How cool is the SR-71? This cool.

[Kai]

http://gizmodo.com/5511236/the-thril...r+71-blackbird

Fantastic stuff, LOVE IT!

 

[whitemike]

Fantastic read.

 

[SupraMario]

One day, high above Arizona , we were monitoring the radio traffic of all the mortal airplanes below us. First, a Cessna pilot asked the air traffic controllers to check his ground speed. 'Ninety knots,' ATC replied. A twin Bonanza soon made the same request. 'One-twenty on the ground,' was the reply. To our surprise, a navy F-18 came over the radio with a ground speed check. I knew exactly what he was doing. Of course, he had a ground speed indicator in his cockpit, but he wanted to let all the bug-smashers in the valley know what real speed was 'Dusty 52, we show you at 620 on the ground,' ATC responded. The situation was too ripe. I heard the click of Walter's mike button in the rear seat. In his most innocent voice, Walter startled the controller by asking for a ground speed check from 81,000 feet, clearly above controlled airspace. In a cool, professional voice, the controller replied, ' Aspen 20, I show you at 1,982 knots on the ground.' We did not hear another transmission on that frequency all the way to the coast.

Best part of the whole article. I loved that!

 

[mkiiSupraMan18]

^

 

[suprarx7nut]

Very cool and inspiring.

 

[dubsupra209]

we have 1 here local in atwater, ca i got 2 sit in it before

 

[honestabe]

Such a sexy plane. I drool every time I see one.

 

[supra90turbo]

So awesome. Thanks for that, Kai

 

[dubsupra209]

im going to take some pics of the 1 by my house and post them up on this thread....

 

[StiCk3]

amazing. Got a good lol from the ground speed checks. talk about pwnage...XD

 

[drunk_medic]

Such an amazing aircraft. I wonder if everything will eventually be declassified? I would love to know the actual top speed instead of "what they want us to know".

The U-2 is still in commission. I never looked in to why the SR-71 was decommissioned. I thought it had to do with satellite technology being used for surveillance, but if that were the case, the U-2 SHOULD be gone as well.

 

[Kangae]

I think one of the theories, or at least one of the ones I have heard, is that the SR-71 was replaced with the Aurora, which is supposed to not exist.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aurora_(aircraft)

 

[honestabe]

Medic, they got rid of it because of cost to operate it. Under mach 1 the plane leaks fuel like a siv. The fuel costs to fly an SR-71 Blackbird are insane.

 

[ShadowLawz]

Great article Kai! The SR71 is still one of the most amazing sights to see, even if they are in museums now.

-PJ

 

[oldsking]

what a machine and a wonderful piece of history things like that make me feel good to be an American

 

[S.A. supra]

I got to see one fly into San Antonio, Before a air show. That was it's last flight. I was gutted and put on display at Lackland Air force Base. Sad Day! That was the airplane back in my day.
http://webcache.googleusercontent.c...+sr71+san+antonio+tx&cd=4&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us

 

[jetjock]

I have a copy of Sled Driver. Great read. As for the U-2 here a vid from Top Gear's James May you might enjoy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1PmYItnlY5M