SR 71 Blackbird last flight ever.Edwards AFB open house 1999.
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- Опубликовано: 10 сен 2024
- This short movie shows the last ever flight of an SR71 Blackbird. This flight took place on October 9th 1999 at the Edwards AFB Open House Airshow.
We were treated to a Mach 3+flyover at over 80,00ft which resulted in a double sonic boom.
The SR71 was meant to fly on the Sunday as well but a massive fuel leak from the jet was to stop that.So from October the 9th 1999 she never flew again.
I feel priviledged to have witnessed such an epic event in aviation history, from a plane that was way infront of it's time and had millions of people spellbound when they saw her.I have embedded this movie into my aviation website www.climb-out.c... as I have a page now up covering this show.
Spiecal thanks goes out to Steve Ward without whom this movie would not have been possible.
I left Edwards right after this flight. It was amazing to be stationed there (my dad was before my military career) in the mid to late 90s. F117s, SR71s, yf22s, c17s, c5s, the shuttle landings. Didn't realize how lucky I was at the time.
I use to go there TDY in the 1980's and 90's. I use to get a kick hearing those sonic booms.
This was on every young boy's wall in the 80s. I just wish I could have seen her fly in person.
@Bob Loblaw i really feel your pain. Good thing I've seen one in person though
I was only 2 when this video was made still wish i could have been there
I was there for this last flight. It was every bit as impressive as you imagine it was.
I saw it regularly and heard a lot more engine tests out at Lockheed Plant 42. An SR-71 broke the windows in my school one summer in the 1980s not even going supersonic, just passing over. It was the most memorable, positive experience I had in all of my days in school, bar none, and I went to schools all over the place in the US, West Germany, and Japan.
You're right, the SR71 was not acknowledged to exist in the 60's
God created man...
Man created SR-71
God said...now you're just showing off...
That's what I think when I see this freak of nature. I literally get chills when I see footage of the sr71 black bird in flight.
@@Kyle-xt8ip Even better just to see and hear it fly by.
@@josemoreno3334 I believe it
Oh man! I was at that show. Remember it like it was yesterday. Had the privilege to see her fly at 2 different shows.
Could you please describe what you saw? I mean, how powerful that baby is
Dang satellites put her out of business... such a shame.. my most favorite 'thing' about the SR-71 was the so called 'performance' flight from Los Angeles to New York... took a whole 64 minutes!
No. Cost put her out of business. Everyone knows when satellites will fly over. You can set your watch by it.
@@robhalford6574 Nope, cost or satellites did not put the program out of business. From the mouth of Ben R. Rich: Larry Welch was turned down to fly the SR-71 when he was a major, not a good enough pilot.
Once Jerry O'Malley was killed (the first Blue suit to fly an operational mission), Welch was his replacement. He was rumored to have sent a memo to HQ SAC that stated if anyone; E-1 through O-10 would be fired if he/she said anything positive about the capabilities of the SR-71.
When the USAF asked Ben as to how long it would take to get one SR-71 operational, Ben replied a few weeks later and said...."If I get 100% of the funds, equipment and personnel I needed, fifteen days." The USAF said hold that thought. A few weeks later, they came back at Ben and asked for a second SR-71, and he said...."I've already calculated that and it will take 30 days for go-a-head."
Ben said he waited for about a month when the memo came back that basically said....."Since the program was originally cancelled by the AF Chief of Staff; (that being Larry Welch,) to reinstate the program today would make the Chief of Staff look bad."
If it were up to me, Welch should have been charged with treason, found guilty and executed and not necessarily in that order!
The roughly $270 million a year just to operate the SR-71 is what ultimately grounded the planes, the Bush administration cut funding for it originally somewhere around 1990.
@@stephenruby3868 that's false nonsense.
@@nkogliazNothing compared to Ukraine budget.
I was here (Edwards) for this flight. it was so weird that at the end of the show, very few people came by to check it out close up. Everyone wanted to stare at the Wobbly Goblin instead...go figure. An airman told me it cost about $150, 000 /hour to fly Habu , between the special fuel and crews to work on it. very few were left. The most beautiful shape ever created in aviation.
Naaaaagh THAT is CONCORDE , BY A MILE. The Blackbird is a long tube with stubby wings on it's rear. Technically brilliant, but beautiful? in the eye of the beholder I suppose.
@@MrDaiseymay Nah. Concorde is just a droopy-nosed high speed school bus. 🤪
Both planes look amazing.
Ah, the car alarms, definitely a 90's thing. Think I can still recall the "song" pattern they played.
My elbow is in the throat of its stupid owner
Witnessed (airshow mid 90s) a flyby and vertical ascent with both ABs on- the ground is shaking and car alarms we’re going on in the parking lots!
@@craigstark22 Lucky you! Somehow I missed the SR-71 during the 80s and 90s airshows. But, I did see / hear the B1 bomber several times and man... that was skull crushingly loud. Fun stuff!
@@barthchris1 low pass of a Concorde was pretty good as well.. harriers..
Loudest jet I ever heard was a flyby of a c5 galaxy back in 1996... Four TF39 engines at max power with flaps out to slow the jet... the grinding noise was something you had to experience like a top fuel Dragster. They have removed all tf39 engines from them now though 😢
That Beauty was born in the 60'. Imagine what's made at the Skunk Works today.
Actually came of age in 50's
Nothing like the SR that's for sure
The engineer is long gone my friend
Just some RC drones
i don't think our current corrupt defense contracting system could even reverse engineer the SR-71 at this point...
It's the most beautiful aircraft ever made bar none!!
Are you sure of that, little Eddie..
F14 Tomcat is sexier
@@contraststriker8198Neither one of them is flying anymore. F-35 and the F-22 are the new breed today. Sexy.
Aérospatiale/BAC Concorde.
@@feetgoaroundfullflapsC yes absolutely. Shorty
I grew up living right next to Mildenhall airbase where they were stationed. it was such a privilege to see this plane all the time.
thats great. a lot of people never seen her fly
I was fortunate to see her fly in Okinawa in 87-88 kedena air base. Semper Fi
When were they at Mildenhall? I was an infant living not too far away in the mid 1980s but I don’t recall my father ever mentioning them so suspect they had gone by then…
The sound in this video gives me chills, I can't imagine how incredible it would be in person
I saw this plane fly, I was a kid, it really was a great experience, yes it does send chills. I saw the sonic boom, it was really cool to see an airplane reach the speed of sound, a great airplane.
Video gives it no justice, I got to watch two of them take off. Watched four shuttle landings, and they didn't compare.
I was there Saturday, too. I will never forget the SPEED of the contrail (fuel) as it passed overhead. Utterly amazing! I remember hearing that it might be the last flights ever. Saturday was the only day I could go, so I went by myself just to see it happen. Only went out to the airshow just to see the SR fly. When I found out that they couldn't fly Sunday, I was pretty sure I witnessed history too. Thanks for the Post!
that must had been awesome
Lucky YOU! 👍 I (only) got to see it roaring off of Kadena AFB runway in '72. Just awesome (literally)!
It was great to see this plane fly, a person can never forget it, it's chilling the amount of power that the SR-71 had, it was an awesome plane. I saw it when I was a kid, the sonic boom, the mach speed, it was awesome, I will never forget it. It's almost like lightning, cloud to ground lightning, the amount of noise cloud to ground lightning has, when the sound barrier has been broken that's what it sounded like to me. It was really cool to see this plane fly.
I'm friends with Buddy Brown who lives in Knoxville, Tennessee. He flew this bird for several years and boy does he have stories to tell. Thanks for sharing!
WOW!! This brings back so many good memories from my childhood while growing up at Edwards A.F.B. My dad worked on the fuel lines of the SR-71. I wouldn't trade the experience of growing up around this for anything!! Badass!!
Please tell your dad thank you for his services. That is one mysterious bad ass plane!
@@katiekuratle2140 malheueresement he‘s dead
I went to an air show back in the early 90s in Lancaster, CA. The SR-71 is still the loudest takeoff I have ever seen on the ground, and they did a flyby which was even louder!!!!
I was there on that day. It was the reason I was there. Was and always will be my favorite Stealth Fighter Jet. I broke down in tears over it's beauty and power. To see it fly in person was an amazing experience. This video took me back to that day and I just sat here again with tears in my eyes. Thank you for posting this video.
you have to get a life
Surprised and glad to see that also women are keen on SR-71 that much. I would never guessed that. You sort of made my day.
Sh was not a fighter jet Krista, she was a high-altitude spy plane, she took reconnaissance photos.
It wasn’t a fighter jet, it had no offensive capabilities or payload. It was a stealth reconnaissance plane hence the SR.
@@Smithy250 There was nothing “stealth” about it. It was simply too fast to defend against. The “S” in SR stands for “Strategic” i.e.: Strategic Reconnaissance. Originally, the “S” stood for “Strike” when they considered using it as a bomber.
I maintained the Ejection systems on these fantastic A/C went in the Airforce 1967 was Honorable Discharged 1975.
This was and still is the Greatest aircraft ever built in Modern History.
I can’t imagine how the crew felt when they descended from the heavens for the last time. Really the whole flight. At the end of the day, the whole flight would’ve been completely normal, but it just wasn’t. It was the last time an SR-71 would ever get the freedom of flight. I have an unshakeable belief that aircraft are living entities, and the 71 is certainly no different.
Thank you for your service.
Is it normal to shed tears and feel exhilaration when seeing her magnificently fly by?
No.
@@JTMarlin8 You're wrong. Feel something for once in your life
@@JamesSherrick I feel nothing.
@@JTMarlin8 that's called sociopathy. Get help
Sure IS normal ... If you're an AMERICAN! 🇺🇸👍
my neighbor had 27 airplanes growing up where i lived at in the country in Ohio, hes the one that got me interested in airplanes but i dont have the eyes for it even at 25 years old, hopefully one day man, saw this beauty at WP in Dayton last year. the air force museum is something every Ohioan should visit.
We in the UK were lucky enough to have 2 SR-71’s stationed at RAF Mildenhall with the 4th Detachment of the 9th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing from Beale AFB in California,I saw it a few times display at the yearly Air Fete at Mildenhall,Great memories of a unique aircraft.
I was lucky enough to see the blackbird fly at Norton AFB air show every year growing up in the late 80's and early 90's. I think my favorite part was, at the end of its flight, it would go into a vertical climb, out of site, and head to wherever it was going. This video brought back all those wonderful memories, and a lot of emotions. I wish I could give my kids the same memories of the blackbird that my dad gave me.
Norton AFB ...Long Gone, like my ol' base ... MCAS El Toro
@@B70707 yes, another base I use to enjoy the air shows at. Loved the simulated bomb runs with the harriers and phantoms.❤️. Will be catching the show at March ARB tomorrow.👍🏾
The SR71 Blackbird will always be my favorite aircraft. Such a beautiful jet
I was 12 and standing there somewhere. Thunderbirds had a great show that day too if I remember correctly!
Yes! I was also there... You are correct!
Made with slide rulers and educated guesses!! ;-)
pretty
and area 51
That and the Saturn V rocket. I dont know what is more impressive.
I never hear car alarms anymore. I used to hear them ALL THE TIME in the 90's. Damn black birds flying over the sky!
Saw a flight crew from Lemoore do a burner climb after a show a few years ago. They pointed the backside of the F-18F right at the parking lot and set off hundreds of alarms. It was quite the treat.
I love at the start after wheels up where the F/A-18 spot follows right behind Big Daddy. It reminds me of a little duckling following closely behind its much larger parent as they venture out into the world for the day.
I wish I could have seen this happen in person. Unfortunately, the only time I have ever seen an SR-71 was in Dayton, Ohio just two months ago. Just seeing her brought me to tears. I have loved the Blackbird since I was a little kid and always wanted to see one. Thank you for sharing this video. Truly amazing.
I'm a local born and raised here in the Antelope Valley aka AV or Aerospace Valley, I was here at this airshow on the Saturday it flew i still remember the double sonic boom, it sounded close to the shuttles booms also if i remember right there was no charge for admission and no parking charges either for the public. I'm sad but super glad my parents took me and my sister to this specific year airshow at Edward's.
Incredible jet! My favorite and the greatest ever. So glad I got to see it fly in person.
At the time of filming, this ‘bird is ~ 40 years old. Absolutely incredible.
It’s actually a lot older than 40 years, they were built in the 60’s
I was here for this. it was a sad moment. Later, when it was parked , I was looking at it. it was still warm, still dripping fuel and I was irritated that very few people were viewing it. For some dumb reason they were more interested in the F-117A, which has done nothing comparable and is already retired.
Went to an airshow in Brunswick maine in the mid 90s... there were hundreds of jets... one knight hawk surrounded by armed guards and a 50 foot perimeter rope.... it was the secrecy of it that made it interesting lol
Was there. A truly fabulous aircraft.
same way to this day, went to the ASM in Dulles and not a soul was looking at the SR-71 meanwhile I was geeking out like a child with my mom about how cool it was and how magnificent of a machine it is. The SR is the coolest flying craft I never lived to see fly
Thanks, this beings back memories 🇺🇲.
The best of the best.
I saw a SR-71 flyover at Tucson Air Show, Davis-Monthan AFB; most beautiful flying machine ever created!!!🤩😍🥰🥰🥰
"The SR71 was meant to fly on the Sunday as well but a massive fuel leak
from the jet was to stop that. So from October the 9th 1999 she never
flew again." That's just what they told you. That thing pissed fuel out of the fuel cells while taxiing. ;)
This is true, the skin on the body didn't seal unless around operating temp and poured fuel out during taxi and did until it was airbourne and the titanium heated up and stretched, thus sealing the fuselage, I've read stories about the SR-71 during taxi taking off with a full fuel load and then immediately refueling once airbourne due to how much fuel it lost during taxi / take off, couple that with the GM V8 engine carts they used to start it up, the flight crews / technicians on the runway had a lot going on just to get the thing off of the ground, long live Kelly Johnson and the og Skunkworks!
NASA 844 did have a large fuel leak. They did not have the time to find where the leak was coming from before the Sunday show.
@@nkogliaz It was only partially fuelled b/c it would had been too heavy to take off otherwise.
I was there !!! It was awesome to see. I never knew it until this day that I was seeing history in the making of the last flight of this amazing flying machine. Just absolutely incredible memories. The crowd was so jazzed to film this take off and do fly bys and then climb to an incredible altitude at way beyond mach speed and then come back for the final landing of any SR-71 in history. Wow, I was part of it.
I saw the SR-71 doing it's ridiculous straight up, full burner take off at Norton AFB. We lived on a hill about 6 miles LOS to the runway. The windows in our house shook. Being an AF brat, I've seen a ton of loud planes...but nothing like that.
I saw Concorde's last flight and landing. Watching an aeroplane's last flight is poignant. The Blackbird was an amazing plane.
I was stationed at Edwards AFB from October 1992 till January 1994. My first duty station and I got to see the SR-71, F117, B1, B2, X-31, X-29, C-17, C5, YF22, and the YF23 fly. I thought that was normal as an 18 year old kid.
thanks, some steady camerawork you have there. I finally got to walk around one at P'cola a few years back, a man and his family were watching me, alone, and said, "I know you want your picture taken next to this, give me your camera!" He patiently waited for me to stand in certain spots. What a beautiful aircraft, built the model as an Infantry soldier in the 80s, can't get enough of it to this day.
I was born too late for this epic moment in aviation history
its like telling a teenager to come inside forever
This show spoiled me for any other airshow, ever. 9AM: sonic boom! Bunch of other stuff, then, SR-71 demo. Later, the sky was seemingly blackened by hordes of AF and NASA jets doing a fly-past. Then, the AF Thunderbirds. At one point they played the music from the Right Stuff, just to remind you that it all started right there. Amazing! Nicely done video, excellent camera work. This should have way more views!
Hi, glad you like. I thought this historic moment had to be made from take-off to landing. Was a priviledge to have been there.
My father was stationed at Edwards AFB I had the time of my life walking the flight line with my father, growing up as a young man. Flash forward my mom and sister went with me to the airshow to see the final flight of the SR- 71 . Little did I relise that was the last time we had a road trip together as a family. Sadly both my mom and sister passed away I am the last one standing in the Phillips family! God speed to you both in your Journey home thank you your son an brother Scott Phillips.
last scene was like a puppy following its master
I want to say it was in 1986 or 87 was in boy scouts and we got to take a field trip to Beale AFB where the HABU main station was at. We were lucky enough to watch a takeoff of a mission. The amount of planning that had to go into was amazing, we got our own mini briefing as obviously we couldn't be in the actual briefing. How many tankers? When, where etc. The most awesome part was after takeoff we were escorted to the main tower and got to hear some of the communication. Climbing thru ** altitude etc. The plane was flying North and was getting prepared to enter Canadian air space. After about 30 minutes in the tower, we were quietly but quickly escorted out. Everyone was in amazement. I looked at everyone and said you know where that guy is going right? A bunch of 12- 13 year olds were like huh? I said that sucker is going on a mission over the Soviet Union somewhere. This was around 10 am in the morning. Later that evening around 6:30, we were treated to the plane coming back in for landing. Numerous T-38 launches went up to help pace the airplane. Was pretty awesome! Imagine that? 8.6 hours logged, Northern U.S., Canada, Alaska, and Eastern Russia. In one day.
I seen the SR-71 fly over Norton AFB were i was station there in the 1980's. It came in one day before the open house and did a high speed fly by and set off about every car alarm on base and off. Loved it. To bad it's not flying anymore . It was a sight to see and hear.
Thanks for the video. I use to watch the SR 71 in okinawa 87-88
Watched these many times on Okinawa at Kadena AFB from 1970-1973 right on the flight line! Best planes ever!
That God damn car alarm took me back!!! Kids will NEVER know and remember each pattern.
Thank you for taking me down memory lane. I remember being a kid at that airshow that day and watching this. Coolest part of living in the Antelope Valley as a kid was all the aircraft flying.
Edwards. Where greatness goes to die. R. I. P.
Edwards. Where greatness is reborn over and over.
Edwards. Old place with the same face.
I was there when I was about 3 years old. I saw the sr -71 take off racing an f-16 thunder bird. I’m 25 now and still it’s one of my greatest memories
The SR-71, F4 PHANTOM and the F14 TOMCAT ARE GREATLY MISSED
Severe fuel leak? Werent they made with a fuel leak design because of how much it expands during high speeds?
Saw this in person. So cool.
I was 13 years old with my dad and my brother here that very day was the last day that the SR-71 whatever fly and right now in 2021 still remember the Thunder those particular engine Domaine that no other aircraft ever could duplicate
What I would of done to be there at Edwards AFB for this beautiful time in Aviation history!!!!!
It will forever be the most beautiful and coolest looking aircraft ever made.
In the late 1970s into the 1980s I worked for an aircraft company which produced parts for the SR-71. Some of the parts came across my bench, those were special years and great memories.
I was there too. I also got to see Chuck Yeager the year before, if I'm not mistaken.
Wow, you witnessed one incredible airshow. I really hope they restore one or two Blackbirds to operational status for airshow touring purposes one day. Probably really expensive though.
The fuel to run them doesn't exist anymore.
Not just the fuel but things like hydraulic fluids.
Evidently it had a number of unique things just to keep it flying.
A thing of absolute beauty and sheer awe.
Yeah, you're right, the SR goes beyond a defense weapon, something like modern art, sculpture, made without computers
Thank you for posting this the SR-71 was and always will be my favorite aircraft. I finally saw her last January at the air and space museum outside Dulles.
Mach 3.2 at 78K. This plane has fascinated me my whole life.
I was there,,,the most impressive thing I seen was when it came by with only the power of one motor,,it was awesome,,and the SR 71 is the loudest thing I ever heard in my Life,,,
I got to experience this past flight. I got to see it when I was 5 years old. It was a awesome sight
You know the engines are loud when they're setting off car alarms. Thanks for uploading!
Not many people know that she was intended to be the Lockheed YF-12. The SR-71 prototype was intended to be an interceptor aircraft. There were three types. The YF-12A , was a pre-production version. They built 3 of them. The F-12B which was a production version of the A model, however it was canceled before production started. Then the YF-12C which was a bogus designation provided to NASA for flight testing. The YF-12C was used to prevent information of the SR-71 reaching the general public.
i never knew that last bit thanks for sharing!
Thanks for sharing this. I have been facinated by the Blackbird from a young age, I had pictures of it on my bedroom walls. I have never seen it fly, but saw it recently standing in the American hangar at the Duxford museum (Cambridge, UK).
I was there. I was 12, but I was there, and I remember this awe inspiring aircraft.
And guess what ,and guess what, we don’t care.
@@crazygamingyt7245 O.o so dont comment? Way to be a douche troll.
Never seen the sr-71 in person....always heard the sonic booms as a teenager when ever the plane flew over phoenix,😎👍
Being a kid and having your dad working for and on the sr71 when I was 9 years old was so cool. Nobody really knew about it in the 60's, especially when we went to Okinawa Japan when I was 9 years old.
You should have heard the booms off the Shuttle on final return over Orlando. They literally shook the windows and doors, and you could hear them reverberating off houses for several seconds afterward. Woke me from sleep, confused, more than once when I wasn't paying attention to the landing date/time. The coolest Shuttle launch I ever saw was at the Cape, also, and was just before dawn, so it climbed from dark to light, beautiful. The other that was quite beautiful was a post sunset SpaceX booster return flight, seen from the house, after sunset. You could see all the pulses radiate out in concentric circles off of the RCS when turning the boosters, etc. It is absolutely gorgeous. There are vids on YT of such launches, but seeing it in person is different.
I went over and saw the Artemis from about 12 distance miles recently. Almost beyond belief. I remember seeing a Sat V launch from a bit closer than that, but I didn't remember what I saw and heard that night, an absolute thrill...and yes in your chest, in the ground, all of that. My wife was standing across the street and I had to raise my voice considerably to be heard. I came home and tried to reproduce the low end from my 15" Velodyne servo sub on one of the close NASA vids, and you can do the body part, but DEFINITELY not the moving Earth portion, and it will literally end an incandescent wall sconce bulb about five feet away if you want to. If you don't live close and are ever going to watch a launch I recommend that one, or Starship if it ever gets there. Plan a few days though, they don't always go off when intended. SpaceX is getting very good at that with their standard flights, but I expect Starship, first flight, may not go that smoothly. I went over twice to see Artemis, and turned around just before the coast the first time.
Very cool that you got to see this. I know I've seen static displays on airfields, and I know I saw the TR2 fly once, and I think I remember seeing a 71 take off or land once at an airshow, but I'm not sure about that one, might have dreamed it. It probably would have been at Patrick AFB, that is where I saw the TR2 (U2 derivative). Seeing the top speed pass would have been cool. :-) I saw the F22 fly at Sun N Fun once, and it was spectacular. I'd like to see an F35 demo, and they had one a few years back but I missed it. Haven't looked since, I need to do that. On the bucket list. Thx for posting the vid.
Kelly Johnson and Lockheed, I salute you. I think it was wrong to completely ground these magnificent machines. There is something way wrong with the United States now. I hate it.
They were just too expensive. I believe it was over $100,000 per flight and it had to be refueled twice in midair. Still, it really sucks to see them grounded.
Obsolete. The kit on these aircraft was quite old technology by the 1990s and it would have cost an absolute fortune to update them. They didn't need to anyway because satellites and drones - and of course, the U-2 - can do the jobs and more that the SR-71 used to do.
Trump is responsible for that. It should be back in service because this is my favorite plane. I am very sad about grounding this magnificent plane, Only how i can fly this plane is Flight simulator.
@@MuhammadAhmed-pk7gj this plane was retired more than 15 years before trump took office.
Stupidly expensive and satellites are just better at the job.
I’m actually surprised it wasn’t retired earlier. I love the SR-71, and it did its job well, but by the time is was retired, it was very obsolete.
As soon as it landed made the world cry knowing he’s retired
No sr-71 will ever fly again
At 70 I would give up 30 years to fly her again!
It's a crying shame she was decommissioned. At 48, I'd give 30 years of my life to have flown in her once - and this is coming from a confirmed fly-o-phobic. Will we ever see her like again?
What was it like flying at the speeds and altitude that the Blackbirrd could achieve? It must have felt pretty special knowing that you could fly higher, faster, and longer than anything else on the planet.
I will give one testicle, my nose, one arm, and one leg from the ankle down to fly her. Beat that!! Oh And I will throw a kidney too if... LOL>>
berbandis umm I mostly enjoyed the flight from l. A. To New York in 63 minutes. I WAS COOKING
I saw one at Mildenhall in its shelter in the mid 80s. The ground underneath it was soaking with fuel as it “opens up” on the ground. Incredible aircraft
I was there the day the SR 71 didn't fly because of fuel leaks. Still hugely disappointed to this day I didn't get to see my favorite airplane fly! The main reason for going was to see the last flight!
One of these flew over my home town back in Virginia many years ago and shook the ground with the sonic boom. I remember the windows rattled on the house too. The newspaper reported that it was a SR-71 that flew over us.
yeah sorry about that.....
I had the fortune of attending a lecture given by Col “Ed” Yeilding, the pilot in command of this flight, as a college student. Fantastic man, and an incredible presentation- love this airplane.
Kelly Johnson was quite an inventor. The P-38 was a WWII plane that was ahead of its time. Then the U-2 and the Sr-71.
It is not well known Kelly saw a UFO in 1951& 1953. The were not saucers , but elipsoidal. HINT. !!! russian crap all bulky box Intakes .
I went to an air show at the Charleston Air Force base in South Carolina back in the day, and got to see this plane sitting on the ground! I was BLOWN AWAY at it's beauty!!😳😛
I was there the next day, only to dicover there were fuel leak issues. Glad I saw a couple of flights in my life.
I used to have a model of this baby wished i knew what happened to it those models are hard to find now they were unique & totally ahead of their time no one will ever see another plane as incredible as the SR-71 blackbird they are what we mean by awesome.
imagine finding this is the biggest event in your birthday
I remember that day!!! I was 29 with my dad. The good ole days-----✈
I worked right behind Beale Air Force Base flight line in the 90's, we would hear her way before we saw her when she was coming and going, Beautiful bird! went to many air shows at Beale and got to see her up close.
AWESEOME. It was a very sad day in history when this took place and had to take place. The over all engineering to make this plane come to life and keep it going for as long as it could - is probably some of the best all time.
Flying the Sr 71 audiobook, is a must get for all blackbird fans... ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
STILL the coolest plane ever built. The F-22 has nothing on the Blackbird...
The F22 Raptor was designed for a totally different mission than the SR71. The Raptor is the world's best air superiority fighter. The Blackbird was the world's fastest reconnaissance aircraft. It was awesome to know the SR71 was designed in the 1950s.
Such greatness in a plane, I thank you for sharing this, I think out of retirement, air shows, The SR would be golden, people would love to see this plane fly again, I saw it once when I was a child, yeah the sonic boom was awesome, mach speed, it's something to see.
Very sad to witness the last time the SR-71 tasted the freedom of flight...
Was born 1 year too late to ever see one in the air. So sad. 80s and 90s must have been great to grow up in.
Kelly Johnson and Skunkworks were such an incredible asset to the U.S. and we'll before their time. That guy was truly a national treasure and kept the U.S. air dominant well past the turn of the century. The entire life cycle of the SR-71 has come and gone and the technology and capabilities of this craft is still cutting edge and will remain so well into the future. If you think about all of the incredible tech that has come from area-51 over the years a little alien influence starts to not sound so crazy after all. The unclassified stuff that we do know about is unworldly impressive and it's kinda fun to imagine what kinds of things the engineers may be working on that are top secret that we will likely never know about or that will only be known about years into the future. Salute 🫡 and a thank you to the mighty SR-71 she served us well and will continue to influence and impress for generations to come!
They're getting help.
What a thing of beauty!
4:30 you know this is an authentic video when the SR flies by, the car alarms go off lol
Notice the car alarms in the background, The SR is something special. the speed, nothing can match it.
Hasn’t flown in over 20 years and is still that fastest
Thats cool. I was there thst day, im so glad to have seen its last flight.