First time I saw an SR-71 in person I was stationed at an Air Force base in Thailand during the Viet Nam war. One landed because of a mechanical problem and it was parked way away from everyone and surrounded by dozens of security personnel while it was repaired. It departed early in the morning before dawn and was amazing with the afterburners lit on those huge engines, a rapid climb and it was gone in seconds. You don't forget that.
@@Tigershark_3082 Ever read the book, Thud Ridge? It was written by a Thud pilot during the VietNam war and is very interesting and insightful and not boring.
@@davidangelamelcher9591 I haven't yet, but I fully intend to when I have the money to get it. Also, while in Vietnam, did you ever get to see any F-5C Skoshi Tigers?
Thanks for posting this brilliant bit of film. I was there too, about a couple of hundred yards to your left, and have a whole collection of b/w photos of the display. An absolutely awesome aircraft, saw it at all the UK displays and watching this still makes the hairs prickle on my neck. The commentator was Roger Hoefling, a regular for years at Old Warden who really knew his stuff. Thanks for bringing back great memories..not least of which involve Burgers and Bud.
Yes, I learned of the existence of the SR71 in 1972. It’s been around for a really long time. Tells me that Lockheed makes truly great airplanes. I’ve had the pleasure of flying a couple of Lockheed aircraft over the last 35 years but sadly not the SR71.
You are one of the luckiest people on the planet to witness one of aviation's greatest feats of engineering to date. The king is dead. Long live the king.
I’ll say it again, it (and Concorde in civil) has to be the 2 most beautifully designed aircraft ….ever! Even today, it just a stunning piece of craftsmanship and the perfect example of ‘solving the impossible’.
I agree about the Concorde. Very similar difficulties in just making it safe . The Concorde was close to 60 thousand feet at the end of its cruise & passengers were eating Canapés & drinking Champagne . At that height the military plane that can get up there , pilots are wearing Crash Helmets & Oxygen masks . T
When I was in the Marines, we use to watch the Blackbirds come over our base to land at Kadena AFB in Okinawa all the time. If you got caught taking pictures the MP's would take you camera. But it was beautiful watching them coming in or taking off at morning or dusk with the Afterburners in a dark sky.
Thanks Kevin! I think I mentioned below I had totally forgotten I even had this footage till I was looking through some old VHS tapes one day and stumbled across it.
Frank Harris What a great vid!! Those low fast passes are awesome! I was fortunate enough to see her last flight in 99 at Edwards AFB. She did mach 3 at 80000 feet for us.
Thanks for posting this video..I was there that year, such a great plane and such a great day out too. As a family we loved the SR 71. I was lucky enough to be part of a tour of Mildenhall and viewed the Blackbird in its hangar... sadly no photos allowed but what wonderful memories.
It was my second day in the UK and my bro took me to Air Fete 87. I was there and never forgot how impressed I was that day. Boy, the Sr was so loud! Thanks for this great video..
This has brought a tear to the eye! I first started going to 'The Hall' shows in '84 and they (and the SACdonalds burgers!) are sorely missed! I remember camping at Mildenhall around the time of the Libyan crisis and was woken up at about 6am by the dulcet tones of a Blackbird going on an excursion.......Now that was an alarm call!
I am reading Brian Shuls book about that right now. He and his back seater Walter, did that trip 3 days running & were shot at with the latest Technology missiles.
I had actually forgotten I even had the footage till I made contact with a gentleman in England who is a military aircraft enthusiast and is rather keen on the SR in particular. Frankly, I'm rather surprised the footage is still watchable given that it's over 20 years old! I'm currently working on re-rendering this video with some video stabilisation software to make it more watchable. Stay tuned!
Wow - didn't notice we were at Mildenhall. This could be one of the birds that were there when I was. What are the odds someone would have a video from there! I'm stoked. Thanks to Frank Harris!
I saw SR-71 at Kadena AB in 84 when my dad was station at Kadena AB. They also have a Military Family Day and they have SR-71 on the show along with other fighter and jet. SR-71 cockpit, exhaust any open port were all covered. you could only get up to 25ft to see SR-71. I would hear SR-71 take off at dusk or dawn.
I really wish I could have seen one of these flying in person. I was in the USAF while they were flying, but I missed them by a year when I got stationed at RAF Mildenhall. The only time I got to see one while I was in was in a C-5 on its way to a museum..... :(
I was there too with my two boys 11 and 9. The pilot was standing by the aircraft with his semi space suit. I couldn't believe how tiny he was. He offered to put my 9 year old in the pilots seat but he was too shy. Can you imagine that these days?
Peru or some other South American country, asked the Thunderbirds, to break the sound barrier at a local air show there. They were at first resistant, then were assured it was OK.... After the flyby at supersonic speeds, many windows were broken throughout the city
Yes, it was called Habu by the locals, Sakishima habu, a venomous snake. Beautiful plane, used to see it take off in the early mornings (1981-1982 USAF).
AWESOME - This is my all time Favorite PLANE of any kind. It has been since the very first time I saw it. When I saw it for the first time instantly it was my Favorite. Also it's mission is another reason it's my favorite. I was thinking it could of been called " DAGGER" as well - It looks like it's slicing through the Sky when it flies :)
My pleasure! I implied this further down below but I had forgotten I had this footage until I was searching for some other footage and came across this.
I would have loved to have seen one live. These videos are the next best thing thanks for sharing. I can’t believe that this bird is dead and gone. We probably couldn’t build her again if we wanted too. Sad 😢
If you ever make it to Washington State - be sure to visit the " Boeing Museum Of Flight" there you will see the sole surviving M-21 / D-21 " Black Bird " and there is also a recovered cockpit from a crashed SR-71 and you can sit in the Cockpit. I am extremely lucky to live in WA and being able to go and see it whenever I want :).
Thank you. Yeah, I liked the commentator too. I only wish I had been better positioned near a speaker to where he would be more easily heard. He certainly knows his stuff!
Yes. This was one of the first SRs to be retired from service. But, it was able to be flown back to Beale. It didn't fly for much longer afterward, though. The pilot, Jim Jiggens, had been a Thunderbird a few years before he joined the SR program. Sadly, he passed away in 2010, and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
My TDY group was at Mildenhall around this time(late 80's),and we were allowed to tour the hanger,and see the bird close up.I had the best camera,so I was allowed to take close up pics,but strangely,the autofocus on my camera would'nt work very well,so many pics came out slightly blurred!I attribute this to the special "paint" on the bird.I remember all the "spies" camping out at the end of the runway,outside the fence,to take pics,and record it's coming and going!
Wow, that’s a beautiful aircraft. I wish they hadn’t retired that because at least they could put modern technology and two at and it would’ve made it much more efficient.
Boy oh boy do I wish I coulda seen one of these bad bitches fly. I’ve seen concord do a low pass in afterburner at Oshkosh when I was in CAP, but man I wish I coulda seen a Blackbird.
Bluenose352 they only took of with about half a tank because they leaked fuel whilst on the ground. The Blackbirds first mission from takeoff was to head to the tanker plane at a specific point in the sky to refuel
32 SR-71’s were built. 12 were destroyed by accidents. 6 are in museums today. According to the U.S.A.F public relations office, there are no SR-71s flying today.
@DG-ie5ip Bentwaters and Woodbridge. Been to Lakenheath a bunch of times. My favorite joke is "What does Libya stand for? Lakenheath is bombing your ass"
I was asked once what my favourite work of art was🤷♂️🤔and instantly I thought of the SR71 Blackbird😍love at first flight😃it was supposed to be called the RS71 Blackbird BUT I think that it was the president of the United States who got it mixed up and called it the SR71 instead and as they say the rest is history Mmmmmmmm a flying work of art😍
