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The world’s fastest jet-propelled aircraft
The SR-71 reconnaissance aircraft was the world’s fastest jet-propelled aircraft and the most advanced member of the Blackbird family developed by Lockheed Aircraft Corporation’s clandestine “Skunk Works” division.
The Blackbird was in a different category from anything that had come before. “Everything had to be invented. Everything,” Skunk Works legendary aircraft designer Kelly Johnson recalled in an interesting article appeared on Lockheed Martin website.
The speed of the SR-71 exceeded 2,000 mph. Other planes of the era could, in theory, approximate that speed but only in short, after-burner-driven bursts. The Blackbird maintained a record-setting speed for hours at a time.
The Blackbird was in a different category from anything that had come before.
Even her appearances to air shows were never commonplace as Mike Relja, former SR-71 test engineer, recalls;
‘Thought you might like this picture I took [updated by Robert D Hall lll] at the Norton Air Show on Nov. 16 1986 when I was working for the Flight Test Division out of Palmdale. We took the flight test aircraft to 2 air shows every year, Edwards [Air Force Base, AFB] and Norton [AFB].
Thunderbirds refuse to perform after an SR-71 Blacbird flew at 1986 Norton AFB Air Show
‘Any way a little background about the shot, BC Thomas (Pilot) and Phil Soucy (RSO) were flying the departure show. BC had already made 3 passes and asked the tower to offset the runway a little for his last past and then do a burner climb out and head for Palmdale. As you can see, he came in directly over the Thunderbirds about 400 knots then hit burner right over them and climbed to about 25K before leveling off and heading home. It scared those guys so bad they wanted to dig holes in the ramp to get out of the way.
‘Long story short the Thunderbird people were so ticked/embarrassed that they refused to do their show until we moved all the SR-71 support equipment off the end of the runway we launched from. We moved it over to the hangar with the open doors but they still wouldn’t perform (used a BS line it was in their way/unsafe) so we put the stuff in the hangar so no one could see it anymore and then they did their show.’
Relja concludes;
‘Still get a kick out of it every time I see it and remember those guys scrambling.’
Thomas, who was the Blackbird pilot during that Air Show, recalls;
‘Well, no, I did not anticipate such an immature reaction from the Thunderbird people; I think their egos were a little too sensitive. This was during my part of the Norton AFB air show and I was completing my 3 passes. On this one, my plan was to light the afterburners, attain 400 knots and climb at 60° pitch away from the crowd so they could see and enjoy the aircraft’s performance.
Mimicking the “Sound of Freedom”
‘When this picture was taken, I was offset between the main runway and the parking apron so that the crowd would have a close-up view.
‘I had the landing gear down and was at 250 knots; I selected full afterburner about the time the shutter was pressed and continued a level acceleration until the gear was up and the airspeed was 400 knots, which didn’t take long. I did not overfly the Thunderbird aircraft nor their people, but they got to witness the afterburner salute, which I suppose they did not appreciate: I don’t know why, I never minded the noise the Thunderbirds made during their air show even when they overflew the crowd–I just considered it to be an integral part of the event, mimicking the “Sound of Freedom!!’
SR-71 pilot Buz Carpenter shares his thoughts about Thomas Blackbird passes at the Norton Air Show;
‘I just love what BC Thomas did. He showed up the Thunderbirds. When I would arrive if I could I would accelerate to 400 and then pull it to idle and pass the crowd. All thought what a beautiful fast quiet aircraft. I would come back around and hit the filed boundary at 250 light the ABs and show those magnificent ABs and a resounding 115 Decibels! Hit of the arrivals.’
Be sure to check out Linda Sheffield Miller (Col Richard (Butch) Sheffield’s daughter, Col. Sheffield was an SR-71 Reconnaissance Systems Officer) Twitter X Page Habubrats SR-71, Instagram Page SR71Habubrats and Facebook Page Born into the Wilde Blue Yonder Habubrats for awesome Blackbird’s photos and stories.
Photo credit: Mike Relja and Robert D Hall lll
