4 Phantoms, F-14 Tom Cats, and F-15 Eagles. I was able to lay down in one of the observation bays on either side of the boom operator and got some amazing photos and video. Seeing the F-4 was awesome, hard to believe a fighter that flew during Vietnam was still in service. Groups of fighters were in formation beyond our wingtips, each falling back behind and approaching the boom to take on fuel. I had a com set and could hear the communication between the fighter pilots and boom operator. While my father was still active duty I had the opportunity to go into a B-52 Flight Simulator, housed in a train car. Years later while I was Teaching College at ITT, one of my students worked for the company running the advanced KC-135 Simulators, and I was able to take my class there on a field trip.There were 2 simulators, one on full hydraulic rams allowing the simulator to move. It was being used for training, but we used the stationary one. I was blown away at the interior, it was just like stepping into the real cockpit, so familiar to me after years or working on the Avionics Systems and Controls. There were super high-resolution monitors above which projected down on the cockpit "windows". You could see all the area around Fairchild's flight line, the base housing at the perimeter and the strobing runway lights. Within a short time it was perceived as "real". Myself and each of my students did a "Takeoff" short "Flight" and "Landing"... Most "Crashed", but I was able to do almost a perfect "Landing" using the "Glideslope Indicator" and instruments. Each was given a printout afterwards. I once had the opportunity to take the controls of a corporate jet. I was working at Crop Growers Insurance in Coeur D' Alene Idaho as the Network System Administrator in their Regional Headquarters. My office was across from the pilots and I got to know him well, talking about my time in Avionics. Shortly after I started I was to fly to the Main Headquarters which was in Great Falls at the time. I arrived at the airport early one morning and we entered a heated hanger and boarded a Mishubishi-1000 Private Jet. During the flight to Great Falls the Vice President (Also a Pilot) and other executives were on board. On the return trip it was just myself, and the Pilot/CoPilot. shortly after takeoff the CoPilot came back and told me to go up in the cockpit. The Pilot gave me some instructions and said we were going to change waypoints. He told me to take the controls and disengaged the Autopilot. Using the Instruments and Controls I banked the Jet into the turn and aligned to the new course heading. As we got closer to our destination he resumed control and I went to the back again so the CoPilot could return for Landing. During a Drill Weekend while in The Air National Guard a group of us from my Shop was out on the Flightline checking out the Aircraft on display for a Base Open House and Airshow later that day. It was prior to the public being allowed on base for the event later that day. We went around the many aircraft including an F-117 Stealth Fighter which was bordered with cones and lines, and had armed Security Police watching over it. We then approached a B-1 Lancer Supersonic Bomber with the "nose art Heavy Metal", it too was blocked off and had armed personnel. The crew chief and other technicians were outside the plane and we started talking with them. They asked us if we wanted to see the inside of the plane, and we were escorted up the ladder and into the aircraft. I was blown away by the high tech cockpit, and bombardiers' station. It was like a sophisticated "Video Game". They gave us a tour of the systems and around the aircraft, it was very memorable. Before I joined the Military I was working for Billeting on Fairchild and the Billeting for the Survival School Annex. It was Friday the 13th in March of 1987. I was helping move furniture from a Security Police Barracks near the Flightline Control Tower. For a couple weeks prior I was observing the "Thunderhawks" demonstration team practicing for an upcoming Airshow there. It consisted of a B-52 Bomber and KC-135 Air Refueling Tanker which would take off in quick succession and perform low altitude banking maneuvers. This day as we were just about to load a desk onto a Flatbed Truck I watched as the B-52 took off followed closely by the KC-135. The time was near 13:13 when I observed the Tanker go into a steep bank, "wings vertical" with little airspeed and altitude. I told the other "That planes going to crash!", It was heading for a huge warehouse building which contained the Commissary, Base Exchange, and many other businesses filled with hundreds of active duty, retired military personnel, and civilian employees. The pilot made a last moment control movement to the planes elevators to direct it between the building and Control Tower. The Aircraft struck the ground and exploded into a massive fireball. It was surreal, difficult to process what I had just witnessed. Soon after, the sounds of sirens from Emergency Response and Fire Department Vehicles from Fairchild and the nearby Spokane Airport began to arrive. There were 6 Crew members onboard who all died in the crash. not much was left recognizable of the plane except parts of the tail. It was later discovered that a 7th fatality occurred. There was a Boom Operator who was scheduled to fly on the plane that day, however was grounded by the Flight Surgeon due to sickness. He was standing next to his car observing the takeoff and the the plane crashed there taking his life also.
That was a great film clip. I lived in Santa Clara, CA, back in 1982. I will never forget the sound of power that the Blackbird made during taking off from Moffet Field, which was about 3 miles from my home. America still has what it takes to surpass any other country on earth
"Operation Darkstar" began in the late 1980's.... Lockheed was the primary and Hughes Aircraft Company providing the avionic systems and cameras. A test vehicle was constructed and a building aka R4 built in El Segundo, California. The building was located on Hughes Way, cross of Imperial Highway. When the testing was completed, the building was torn down. The "Blackbird Program" which Hughes was also extensively involved in, those aircraft were tested up to Mach 4.4 with the crews advised the max cruising speed was 3.4. Typical cruising speed was Mach 3.2
In and around 1962-1963, plans were already drawn up and ultimately rejected for the SR-71 successor. The reason they were rejected was because they did not provide a sufficient enough leap in aircraft speed capability. The gov't wanted faster. They wanted Mach 5+, ideally Mach 6-9. Do you really think Darkstar was going to get funded for basically matching the capabilities of the SR-71 twenty years later? No, Sir. Not a chance. Them Skunkworks boys had Mach 6-9 designed and built by 1970.
@@redcapote4760 Not sure where you are getting that darkstar was the successor back in the 1960's..... "Operation Darkstar" was an advance tech surveillance aircraft that had a much different purpose than the original blackbird program...... The reason for the Blackbird program termination was our "Keyhole" Satellites - many of which Hughes designed, built, launched, operated could read the inside of a matchbook cover all with digital images whereas the blackbirds used film (mfg by Kodac). The interceptors flew a bit longer. I can also tell you this, there was a time in the late 1980's that Hughes was requested to scramble a "Tiger Team' to relaunch a blackbird from storage- because it had a capability that was needed at the time- and that's all I'll say about this. With regards to "Operation Darkstar", there were major issues that caused the "Stop Work" order that occurred around 1990..... it was not the tech, but IMHO, the 70+ (IIRR) felony complaints regarding falsified work product that occurred as directed by the highest levels at Hughes Aircraft Company by the "New" owners- ie Roger Smith/General Motors Hughes Electronics, IIRR Michael Armstrong was the "new" President of Hughes.... which placed people's lives at "Imminent Risk" needlessly.
@@jeffalvich9434 I didn't say Darkstar was the project that SkunkWorks worked on between '65 and '75. I don't know the name of the project. I'm saying projects to succeed the SR-71 were immediately being worked up after the SR-71 was completed in 1963. The project you are calling DarkStar comes far too late in the timeline and provides no benefit to the SR-71's capability to be a factual successor to the SR-71. Projects in the Mach 5 to Mach 10 capability were undoubtedly under construction before 1975. To say otherwise is misinformation.
I sure would like to see it! I was in the Blackbird program(SR-71 and U-2/TR-1) off and on for 10 years. My first duty station as an SR-71 crew chief( acft. mech.) was at Beale AFB in 1980 followed by other base assignments over my career of 21 years in the USAF.
Not so in WWII - The Germans were 30-40 years ahead of us. It was German ingenuity that created the Flying wing stealth aircraft and the Apollo Moon Program.
@@ryanchavers4388Apparently we are, evidenced by all the people coming here from other countries. Some even risking their lives to do so. Support the country you live in or live in the country you support. 😆
@@P.Galore > The Germans were 30-40 years ahead of us. I wouldn't say that. The Me-262 was of course the best fighter of the war but the US and UK probably could have produced the Allied fighters in similar numbers by similar dates if that was the direction we had wanted to go in. I'd say the Germans were more like 1-2 years ahead in this category. In rocketry the Germans had also done great things but remember they only started in like 1940 or so? So if the US started from scratch in 1945, we'd have been more like 5 years "behind," not 30-40. Also note that the Germans spent far more on V-2's than any other aspect of the war. They only got as far as even a couple years ahead because they were totally wasting money. In contrast the Allies were spending money on things like Radar, Computers, and the Manhattan Project.
I watched the SR-71 "Belmont 86" that emergency landed in Norway i 1981. My father was in Air Force SAR and they parked the SR-71 right next to the SAR hangar. Naturally we came out and had a look when it took off again. Majestic sight when they turned the nose up to the sky and was gone in seconds, epic engine roar too. Love that plane.
IM extremely impressed with the performanse of the x12 and hope it will be in use Long before the 30s or 40s because I think they Might be needed much sooner!
So basically you only know what the public is allowed to know. There is ALOT more going on behind closed doors. Here a small example. Our Navy was using Los Angeles class subs almost 10 yrs before the public knew. The contractors who work on these systems know...
One amazing fact I love about the SR-71 and the sensitivity of its equipment is that it could sit on the runway in bright sunlight and actually detect stars!
Having just read the The Skunk Works written by Ben Rich and Leo Janos, this design was on paper in the early 60s. The story of The Skunk Works is absolutely fascinating and satellites cannot and do not fulfill the overflight missions of a strategic reconnaissance aircraft, whether maned or unmanned. The two position SR71 was the air force variant that had extra ELINT and other sensors onboard while the original and first CIA variant was a single seat photo reconnaissance only.
American military technology has always fascinated me. It’s incredible what can actually be built! I agree with others’ comments. This plane is probably old news. The military would never reveal top secret technology to potential adversaries.
Great video, forgive me for nit picking, at 9:44 you mention Jack O'BANION, but the picture is of VP Paul Lemo of Sikorsky sitting in front of the CH-53K King Stallion, I worked software on that program. Great job!
@@redcapote4760 Not too sure but it was big, and ugly and very hot when it came into the hanger. Too many M-16's standing around to ask many questions.
When I was around 10 yrs old my family went to an airshow in Dayton and the SR-71 flew over, did not stop. This was around 1964. When I was in Okinawa with the ASA I caught the Blackbird leaving Kadena AB...from start of roll to out of sight was 15 seconds. It made the earth shake, for sure.
The only fortunate time I saw the Blackbird was at Norton in California. It was doing slight flying and buzzed the field 2 times. The second time it buzzed, it turned upwards and went up and up and up and up, with afterburners on, and simply disappeared. I think it disappeared into the Twilight Zone. I heard a Sergeant say that it looked as if the pilot was flying a bit over regulation while near the ground but when it disappeared, he chuckled and said that it probably won't matter now. It's gone. I cannot forget the sound when the afterburners lit up and kicked in when it started to climb. The only simple words that immediately came into mind were raw power. It reminded me of the Concorde, except this behaved like its bully brother. As to outright noise, I think (?) the Harrier jet was the worst. No matter how much you covered your ears, muffs or not, your head vibrated. When hovering, that thing was a monster.
As much "sex appeal" that a "Darkstar" jet might create, the reality is that the existing satellite capabilities provide virtually all Imagery and Sigint we need. The tactical theater is the most likely sector where additional capability is needed. The SR-71, which has always been my favorite jet, suffered from, extremely high operating costs making long mission planning and acft prep costs and time and those problems put it out of business. It became like an $85,000.00 an hour hooker nobody could justify no matter how sexy or satisfying the performance might be. Finally, with tactical intell as the weakest part of our current intel needs, a mach 6 jet manned or unmanned simply could not cover the area adequately. For example, a SR-71 flew over our base in Duluth Minnesota in the 80-81 time frame. Headed East Northeast they started a 180 degree turn and rolled out in the opposite direction over Chicago Illinois. Hardly a tactically useful capability. Love those sleek lines and performance but not useful for any tactical missions.
4:24 The Blackbird was the fastest jet aircraft to be used operationally. The actual speed record for a manned jet aircraft belongs to the X-15, around mach 6.7.
In the 60’s and early 70’s we lived a few (5-7) miles from Rocketdyne. When they’d test usually mid-afternoon you could hear the incredible roar that normally lasted about 1-2 minutes. When they tested at dusk, the orange/red glow added to the roar was both awesome, and a bit spooky, errey
we lived in a new tract near sequoia JHS off the Tapo Cyn exit in '69..my pops was a ventura county sheriff at the time....our science class at simi high in 71 got to see a afternoon test fire of a early shuttle main engine ..it was on its side with the exhaust directed along a concrete bed and chute blowing it straight up... we were standing in a small bunker with thick glass ..the vibration and heat was insane....i recall the same night tests you saw
dude, with all respect, U-2 wasn't allegedly shot down with a SAM, but with a air-to-air missile from a MIG that climbed up as high as it could. Do your own research!
Quite likely actually. The SR71 was expensive. Required special fuel injectors, and needed to be refueled mid flight. In the mean time, we developed other forms of recon. Drones became way more popular and were the safer choice.
Of course it's completely unlikely. You know perfectly well Skunkworks had to be working on Mach 6-10 just a few years after the SR-71 was completed. I'd be shocked if it took them beyond 1970.
@@wallytuber EXACTLY. People here forget what satellite technology was like before the SR-71's time ... Satellites of that time used film; not digital cameras; they'd take pictures and then waited until they were flying over the US and dropped the film in a capsule over a desert, and people had to go and comb the desert to find the darn capsule. That's why the SR-71 was such a good idea. Digital photography and communications were what made satellites far more valuable, and rendered the SR-71 obsolete. And what makes now the SR-72 less obsolete is its ability to steer and go to any place and time and get real time data on anything. Satellites are periodic observers.
Ok first problems were the timeline. The U-2/TR-1 were designed and built before the SR was flying. Second the A-12 was a single seat predecessor to the SR. It was based on the F-104 because the CIA didn’t have a big budget so Kelly Johnson took the F-104, gave it really long wing. So the CIA contracted for the design and development of the A-12 Oxcart. When the Air Force was given the SR-71, they didn’t really want it. Lyndon Johnson screwed it up calling it the SR-71 instead of RS-71 Reconnaissance plane. He just blurted it out at a news conference. Meanwhile, Lockheed worked with and developed a two seat aircraft because the Air Force didn’t believe a pilot alone could work the sensors and camera. The Darkstar never existed. The SR-72 was a prop made for the movie Top Gun II. It is nothing of a shell of an aircraft. But China showed an so much interest in it that the Air Force decided to prank the Chinese and rolled the model out during the Edward’s AFB’s open house. Lots of pretend guards but lots and lots of photographers. Does anybody really believe the Government would be that open about a top secret aircraft, especially one that has the supposedly so much potential. How long did the SR exist before it was revealed? The F-114 was flying missions before the Government was finally forced to admit it existed! So, no the SR-72 is not real!
Everyone speaking of this tech being 20+ years old, hence why we are seeing it. I agree. I think it's somewhat common knowledge now. They don't let anything cutting edge out to be known. That said.... The Tr3B is also old tech now. So what exactly do they truly have that they are working on presently?
Russia shouldn't have shot down the U2 lol best thing to do is let us fly on by because if you shoot us down we are just going to build something better lol
Russia Lol If it weren't for threatening the world with nuclear holocaust they be occupied by international force.. The Russian military has totally failed under Putin, not to mention that it has not stayed current with its economy.. Embarrassing 😳 Bully alot more fat than muscle.
Give us something about the Aurora. While visiting family in Nevada, we'd see this triangle looking aircraft fly overhead and it would be gone over the horizon. BEFORE the sound got to us. After I joined the Air Force, I asked if anyone could tell me anything about this, "Aurora," plane. Their reply was always, "I can neither confirm or deny the existence of such an aircraft."
@@mjklein I googled that... I then saw the "It doesn't exist" sites but then I scrolled all the way down and found the sites that you desperately want to believe in.
You could have mentioned the record setting flight times: Maj. Noel Widdifield set a new world speed record from New York to London. The flight covered 3,470 miles and lasted only 1 hour, 54 minutes, 56.4 seconds
On retirement, the SR-71 flew from LA to Wash DC in 61 minutes. That plane is in the Smithsonian and they requested that the last flight be a record breaking flight.
When the legendary SR-71 Blackbird ended its service, many believed aerial reconnaissance had peaked, unaware that the SR-72, a faster and more advanced hypersonic aircraft, would soon redefine the future of reconnaissance missions.
The CIA had already decided to replace the U-2, so they started project Oxcart which led to the development of the A-12. When General Curtis LeMay found out about the CIA's new plane, he said it should belong to the USAF. President Johnson allowed them to both develop their own versions and he'd decide the winner. The A-12 could fly higher and faster as it was lighter, the RS-71 was a 2-seater because it was originally going to be used as both a reconnaissance and strike aircraft. As the President was going to announce it, LeMay decided against the strike capability so it was renamed the SR-71.
They need to start using the new Taqyon Quantum Oxide Free Graphene product. It has 200 intercalated layers per nanometer. There's no better head shielding and EMI shielding product on earth. When used in conjunction with hydrogenated graphene, it acts as a superconductor at room temperature.
I encourage everyone to read Skunk Works by Ben Rich. The insights to the SR-71 and F-117 Nighthawk are incredible. I can't imagine what is on their blackbook currently.
*The video was okay but had very little about the SR-72 if you want to speed it up start watching from 7 minutes on and even then there's very little spoken about the SR-72*
There were only two SR-71B aircraft made, used for training pilots. One was lost in an accident. The sole surviving SR-71B training aircraft, with its second elevated cockpit bubble, can be seen at the Airzoo in Kalamazoo, Michigan. They also have a F-117 among many other aircraft on display. One of the volunteers told me when the F-117 was retired the air force took special care to remove the top-secret stealth paint skin before shipping them to museums. A basic commercial grade matte black paint then applied to simulate the skin.
About the 12:03 mark, "in the early 1930s, the USAF planned to introduce the 6th gen NGAD....." Dang, talk about thinking forward. Almost a hundred years!!!
This is the system that needs to replace the F-35 system. You put this into field as master drone controller, add stealth, you got a fast sneaky weapons platform that can signal other drone platforms in the area to remain on station or... attack. fast.
@Wild Iron The SR-72 would most likely use this special type of Titanium that handles heat past 6000 deg Celsius & this aircraft would have been secretly flying as far back in 1999 when the SR-71 had it's last flight. Normally the military shares the news about a certain top secret aircraft such as this 20 - 25 after it's already has been flying & the real reason for them speaking about it is that the military has upgraded the old SR-72 with some new aircraft that is even more secret. The F117 that was supposed to be a state of the art new secret aircraft only lasted as long as it was able to be replaced with the F22. The B2 also had the same fate as the F117 where it has only lasted as long as it took to make the new B21 bomber that came out recently. All in all if you're hearing about a so called new aircraft coming out in the military the only reason you're hearing about it is because they have something even more secret flying around that you will not hear about for another 20 plus years.
Our tech today has exceeded the myth of 20 year rotation from military to public domain. 2024 technologies in the military is conservatively 40-50 year advanced technology from space to sea to navigation to aerial domains. The biggest challenge we have today that we didn't have 40 or 50 years ago is the private sectors keeping these US technologies secret.
During the bidding for the aircraft to win Project Oxcart, the Convair division of General Dynamics offered a plane called the Kingfish. It was a delta wing aircraft with the intakes and exhausts of the engines on top of the wing area next to the center portion of the fuselage. The verticals were tilted inward similar to the A-12/SR-71. Underneath the leading and trailing edges of both competition aircraft were triangular forms to decrease the RCS - Radar Cross Section. Too bad the Kingfish as far as the records go, never got to fly. The closest were the RCS models that they tested on the radar range, somewhere in the high desert, out of prying eyes.
you can't tell me that this thing hasn't been flying around for the past 20 years. the only reason we know about it now is that they already have something way better in the works or already in service
Never asked the question before, but how fast was the Saturn V in Mach? Mach 20.4. Yep, that was fast. SpaceX Star Ship is rolling at Mach 22.8. Awesome time to be alive.
The info stating this aircraft flys at mach 3.3 top speed is not correct. My turbine engine teacher that worked on the SR-71 in the military said the real speed is mach 7. I could understand a aircrafts nose glowing red at mach 7 but not at mach 3.3.
we'll probably see more unmanned high speed vehicles in the future.....excellent video....I remember building an X-15 model when I was a kid....technology has advanced in leaps and bounds since the 60's.....the last 25 years have been amazing as far as computers and phones goes....I've been waiting for a return to the moon, but now that seems so far away....Mars is even farther away....interstellar flight, who knows?
I was a teenager in the 80s and met a SR 71 pilot at a family gathering. Of course I asked him “how fast does it go?” He said he was at top speed over North Dakota, throttled back to idle, coasted all the way to Texas.
Damn he was hauling ass. That's fast!
I’m not sure he was allowed to tell you that.
Thats about 1300 miles
❤
Wasn’t the official answer, somewhere close to Mach 3 …
I saw the SR-71 in flight. It must have been around 1982. Word went around that the SR-71 would be featured in the airshow at Fairchild. I was downtown Spokane the day before the airshow when I heard this incredible sound. I knew instantly it must be the blackbird! I stretched my head out the truck window and saw it straight overhead. With the tall buildings on both sides I only got a split second glimpse, but I’ll never forget it. It gave me goosebumps!
In basic we were given the choice as a flight to pick which plane to have a group photo in front of. SR71 was unanimously chosen.
My father was was in the Air Force and worked in Photo Reconnaissance during Vietnam out of Thailand. In 1973 he was stationed at RAF Alconbury in England were we lived for 3 years. He developed the film from the U2 and SR-71. He wanted to retire at Fairchild so he cross trained into Avionics working on the B-52 and retired at Fairchild. I remember the event you mentioned well. During that time the land just beyond the flightline was accessible, and he took us there in his Ford 4X4 truck. We were just past the the perimeter fence past the runway and I witnessed the SR-71 take off. It thundered down the runway and took off very low directly over our heads, and an intense heat from the engines was felt. It was an awesome view as the massive plane passed very low overhead and accelerated quickly away. I also was in Basic Training during the official retirement ceremony for the SR-71 at Lackland AFB in early 1990. Most of the recruits in my flight/squadron were in formation on the parade grounds during the events, and warned not to look up during the fly over. I was fortunate to be posted near one of the entrances into the grounds directing people. After a long ceremony it was announced the the plane was approaching and by the time the intense sound was present the SR-71 was just past were I was passing over. Then after the first of several sonic booms the plane quickly disappeared out of sight, soon future announcements of what state the plane was currently passing over were given, and at least one more sonic boom arrived as it was accelerating above.
I was there that day at fairchild , it was awesome.
For those interested in the SR-72, start watching the video from around the 6th minute - before that it is a high level history of the SR-71.
Thank you
I love you thanks
Thanks man
👍
Along with occasional shots of the X-Jet from the X-Men movie too 😒
As an outside contractor, I provided service at the Palmdale CA airfield where Northrop (B2, F117), NA Rockwell (B1, F22 Tigershark) and Lockheed (U2, SR71) were often in sight. One of the NAR engineers knew my 'affection' for the Blackbird & came running up to me. "Come quick"- I did as directed- we raced up ~10 flights of stairs in one of the production buildings. Almost out of breath, he told me that he was talking with the Control Tower & the SR71 pilot had called in to advise his pending arrival / OK to land. ETA was ~10 minutes. He was just entering Texas airspace from the Gulf of Mexico and had to slow down! DANG!!!! Reflecting on seeing those planes up close still sends shivers thru me!
Generally we do not talk about work.
Must have been a Wednesday... IYKYK.
F117 is Lockheed, not Northrop. F22 is Lockheed, not Rockwell. Tigershark (F20) is Northrop, not Rockwell.
Got some rebranding in mind bud?
Models and makers don't match... Might consider deleting
When I was in the USAF many years ago, I was introduced to a gentleman who was one of the original test pilots. He told me the top speed was NOT due to the abiliy to go fast, but that the titanium skin would start to glow white hot which was visible in the cockpit and they'd pull it back before it melted. It was well capable of traveling much faster other than that.
mach 5.5
I just want to know how fast they’ve gone for short bursts…. I’ll bet in excess of Mach 4??? 😵
@@andyman8630do you have any basis for that, or just a guess?
@@drjones762
the .5 bit was an estimation - pilot testimony! he said over mach 5, but refused to be specific
And that titanium skin also was one of those "rubbing someone's nose in it", since they bought the titanium from the Soviets through "dummy" companies.
Everyone should know this is 20y old tech they don't release anything new lol
Makes me wonder what is in testing right now.
@burnerjack01 I think this all the time I see them release something. When they retired the space shuttle, I couldn't help but wonder what they actually have to replace it lol
Facts.
Absolutely whenever we see it it's already past there's something else up there
Yeah. Every time the U.S. military showcases their latest asset, I’m thinking; what have they developed now, to make it obsolete
My father was Top Secret clearance with SAC as a jet engine mechanic and served from '50 to '73. He worked on B-52, KC-135, and a slew of others. He told me that he once taxied the SR-71 onto the runway during the 60's. That's the kind of story I'll never forget. I miss you, dad.
Great memory, your Dad must have seemed like Batman growing up.
As an 80s kid, the SR-71 has probably always been my favorite aircraft. It's maybe not AZ cool, to some, as some fighter jet, and its sneaky, instead of openly combative, but I don't care. I've always loved stealth craft, like the B2 Spirit, the F117 Nighthawk, and the XB70 Valkyrie, and the Blackbird is simply the top of my list. I will be sad when something officially finally breaks its speed, and altitude, records, but if it's the direct Successor to it, I'll take the news better. 😊
You forgot to mention the Mosquito.
Designed from a Racer.
They haven't told us, but that's already happened... 👍🤨
My first viewing of the SR71 happened over Norwich in the UK in the 80s. As I approached a traffic light-controlled junction, I saw that the traffic had come to a halt, and people were climbing out of their vehicles to catch a glimpse of something in the sky. I did the same and immediately saw this black thing in the sky. It was easily recognised as some sort of aeroplane, but not like anything I had ever seen before. It was gorgeous and sleek and simply breathtaking. The traffic jam grew as more drivers emerged to see what everyone else was pointing to. Eventually, after the Blackbird turned, quite slowly it seemed, it flew off to the south, and normal traffic resumed. I finished my journey home just dying to tell my boys and wife, but they had seen it while playing in the back garden and were just as excited to tell me. We visited the Mildenhall air shows and saw some up close (guarded by armed sentries, as well as watching it fly past a few times. It was always a favourite after that first amazing encounter. (Still is.)
I got to put my hand on the nose of a Blackbird as a kid. That’s all the recruiting that Lockheed needs to do to turn bright children to the path of becoming an aerospace engineer. It just blew my mind, I could’ve walked around that plane for hours.
The SR72 has been operational for years. What is told to the public is usually 10 years behind what is currently being used
I gotta tell you, I was amazed while visiting The Little Little A'Le'Inn on 375 last time I was in Vegas. The wife wanted to visit so we took a ride, this was a week after the advertised "Bum Rush" on Area 51 a few years back. Long story short we came out after having lunch and heading for our rental I heard a faint rumble. Looking out over my shoulder I saw a dot, it was very high. It wasn't a B52, just a single contrail and it was moving very, very fast covering the sky I observed in just over a minute. Then I spotted another silver dot, directly in it's contrail following. The first aircraft executed a 180* turn and it was tight and proceeded back in the direction it came from headed for Groom Lake I imagine. The second aircraft was directly following in the first's contrail, right through the turn and back on the same heading with both eventually disappearing behind some mesas' and horizon. This viewing took less than 4 minutes and I can't even begin to guess at the speed and distance covered or at what altitude but after working just outside Griffiss AFB in Rome, NY and observing B52's scramble and at altitude overflights that was nothing like I had ever seen. I was happy to see my tax dollars at work.
I spent many, many days as a kid on the observation point at Griffiss in the 80s and early 90s.
So after 12:53, you find it is not. I hate these people who simply waste my time.
SR-71 was named officially as RS-71 but President Johnson mispronounced as SR-71 during official introduction so it became SR-71 as the official name. I heard this story from Lockheed engineers as well as a Blackbird pilot.
Well that's not quite true. The text of Johnson's actual speech read "SR-71", so he did not mispronounce it. The designation had already been changed, but the press kit still included the earlier "Reconnaissance/Strike" designation.
@marasmusine I may be a bit younger, but I was once told the RS- designator was meant to be a confusion device to be interpreted as reconsat or rorsat and thus give no indication to it being an aircraft. Wonder if any of these are stories are really true?
A Lockhead A-12 can be viewed up close outside the California Science Center in Los Angeles.
A Lockheed A12 can be viewed at the Space Center outside Huntsville Alabama
At Mach 3 depending on the outside temperature, the life of the compressor is quite low, no the average cruising Mach number is closer to 3.16 NOT 3.3.
The actual speed is the Mach number times the local speed of sound. The speed of sound is
c=√(gama × R × Ta)
The compressor temperature is
Tc = Ta × ( 1+ (gama-1)/2 Mach²)
There are 2 SR-71's on display at the "Blackbird Airpark" in Palmdale. It's on the grounds (or near it) of the Palmdale Regional Airport. Lock-Mart's Skunkworks facility is also nearby. :)
@@kenster865isn't one of them an A12?
Go to Dayton, OH and see one of each inside, or SR TN 17972 at Dulles, which is the one they show in the video.
Just remember anything the military actually releases to the public is 30 to 50 years old to the military. There are programs that you could not imagine.
I've heard the same saying before only 10 years, but I don't think it's true because our government relies on private sector to spend the money into research and development so they just go after what works best.
My father was was in the Air Force and worked in Photo Reconnaissance during Vietnam out of Thailand. In 1973 he was stationed at RAF Alconbury in England were we lived for 3 years. He developed the film from the U2 and SR-71. He wanted to retire at Fairchild so he cross trained into Avionics working on the B-52 and retired at Fairchild. During that time the land just beyond the flightline was accessible, and he took us there in his Ford 4X4 truck. We were just past the the perimeter fence past the runway and I witnessed the SR-71 take off from an Airshow there. It thundered down the runway and took off very low directly over our heads, and an intense heat from the engines was felt. It was an awesome view as the massive plane passed very low overhead and accelerated quickly away. I also was in Basic Training during the official retirement ceremony for the SR-71 at Lackland AFB in early 1989. Most of the recruits in my flight/squadron were in formation on the parade grounds during the events, and warned not to look up during the fly over. I was fortunate to be posted near one of the entrances into the grounds directing people. After a long ceremony it was announced the the plane was approaching and by the time the intense sound was present the SR-71 was just past were I was passing over. Then after the first of several sonic booms the plane quickly disappeared out of sight, soon future announcements of what state the plane was currently passing over were given, and at least one more sonic boom arrived as it was accelerating above.
Also as a kid we had an after school "Aeronautics Club" which I'm sure my father had a hand in organizing. At the time there was a local news chopper pilot Dan Schmarr and former U2 Pilot who worked with my Father in England assisted with the Club. We build model rockets and balsa model planes and learned about Aeronautics. I had a huge interest in the U2 and SR-71 since my time in England and studied all about them. I even had the rare chance to be around them. I had a photo of an SR-71 pilot in his spacesuit in the cockpit flying taken from another aircraft, and also a photo from the SR-71 taken at such a height you could see the curvature of the Earth.
I joined the Air National Guard while working as a Civilian at Fairchild and spent over a year active duty for Basic, and Avionics Guidance and Control Tech School afterward. then back to Fairchild for additional active duty during the start of Desert Storm were my unit was activated for Air Refueling Missions using our KC-135's. I had several opportunities to go up on Refueling Flights during my 6 year Enlistment including a deployment to Japan for a "Red Flag" Operation. We refueled many fighters during the flight. Another Flight was really awesome to be on was doing refueling for other ANG Units circling over Washington, Idaho, and the vicinity around. The Guard Units flew many older Fighters. During that Mission we refueled F-4 Phantoms, F-14 Tom Cats, and F-15 Eagles. I was able to lay down in one of the observation bays on either side of the boom operator and got some amazing photos and video. Seeing the F-4 was awesome, hard to believe a fighter that flew during Vietnam was still in service. Groups of fighters were in formation beyond our wingtips, each falling back behind and approaching the boom to take on fuel. I had a com set and could hear the communication between the fighter pilots and boom operator.
While my father was still active duty I had the opportunity to go into a B-52 Flight Simulator, housed in a train car. Years later while I was Teaching College at ITT, one of my students worked for the company running the advanced KC-135 Simulators, and I was able to take my class there on a field trip.There were 2 simulators, one on full hydraulic rams allowing the simulator to move. It was being used for training, but we used the stationary one. I was blown away at the interior, it was just like stepping into the real cockpit, so familiar to me after years or working on the Avionics Systems and Controls. There were super high-resolution monitors above which projected down on the cockpit "windows". You could see all the area around Fairchild's flight line, the base housing at the perimeter and the strobing runway lights. Within a short time it was perceived as "real". Myself and each of my students did a "Takeoff" short "Flight" and "Landing"... Most "Crashed", but I was able to do almost a perfect "Landing" using the "Glideslope Indicator" and instruments. Each was given a printout afterwards.
I once had the opportunity to take the controls of a corporate jet. I was working at Crop Growers Insurance in Coeur D' Alene Idaho as the Network System Administrator in their Regional Headquarters. My office was across from the pilots and I got to know him well, talking about my time in Avionics. Shortly after I started I was to fly to the Main Headquarters which was in Great Falls at the time. I arrived at the airport early one morning and we entered a heated hanger and boarded a Mishubishi-1000 Private Jet. During the flight to Great Falls the Vice President (Also a Pilot) and other executives were on board. On the return trip it was just myself, and the Pilot/CoPilot. shortly after takeoff the CoPilot came back and told me to go up in the cockpit. The Pilot gave me some instructions and said we were going to change waypoints. He told me to take the controls and disengaged the Autopilot. Using the Instruments and Controls I banked the Jet into the turn and aligned to the new course heading. As we got closer to our destination he resumed control and I went to the back again so the CoPilot could return for Landing.
During a Drill Weekend while in The Air National Guard a group of us from my Shop was out on the Flightline checking out the Aircraft on display for a Base Open House and Airshow later that day. It was prior to the public being allowed on base for the event later that day. We went around the many aircraft including an F-117 Stealth Fighter which was bordered with cones and lines, and had armed Security Police watching over it. We then approached a B-1 Lancer Supersonic Bomber with the "nose art Heavy Metal", it too was blocked off and had armed personnel. The crew chief and other technicians were outside the plane and we started talking with them. They asked us if we wanted to see the inside of the plane, and we were escorted up the ladder and into the aircraft. I was blown away by the high tech cockpit, and bombardiers' station. It was like a sophisticated "Video Game". They gave us a tour of the systems and around the aircraft, it was very memorable.
Before I joined the Military I was working for Billeting on Fairchild and the Billeting for the Survival School Annex. It was Friday the 13th in March of 1987. I was helping move furniture from a Security Police Barracks near the Flightline Control Tower. For a couple weeks prior I was observing the "Thunderhawks" demonstration team practicing for an upcoming Airshow there. It consisted of a B-52 Bomber and KC-135 Air Refueling Tanker which would take off in quick succession and perform low altitude banking maneuvers. This day as we were just about to load a desk onto a Flatbed Truck I watched as the B-52 took off followed closely by the KC-135. The time was near 13:13 when I observed the Tanker go into a steep bank, "wings vertical" with little airspeed and altitude. I told the other "That planes going to crash!", It was heading for a huge warehouse building which contained the Commissary, Base Exchange, and many other businesses filled with hundreds of active duty, retired military personnel, and civilian employees. The pilot made a last moment control movement to the planes elevators to direct it between the building and Control Tower. The Aircraft struck the ground and exploded into a massive fireball. It was surreal, difficult to process what I had just witnessed. Soon after, the sounds of sirens from Emergency Response
and Fire Department Vehicles from Fairchild and the nearby Spokane Airport began to arrive. There were 6 Crew members onboard who all died in the crash. not much was left recognizable of the plane except parts of the tail. It was later discovered that a 7th fatality occurred. There was a Boom Operator who was scheduled to fly on the plane that day, however was grounded by the Flight Surgeon due to sickness. He was standing next to his car observing the takeoff and the the plane crashed there taking his life also.
Wow,...yours was the longest comment I believe I've ever seen! Lots of interesting details.
I was working at Spokane airport the day of that accident...Alaska ground crew.
That was a great film clip. I lived in Santa Clara, CA, back in 1982. I will never forget the sound of power that the Blackbird made during taking off from Moffet Field, which was about 3 miles from my home. America still has what it takes to surpass any other country on earth
I regret to inform you, but thats not the case.
@@r-kan👎"I Regret To Inform You" That Your "Comment" IS False👎
I remember U2 flights out of Moffett but not Blackbirds.
USAF ❗❗❗
SR 71 never took off from Moffitt field, U2's did.
As a Taiwanese, I wish SR-72 success!
"USAF Declared SR-72 Darkstar Is Finally Ready To Fly" NOT!
Thanks for the replays of Top Gun Maverick all over the beginning of the vid.
"Operation Darkstar" began in the late 1980's.... Lockheed was the primary and Hughes Aircraft Company providing the avionic systems and cameras. A test vehicle was constructed and a building aka R4 built in El Segundo, California. The building was located on Hughes Way, cross of Imperial Highway. When the testing was completed, the building was torn down. The "Blackbird Program" which Hughes was also extensively involved in, those aircraft were tested up to Mach 4.4 with the crews advised the max cruising speed was 3.4. Typical cruising speed was Mach 3.2
In and around 1962-1963, plans were already drawn up and ultimately rejected for the SR-71 successor. The reason they were rejected was because they did not provide a sufficient enough leap in aircraft speed capability. The gov't wanted faster. They wanted Mach 5+, ideally Mach 6-9. Do you really think Darkstar was going to get funded for basically matching the capabilities of the SR-71 twenty years later? No, Sir. Not a chance. Them Skunkworks boys had Mach 6-9 designed and built by 1970.
@@redcapote4760 Not sure where you are getting that darkstar was the successor back in the 1960's..... "Operation Darkstar" was an advance tech surveillance aircraft that had a much different purpose than the original blackbird program...... The reason for the Blackbird program termination was our "Keyhole" Satellites - many of which Hughes designed, built, launched, operated could read the inside of a matchbook cover all with digital images whereas the blackbirds used film (mfg by Kodac). The interceptors flew a bit longer. I can also tell you this, there was a time in the late 1980's that Hughes was requested to scramble a "Tiger Team' to relaunch a blackbird from storage- because it had a capability that was needed at the time- and that's all I'll say about this.
With regards to "Operation Darkstar", there were major issues that caused the "Stop Work" order that occurred around 1990..... it was not the tech, but IMHO, the 70+ (IIRR) felony complaints regarding falsified work product that occurred as directed by the highest levels at Hughes Aircraft Company by the "New" owners- ie Roger Smith/General Motors Hughes Electronics, IIRR Michael Armstrong was the "new" President of Hughes.... which placed people's lives at "Imminent Risk" needlessly.
@@jeffalvich9434 I didn't say Darkstar was the project that SkunkWorks worked on between '65 and '75. I don't know the name of the project. I'm saying projects to succeed the SR-71 were immediately being worked up after the SR-71 was completed in 1963. The project you are calling DarkStar comes far too late in the timeline and provides no benefit to the SR-71's capability to be a factual successor to the SR-71. Projects in the Mach 5 to Mach 10 capability were undoubtedly under construction before 1975. To say otherwise is misinformation.
@@redcapote4760 👍
The RQ-3 DARKSTAR was a DRONE! Google it! It was built by Skunk Works. First flight was in 1996. Not a high speed vehicle.
I sure would like to see it! I was in the Blackbird program(SR-71 and U-2/TR-1) off and on for 10 years. My first duty station as an SR-71 crew chief( acft. mech.) was at Beale AFB in 1980 followed by other base assignments over my career of 21 years in the USAF.
American ingenuity has always been decades ahead of our enemies and today is no different.
Free thinking vs State mandated
Not so in WWII - The Germans were 30-40 years ahead of us. It was German ingenuity that created the Flying wing stealth aircraft and the Apollo Moon Program.
The one thing that Americans have been consistent about is that we think that we are better. At least we have that
@@ryanchavers4388Apparently we are, evidenced by all the people coming here from other countries. Some even risking their lives to do so.
Support the country you live in or live in the country you support. 😆
@@P.Galore > The Germans were 30-40 years ahead of us.
I wouldn't say that. The Me-262 was of course the best fighter of the war but the US and UK probably could have produced the Allied fighters in similar numbers by similar dates if that was the direction we had wanted to go in. I'd say the Germans were more like 1-2 years ahead in this category. In rocketry the Germans had also done great things but remember they only started in like 1940 or so? So if the US started from scratch in 1945, we'd have been more like 5 years "behind," not 30-40. Also note that the Germans spent far more on V-2's than any other aspect of the war. They only got as far as even a couple years ahead because they were totally wasting money. In contrast the Allies were spending money on things like Radar, Computers, and the Manhattan Project.
what the fuck, everyone clicked on this for SR-72 but the entire first half is just regurgatating things we already know about SR-71. Stop doing that
Videos above 8 minutes make more money. 6 minutes out of the total 12 are about the sr71, so it’s probably why
Lowkey kinda sounds like ai
Finally ready to fly means it’s been flying for 10-20 years.
I watched the SR-71 "Belmont 86" that emergency landed in Norway i 1981. My father was in Air Force SAR and they parked the SR-71 right next to the SAR hangar.
Naturally we came out and had a look when it took off again. Majestic sight when they turned the nose up to the sky and was gone in seconds, epic engine roar too. Love that plane.
IM extremely impressed with the performanse of the x12 and hope it will be in use Long before the 30s or 40s because I think they Might be needed much sooner!
So basically you only know what the public is allowed to know. There is ALOT more going on behind closed doors. Here a small example. Our Navy was using Los Angeles class subs almost 10 yrs before the public knew.
The contractors who work on these systems know...
So do the flight test camera guys...
11:53 I've been clickbated
My goodness there are some marvels of engineering out there in the world. I love to see all the different kinds of aircrafts!
Loved it!
Well-done, Sir!
One amazing fact I love about the SR-71 and the sensitivity of its equipment is that it could sit on the runway in bright sunlight and actually detect stars!
For navigation with no reliance on GPS….
Having just read the The Skunk Works written by Ben Rich and Leo Janos, this design was on paper in the early 60s. The story of The Skunk Works is absolutely fascinating and satellites cannot and do not fulfill the overflight missions of a strategic reconnaissance aircraft, whether maned or unmanned. The two position SR71 was the air force variant that had extra ELINT and other sensors onboard while the original and first CIA variant was a single seat photo reconnaissance only.
American military technology has always fascinated me. It’s incredible what can actually be built! I agree with others’ comments. This plane is probably old news. The military would never reveal top secret technology to potential adversaries.
Great video, forgive me for nit picking, at 9:44 you mention Jack O'BANION, but the picture is of VP Paul Lemo of Sikorsky sitting in front of the CH-53K King Stallion, I worked software on that program. Great job!
Higher, faster, hotter: The only way to fly!
Worked on one or two Anderson AFB, 72/73. Lot bigger than what they looked like.
You worked on the successor to the SR-71 in 1972? Or the SR-71 itself?
@@redcapote4760 Not too sure but it was big, and ugly and very hot when it came into the hanger. Too many M-16's standing around to ask many questions.
@@chevyjennings3404 If you worked on them, you'd know the difference between the two.
When I was around 10 yrs old my family went to an airshow in Dayton and the SR-71 flew over, did not stop. This was around 1964. When I was in Okinawa with the ASA I caught the Blackbird leaving Kadena AB...from start of roll to out of sight was 15 seconds. It made the earth shake, for sure.
The only fortunate time I saw the Blackbird was at Norton in California. It was doing slight flying and buzzed the field 2 times. The second time it buzzed, it turned upwards and went up and up and up and up, with afterburners on, and simply disappeared. I think it disappeared into the Twilight Zone. I heard a Sergeant say that it looked as if the pilot was flying a bit over regulation while near the ground but when it disappeared, he chuckled and said that it probably won't matter now. It's gone. I cannot forget the sound when the afterburners lit up and kicked in when it started to climb. The only simple words that immediately came into mind were raw power. It reminded me of the Concorde, except this behaved like its bully brother. As to outright noise, I think (?) the Harrier jet was the worst. No matter how much you covered your ears, muffs or not, your head vibrated. When hovering, that thing was a monster.
As much "sex appeal" that a "Darkstar" jet might create, the reality is that the existing satellite capabilities provide virtually all Imagery and Sigint we need. The tactical theater is the most likely sector where additional capability is needed.
The SR-71, which has always been my favorite jet, suffered from, extremely high operating costs making long mission planning and acft prep costs and time and those problems put it out of business. It became like an $85,000.00 an hour hooker nobody could justify no matter how sexy or satisfying the performance might be.
Finally, with tactical intell as the weakest part of our current intel needs, a mach 6 jet manned or unmanned simply could not cover the area adequately. For example, a SR-71 flew over our base in Duluth Minnesota in the 80-81 time frame. Headed East Northeast they started a 180 degree turn and rolled out in the opposite direction over Chicago Illinois. Hardly a tactically useful capability. Love those sleek lines and performance but not useful for any tactical missions.
I saw one take off from grissom afb in Indiana in 1984. I was like 12. Amazing to see
4:24 The Blackbird was the fastest jet aircraft to be used operationally. The actual speed record for a manned jet aircraft belongs to the X-15, around mach 6.7.
In the 60’s and early 70’s we lived a few (5-7) miles from Rocketdyne. When they’d test usually mid-afternoon you could hear the incredible roar that normally lasted about 1-2 minutes. When they tested at dusk, the orange/red glow added to the roar was both awesome, and a bit spooky, errey
we lived in a new tract near sequoia JHS off the Tapo Cyn exit in '69..my pops was a ventura county sheriff at the time....our science class at simi high in 71 got to see a afternoon test fire of a early shuttle main engine ..it was on its side with the exhaust directed along a concrete bed and chute blowing it straight up...
we were standing in a small bunker with thick glass ..the vibration and heat was insane....i recall the same night tests you saw
dude, with all respect, U-2 wasn't allegedly shot down with a SAM, but with a air-to-air missile from a MIG that climbed up as high as it could. Do your own research!
Oh, so they retired the SR71 BEFORE is replacement was ready? Not likely.
Quite likely actually. The SR71 was expensive. Required special fuel injectors, and needed to be refueled mid flight.
In the mean time, we developed other forms of recon. Drones became way more popular and were the safer choice.
The replacement was ready. Its called satellite imagery.
Retired from the military. NASA still has some and the CIA still operates 3.
Of course it's completely unlikely. You know perfectly well Skunkworks had to be working on Mach 6-10 just a few years after the SR-71 was completed. I'd be shocked if it took them beyond 1970.
@@wallytuber EXACTLY. People here forget what satellite technology was like before the SR-71's time ... Satellites of that time used film; not digital cameras; they'd take pictures and then waited until they were flying over the US and dropped the film in a capsule over a desert, and people had to go and comb the desert to find the darn capsule. That's why the SR-71 was such a good idea. Digital photography and communications were what made satellites far more valuable, and rendered the SR-71 obsolete. And what makes now the SR-72 less obsolete is its ability to steer and go to any place and time and get real time data on anything. Satellites are periodic observers.
this is awesome, and i especially appreciate the use of footage from maverick.
Ok first problems were the timeline. The U-2/TR-1 were designed and built before the SR was flying. Second the A-12 was a single seat predecessor to the SR. It was based on the F-104 because the CIA didn’t have a big budget so Kelly Johnson took the F-104, gave it really long wing. So the CIA contracted for the design and development of the A-12 Oxcart. When the Air Force was given the SR-71, they didn’t really want it. Lyndon Johnson screwed it up calling it the SR-71 instead of RS-71 Reconnaissance plane. He just blurted it out at a news conference. Meanwhile, Lockheed worked with and developed a two seat aircraft because the Air Force didn’t believe a pilot alone could work the sensors and camera. The Darkstar never existed. The SR-72 was a prop made for the movie Top Gun II. It is nothing of a shell of an aircraft. But China showed an so much interest in it that the Air Force decided to prank the Chinese and rolled the model out during the Edward’s AFB’s open house. Lots of pretend guards but lots and lots of photographers.
Does anybody really believe the Government would be that open about a top secret aircraft, especially one that has the supposedly so much potential. How long did the SR exist before it was revealed? The F-114 was flying missions before the Government was finally forced to admit it existed!
So, no the SR-72 is not real!
Everyone speaking of this tech being 20+ years old, hence why we are seeing it.
I agree. I think it's somewhat common knowledge now. They don't let anything cutting edge out to be known.
That said.... The Tr3B is also old tech now.
So what exactly do they truly have that they are working on presently?
Russia shouldn't have shot down the U2 lol best thing to do is let us fly on by because if you shoot us down we are just going to build something better lol
Examples: F-15 then F-22. The F-22 design was born in the 80s. It still lacks a competitor 40 years later. Don't push the Bald Eagles. 🇺🇸
@@reaperbsc amen
Russia Lol If it weren't for threatening the world with nuclear holocaust they be occupied by international force..
The Russian military has totally failed under Putin, not to mention that it has not stayed current with its economy..
Embarrassing 😳 Bully alot more fat than muscle.
Putin too busy hanging large pictures of himself.
So following that logic, we SHOULDN'T splash Chinese spy balloons?
Give us something about the Aurora. While visiting family in Nevada, we'd see this triangle looking aircraft fly overhead and it would be gone over the horizon. BEFORE the sound got to us. After I joined the Air Force, I asked if anyone could tell me anything about this, "Aurora," plane. Their reply was always, "I can neither confirm or deny the existence of such an aircraft."
The thing you saw was an alien spaceship... This video was about what people imagine a real airplane looks like.
@@wcolby If that were true, how do I know it's called the, "Aurora?"
@@michaelccopelandsr7120
Because that is what you have been told , and you think that is the truth.
Research TR3-B.
@@mjklein I googled that... I then saw the "It doesn't exist" sites but then I scrolled all the way down and found the sites that you desperately want to believe in.
My father knew U2 pilot Gary Powers and his father from Norton VA. They once ran into each other in the lobby at Langley.
What, no coffee first?
I was about to un intrusively hit like button too.
You could have mentioned the record setting flight times: Maj. Noel Widdifield set a new world speed record from New York to London. The flight covered 3,470 miles and lasted only 1 hour, 54 minutes, 56.4 seconds
On retirement, the SR-71 flew from LA to Wash DC in 61 minutes. That plane is in the Smithsonian and they requested that the last flight be a record breaking flight.
It’s probably already in service.
That’s the element of surprise 🤔
Wouldn’t be surprised to see upadated versions
When the legendary SR-71 Blackbird ended its service, many believed aerial reconnaissance had peaked, unaware that the SR-72, a faster and more advanced hypersonic aircraft, would soon redefine the future of reconnaissance missions.
“Soon” It’s been almost 30 years, and the thing still hasn’t been announced or publicly acknowledged, let alone tested or in service.
Soon?
The sr71 is 60 years old
No, its not. The 72 doesnt exist. Its all optics. US has dick, except a landslide election for Harris and the destruction of life.
"They" said satellites were being used to spy and we didn't need the SR-71 anymore.
@@Wesley_H If you believe that, you're silly.
The CIA had already decided to replace the U-2, so they started project Oxcart which led to the development of the A-12. When General Curtis LeMay found out about the CIA's new plane, he said it should belong to the USAF. President Johnson allowed them to both develop their own versions and he'd decide the winner. The A-12 could fly higher and faster as it was lighter, the RS-71 was a 2-seater because it was originally going to be used as both a reconnaissance and strike aircraft. As the President was going to announce it, LeMay decided against the strike capability so it was renamed the SR-71.
If it was such a secret the Air Force wouldn't park it out on the tarmac for satellites to see.
They need to start using the new Taqyon Quantum Oxide Free Graphene product. It has 200 intercalated layers per nanometer. There's no better head shielding and EMI shielding product on earth. When used in conjunction with hydrogenated graphene, it acts as a superconductor at room temperature.
I encourage everyone to read Skunk Works by Ben Rich. The insights to the SR-71 and F-117 Nighthawk are incredible. I can't imagine what is on their blackbook currently.
Goto 6:00 to skip to sr-72 🙄
If there's anything announced then that means they have something better kept secret.
The future would be an engine and aircraft that could fly in atmosphere and in space.
If this was even true, and an up to date information, it would have already been flying for 20 years.
*The video was okay but had very little about the SR-72 if you want to speed it up start watching from 7 minutes on and even then there's very little spoken about the SR-72*
There were only two SR-71B aircraft made, used for training pilots. One was lost in an accident. The sole surviving SR-71B training aircraft, with its second elevated cockpit bubble, can be seen at the Airzoo in Kalamazoo, Michigan. They also have a F-117 among many other aircraft on display. One of the volunteers told me when the F-117 was retired the air force took special care to remove the top-secret stealth paint skin before shipping them to museums. A basic commercial grade matte black paint then applied to simulate the skin.
Let's give a big shoutout to Will Arnett for spending time as a voiceover artist on this video.
About the 12:03 mark, "in the early 1930s, the USAF planned to introduce the 6th gen NGAD....."
Dang, talk about thinking forward. Almost a hundred years!!!
Wonder if a slip of the tongue warrants such scrutiny?
@@koori3085 Yes. Yes it does. More of a typo, I'd say, due to everything now being AI.
Th Sr71 wasnt limited by its engines for its top speed.. But rather the temperature of the craft is its limiting factor
This is the system that needs to replace the F-35 system. You put this into field as master drone controller, add stealth, you got a fast sneaky weapons platform that can signal other drone platforms in the area to remain on station or... attack. fast.
I believe that it is already running missions.
I believe we had aircraft capable of this by the late 1960's.
Loved seeing that The X-Men and their X-Jet are a part of the program 😂 4:17
Any new aircraft from America is AWESOME!!!
Looking more and more like that Earth atmosphere Space ship combo that we seem to be moving towards.
He'll yes. We have one
Here in San Antonio. TX. On display.
@Wild Iron
The SR-72 would most likely use this special type of Titanium that handles heat past 6000 deg Celsius & this aircraft would have been secretly flying as far back in 1999 when the SR-71 had it's last flight. Normally the military shares the news about a certain top secret aircraft such as this 20 - 25 after it's already has been flying & the real reason for them speaking about it is that the military has upgraded the old SR-72 with some new aircraft that is even more secret.
The F117 that was supposed to be a state of the art new secret aircraft only lasted as long as it was able to be replaced with the F22. The B2 also had the same fate as the F117 where it has only lasted as long as it took to make the new B21 bomber that came out recently. All in all if you're hearing about a so called new aircraft coming out in the military the only reason you're hearing about it is because they have something even more secret flying around that you will not hear about for another 20 plus years.
Imagine what is classified if they are releasing this old tech.
It flew over a year ago and we have pictures of it at sea.
I'll be 80 or 90 years old. Both my Dad and I worked for Aerojet.
Wow, if I may ask, how did you get in the field? As a 16 year old, I would love to work in systems design
Wow, if I may ask, how did you/your father get in the field? I’m 16 and working on such systems has always been my passion
There’s no need to shout your commentary. I’ve switched off at 01:24. Watch some David Attenborough documentaries and you might learn something.
Darkstar is the name of a low budget science fiction comedy.
It was a good movie!
Pinback, it's time to feed the alien
Our tech today has exceeded the myth of 20 year rotation from military to public domain. 2024 technologies in the military is conservatively 40-50 year advanced technology from space to sea to navigation to aerial domains. The biggest challenge we have today that we didn't have 40 or 50 years ago is the private sectors keeping these US technologies secret.
During the bidding for the aircraft to win Project Oxcart, the Convair division of General Dynamics offered a plane called the Kingfish. It was a delta wing aircraft with the intakes and exhausts of the engines on top of the wing area next to the center portion of the fuselage. The verticals were tilted inward similar to the A-12/SR-71. Underneath the leading and trailing edges of both competition aircraft were triangular forms to decrease the RCS - Radar Cross Section. Too bad the Kingfish as far as the records go, never got to fly. The closest were the RCS models that they tested on the radar range, somewhere in the high desert, out of prying eyes.
I live in Ukraine and our area got hit by 4 Kinzal missiles today . How ironic.
you can't tell me that this thing hasn't been flying around for the past 20 years. the only reason we know about it now is that they already have something way better in the works or already in service
12 minutes I'm not getting back.
I worked on one in 1990 that looked a lot like this. It was flying.
Most likely it will happen. Plus this thing looks awesome!
Never asked the question before, but how fast was the Saturn V in Mach? Mach 20.4. Yep, that was fast. SpaceX Star Ship is rolling at Mach 22.8. Awesome time to be alive.
Time step beyond "mouth-breathers" and understand that atmospheric air is too thin for effective maneuvering.
Wonder if the Chicoms now having the ability to destroy satellites has anything to do with this.
Finally ready to fly means they've been flying it for 3 hears and want to start landing it at selected bases.
The info stating this aircraft flys at mach 3.3 top speed is not correct. My turbine engine teacher that worked on the SR-71 in the military said the real speed is mach 7. I could understand a aircrafts nose glowing red at mach 7 but not at mach 3.3.
GREAT!! 36 trillion dollars in debt ( hopelessly bankrupt) but we've got some awesome planes. :)
Many reports an public essays say Lockheed’s stealthy, mysterious sleek-looking SR-72 is both real and acknowledged by the Air Force.
We are going to see the SR-72 sooner than later.
we'll probably see more unmanned high speed vehicles in the future.....excellent video....I remember building an X-15 model when I was a kid....technology has advanced in leaps and bounds since the 60's.....the last 25 years have been amazing as far as computers and phones goes....I've been waiting for a return to the moon, but now that seems so far away....Mars is even farther away....interstellar flight, who knows?
fact: stated cruise speed may be mach 3.3 but top speed is still classified.
Title: new aircraft technology
Content: let us start with a historic retrospective startin in Kitty Hawk...