Homepage The SR-71 Blackbird Astro-Nav System (aka R2-D2) worked by tracking the stars and was so powerful that it could see the stars even in daylight

Reconnaissance Systems Officer

Cold War Era / Military Aviation / SR-71 Blackbird

The SR-71 Blackbird Astro-Nav System (aka R2-D2) worked by tracking the stars and was so powerful that it could see the stars even in daylight

Linda Sheffield Miller

Sep 24 2023

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Cold War Era / Military Aviation / SR-71 Blackbird

SR-71 pilot recalls that time his Blackbird flew so fast that he and his RSO landed at Kadena AB two hours before they took off from Beale AFB beating the sun

Sep 13 2023

Linda Sheffield Miller

Cold War Era / Military Aviation / SR-71 Blackbird

The SR-71 Blackbird Crew Members Survival Kit included a very rare Aluminum Gun (the Gun was made in Aluminum to keep it Lightweight)

Aug 27 2023

Linda Sheffield Miller

Did you know the SR-71 Blackbird had a Smart Valve that allowed to use JP-7 fuel as internal coolant?

Cold War Era / Military Aviation / SR-71 Blackbird

The SR-71 Blackbird had a Smart Valve that allowed to use JP-7 fuel as internal coolant. Here’s how it worked.

Aug 20 2023

Linda Sheffield Miller

Aviation History / Cold War Era / Military Aviation / SR-71 Blackbird

SR-71 Blackbird crew members tell the story of the Inlet Unstart that prevented them to go Faster than Mach 3.2 during the Absolute Speed Record run in 1976

Jul 27 2023

Linda Sheffield Miller

The story of the SR-71 Blackbird crew that ‘gave the birdie’ to a French Air Force Mirage III pilot, lit the afterburners and outran him

Cold War Era / Military Aviation / SR-71 Blackbird

Blackbird Pilot recalls when his RSO ‘gave the birdie’ to a French Air Force Mirage III pilot (Then They lit their SR-71’s Afterburners and Outran him)

Jun 11 2023

Linda Sheffield Miller

Cold War Era / Military Aviation / SR-71 Blackbird

SR-71 Blackbird Pilot recalls When He Buzzed the Tower of Sacramento Airport with the Afterburners Lit

Apr 30 2023

Linda Sheffield Miller

The story of the SR-71 Blackbird that pitched up and collided with a KC-135Q tanker during an air refueling over El Paso

Cold War Era / Losses and Aviation Safety / SR-71 Blackbird

When the SR-71 was getting low on gas, its crew members pressure suits started to warm up. So aboard the Blackbird the fuel was used as a heat sink. Here’s how.

Apr 23 2023

Linda Sheffield Miller

SR-71 RSO tells the story behind this video of a Blackbird creating ’13 Fireballs’ during Air Fete Air Show 1986 at RAF Mildenhall

Cold War Era / Losses and Aviation Safety / Military Aviation / SR-71 Blackbird

SR-71 crew members tell the story of when a Blackbird did ’13 Fireballs’ during an air show and explain why Triethylborane was used to ignite JP-7 for engine start and to light the afterburner section

Mar 12 2023

Linda Sheffield Miller

Here’s how two little Dents placed on the Nose of the SR-71 prevented Surface-to-air Missiles from Scoring any Hit on the Blackbird

Cold War Era / Military Aviation / SR-71 Blackbird

Two little Dents placed on the Nose of the Blackbird prevented Surface-to-air Missiles from Scoring any Hit on the SR-71. Here’s how.

Feb 5 2023

Linda Sheffield Miller

Cold War Era / Losses and Aviation Safety / Military Aviation / SR-71 Blackbird

These unique SR-71 Blackbird Cockpit photos show why no cockpit demands as much intense focus as a Habu’s

Jan 8 2023

Linda Sheffield Miller

Did you know that titanium used to build the iconic SR-71 Blackbird Mach 3+ spy plane came from Soviet Union?

Cold War Era / Military Aviation / SR-71 Blackbird

The epic story of the SR-71 Blackbird crew that flew a North Pole Mission the Night Before Christmas to spy on Soviets setting up acoustic sensors to track US submarines

Dec 25 2022

Linda Sheffield Miller

Aviation History / Cold War Era / Military Aviation / SR-71 Blackbird

First SR-71 RSO explains why Reconnaissance Systems Officer cockpit had to be rearranged before the Blackbird maiden flight or the USAF would not buy the SR-71

Nov 11 2022

Linda Sheffield Miller

Cold War Era / Military Aviation / SR-71 Blackbird

Here’s why R2-D2, the SR-71 Astroinertial Navigation System, was essential for Blackbird mission

Oct 9 2022

Linda Sheffield Miller

The story of the sealed letter signed by a VIP that granted extra help to an SR-71 Blackbird crew after an emergency landing in a small air base in South Korea

Cold War Era / Military Aviation / SR-71 Blackbird

When an SR-71 Blackbird crew made an emergency landing in a small air base in South Korea, a letter signed by a VIP granted them extra help

Sep 11 2022

Linda Sheffield Miller

Cold War Era / Losses and Aviation Safety / Military Aviation / SR-71 Blackbird

SR-71 RSO tells the story of the KC-135Q Stratotanker that flew unprotected into Northern Laos to save his Blackbird after it had a Double-Engine Flameout

Aug 14 2022

Dario Leone

“We could have gone faster.” SR-71 Blackbird crew members recall the Unstart that prevented them to go Faster than Mach 3.2 during the Absolute Speed Record run

Cold War Era / Military Aviation / SR-71 Blackbird / SR-71 Top Speed

“We could have gone faster.” SR-71 Blackbird crew members recall the Inlet Unstart that prevented them to go Faster than Mach 3.2 during the Absolute Speed Record run

Jul 24 2022

Linda Sheffield Miller

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Reconnaissance Systems Officer

The SR-71 Blackbird Astro-Nav System (aka R2-D2) worked by tracking the stars and was so powerful that it could see the stars even in daylight

Thanks to our partners

SR-71 pilot recalls that time his Blackbird flew so fast that he and his RSO landed at Kadena AB two hours before they took off from Beale AFB beating the sun

The SR-71 Blackbird Crew Members Survival Kit included a very rare Aluminum Gun (the Gun was made in Aluminum to keep it Lightweight)

The SR-71 Blackbird had a Smart Valve that allowed to use JP-7 fuel as internal coolant. Here’s how it worked.

SR-71 Blackbird crew members tell the story of the Inlet Unstart that prevented them to go Faster than Mach 3.2 during the Absolute Speed Record run in 1976

Blackbird Pilot recalls when his RSO ‘gave the birdie’ to a French Air Force Mirage III pilot (Then They lit their SR-71’s Afterburners and Outran him)

SR-71 Blackbird Pilot recalls When He Buzzed the Tower of Sacramento Airport with the Afterburners Lit

When the SR-71 was getting low on gas, its crew members pressure suits started to warm up. So aboard the Blackbird the fuel was used as a heat sink. Here’s how.

SR-71 crew members tell the story of when a Blackbird did ’13 Fireballs’ during an air show and explain why Triethylborane was used to ignite JP-7 for engine start and to light the afterburner section

Two little Dents placed on the Nose of the Blackbird prevented Surface-to-air Missiles from Scoring any Hit on the SR-71. Here’s how.

These unique SR-71 Blackbird Cockpit photos show why no cockpit demands as much intense focus as a Habu’s

The epic story of the SR-71 Blackbird crew that flew a North Pole Mission the Night Before Christmas to spy on Soviets setting up acoustic sensors to track US submarines

First SR-71 RSO explains why Reconnaissance Systems Officer cockpit had to be rearranged before the Blackbird maiden flight or the USAF would not buy the SR-71

Here’s why R2-D2, the SR-71 Astroinertial Navigation System, was essential for Blackbird mission

When an SR-71 Blackbird crew made an emergency landing in a small air base in South Korea, a letter signed by a VIP granted them extra help

SR-71 RSO tells the story of the KC-135Q Stratotanker that flew unprotected into Northern Laos to save his Blackbird after it had a Double-Engine Flameout

“We could have gone faster.” SR-71 Blackbird crew members recall the Inlet Unstart that prevented them to go Faster than Mach 3.2 during the Absolute Speed Record run

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