HANDS DOWN THE BEST PLANE **EVER** MADE!! I wish i couldve been there in person to see and hear it 😢 Lets just say theres a reason why with todays technology they havent been able to create anything to match the sr-71 blackbirds speed and capabilities!
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.
Let's be honest, it's the highest flying aircraft that we know about right now. We have no clue what has been in development that hasn't been leaked. A extremely fast and stealth aircraft flying very high would still be something the government would be interested in.
Sadly, I didn't get there till the following spring. They did dust it off for a few test flights for NASA afterwards, but I missed those too. Edwards was always an interesting place to be for all things aviation.
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.
This was probably the loudest airplane you can hear at an airshow. The fastest airplane to ever grace the skies. The SR-71 will sorely be missed. It was a one of a kind airplane, and never disappointed anyone. She was magnificent!!!!
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.
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 love the afterburners setting off the car alarms. The old 727’s used to do the same thing. A sad reminder of when the military solved problems and created extraordinary machines. Now we have freaks for “leaders” and create pronouns.
I had a Ranch north of Beale Air Force Base in the 70s. Not once did I not look UP, even though they were a common sight. No two passes were ever the same. Every one being more magnificent then the last. . . The Sunday flight was canceled for severe fuel leak? Severe fuel leak? SR-71? SR-71 Blackbird severe fuel leak? If they weren't leaking they were out of fuel😮 PostScript: Should have had an F-4 Phantom as a Chase plane. That would have been very fitting. Life just passes Us by
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.
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.
The SR-71 I saw at Burbank (1994?) was headed out for its x-country record run, so no boom. Seeing it fly < 100’ over me was better! I could see the pilot’s eyes thru his visor as he approached over the hangers by my position on San Fernando Rd. As he angled up from about 8’ above the tarmac, his full afterburners tickled the strip before he soon disappeared in the heavy LA haze.
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.
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.
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.
