Welcome to the legendary Mach 3 family: A-12 - the first one: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Pymn9gJIfu4.html YF-12 interceptor: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-hq-tvsdTQao.html M-21 and D-21 - mothership and drone: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Q_6sd6Nh3go.html
"fastest of the time" All official aviation records have been ratified and recorded by Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) since 1906. The last two speed records were made by SR-71 aircraft with 3rd place being a Soviet MiG. So the SR-71 isn't the "fastest of the time", it is the current speed record holder for air breathing jet aircraft.
@@SkyshipsEng oh ok 😅 I thaught because there where so many infos about the PC 12 / PC 24 in your videos, that you had a "insider tour" offert by them. Q: ever thaught about the Li-2 plane to give a video?
@@SkyshipsEng One quibble: It's simply untrue to say "command & budgeting saw no need with the advent of satellites" ... Satellite tracks & times were well known; they'd routinely conceal projects of interest, meaning _only surprise observation_ was useful in detecting the most secretive programs. Otherwise -- what would be the rationale for which the program is (supposedly) being revived with some antecedent aircraft..?
Awesome video as always! There will never be an aircraft like her ever again. Long live the Blackbird! Been waiting for a video on the SR-71 Blackbird for some time and it's well worth the wait.^^
I was there in Okinawa during that era, I watched this magnificent aircraft take off several times per week, there was nothing else in the sky that could even come close. The Habu raigned supreme!
@@kiwidiesel you've been waiting? like waiting for one to just pop up in front of you? There are vids of this plane a decade old, which is about your age right?. this is not the world's fastest airplane, by far. It's the x-15
The SR-71 HAS to be my all time favorite bird. I actually got to see the model on display in Huntsville, Alabama. Sleek, beautiful, graceful, elegant, dripping with jaw-dropping power, sexy, and timeless. She is as mystical and majestic now as when she took her first flight. For something designed, built, and that flew for the first time 10 years before I was born, she is STILL a marvel of engineering ahead of her time, even by today's standards. Thanks for an absolutely fantastic video.
I have been so lucky to sit in the cockpit of the SR-71 in Seattle in the 90s at a governors convention as a kiddo, little did I know I would become a designer. It sure has always inspired me though.
Some beautiful images from The National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton Ohio. They (A12, SR71) are in the same hanger as the XB70 Valkyrie. Truly magnificent aircraft.
The USAF Museum doesn't have an A-12. They have an SR-71A but the other Blackbird in the collection is the sole-surviving YF-12A variant. I know because I've been to the museum twice in person and have seen that plane. The prototype radar used in the YF-12A (which has a bulbous, more fighter-type nose with cutback chines) was similar to the later AWG-9/APG-71 series the F-14 used. They adapted the AIM-4 missile airframe for the GAR(?) missiles the YF-12A test-fired and those further evolved into the AIM-54 Phoenix the F-14 deployed with.
@@dystopianlucidity4448 No worries. The YF-12A and M-21 are basically tandem seat versions of the A-12. They modified the camera bay behind the pilot to seat a second crewman and provide space for his controls (drone launch for the M-21, missile launch/radar control for the YF-12). They didn't change the dimensions of the A-12 when it was modified into the YF-21 and M-21. The SR-71 is a little bit longer than the A-12 because they added a stinger tail... I don't know if the stinger tail in the -71 is for extra fuel or ECM hardware. The A-12T is different because the instructor(?) seat is elevated behind the student/pilot. The A-12T IMHO is the ugliest of the Blackbirds. The SR-71 trainers (B and C) look better than the A-12T. The A-12T is also the only Blackbird airframe displayed with raw titanium. All the other Blackbird airframes were painted black all over.
I remember seeing the SR-71 outside at Dulles Airport as a kid coming back from one of my dads business trips (she was on her way to a climate-controlled hangar till the museum was completed.) To this day, I have to simply stop and stare in awe at the blackbird when I visit the Udvar Hazy NASM in Chantilly VA. I always tell people; the last time this specific aircraft’s wheels touched the ground upon arrival here at Dulles, it had just set multiple word speed records which still stand to this day, and will likely never be broken. THAT is how incredible the SR-71 is.
We’ve got one 2 hours down the road from us and it’s awesome! It’s inspired thousands of little boys to join the Air Force or become engineers. Small wonder that area is home to a sprawling aerospace industry. Truly a sight to behold.
It’s amazing to think that in about the same time that it would take you to drive to see the one on display, when that same plane was in service, it could have flown from NYC to London in about the same time (factoring in the required rendezvous with a KC-135Q immediately after takeoff).
I remember living in Okinawa and seeing the SR-71, a.k.a. Blackbird, and Habu coming in for a landing.... Just to see this baby flying in the sky was the most beautiful plane ever.... proud to be an American..... awesome....
I love your channel! You did an excellent job on the SR71 series! I was the sub that asked for this when you did the U2 and you said you had something big coming and you were right! I love your channel and you truly are a RU-vid gem!
Thank you for your extremely informative and well researched video...I like to think of myself knowing a fair bit about the SR-71, but have learnt quite a few new things about this most beautiful and gracious of aircraft so far ahead of its time. It's such a shame that the "HABU" was retired, but the economics of maintaining it among the ever cheaper and cost efficiency of deploying satellites and their real time information was unfortunately its deathknell...a true loss to our skies, but a beautiful memory to hold on to with videos such as this. Thank you again, and cheers from Australia!!!!
I always pay attention when someone calls her "HABU"... I've got a special connection with her. My Father, Col. Thomas Allocca, FLEW her from 1970-74!! He also worked on the D-21 Drone project WITH Kelly Johnson, at " Groom Lake"! Kelly spent time at our house at Beale AFB. Him and Chuck Yeager, were the most fascinating people I've ever known - after my Dad.
My brother was one of the SR 71 mechanics. He never talked about it but he gave me a Revell model of the plane and told me that was the plane he worked on.
1962: A-12 flew for the first time. 58 years earlier - Orville and Wilber Wright flew a powered fabric kite a distance barely a few feet more then the length of an A-12. What an tremendous advance in technology in such a short time period. Makes you wonder what modern "archangels" are lurking about today! Still - the Blackbird family was an amazing technical achievement for its time.
Whats more insane is just a few years later we put men on the moon. So we went from not even getting off the ground to landing on the moon in a little over 60 years. 🤯
This video has great details that you typically don't find in other SR-71 videos. Given the details you provided, I am surprised you did not mention the "dipsy doodle" maneuver they performed after refueling in order to facilitate acceleration.
Awesome video of an awesome aircraft! I lived in West Berlin in the late 60s, and the 70s so the sound of the speed barrier being broken was very familiar. (The Soviet Air Force in East Germany did it to try to intimidate the West Berliners.) When we visited the Puma Air Museum a few years ago I got to touch the fuselage of the SR71 - felt I shouldn't wash my hand ever again😍
"USAF Chief of Staff General Curtis LeMay preferred the SR (Strategic Reconnaissance) designation and wanted the RS-71 to be named SR-71. Before the July speech, LeMay lobbied to modify Johnson's speech to read "SR-71" instead of "RS-71"." - From Archangel to Senior Crown: Design and Development of the Blackbird, Peter W Merlin, 2005.
Retired from aviation after 30 years. As a pilot and airplane geek, any time I had the chance to see or fly in a vintage, unique and rare bird I did. Flew on all the WW2 era bombers, one P-51, the rest on display. Got to see, fly and run across most military aircraft including the B-2 dedicated to South Carolina. I had all the clearances, all access and worked for the state's aeronautics Commission so when I had the chance I touched it as she spent the night on the ramp.. I was also able to touch Airforce One twice. "Eagle and Trailblazer IIRC were the SS code names for Bush2 and Clinton and once they were safely off the airport I was able to approach and with relaxed but steady stares allowed me to touch the gear. When the Pope visited I flew top cover and later touched the "Pope Mobile" with permission as it was being stored in our state's hanger which I was a pilot of. All that said, I STILL have not seen a SR-71. It is the last bucket list aircraft I have yet to see.
At Mach 3 the simple act of overbanking could result in the plane cartwheeling and disintegrating. This led to an interesting and simple instrumentation fix using lasers.
No. The laser horizon was installed due to _pilot disorientation,_ which incidents were potentially leading to the future loss of aircraft. They weren't installed because the plane would crash if it was overbanked.
@guitarsarelikestupid7200 The laser was not in the original design and therefore the flight envelope was not related to its addition. It was used to alleviate pilot disorientation.
In 1998,while I was working on a roof in BlueRidge Georgia,I was surprised to see 2 of these magnificent aircrafts coming in low over the lake on their way to Lockheed Marietta plant,I will never forget that scene
"It became a thorn in our side.. when it was necessary to keep two eyes on the prize. We could have done without keeping half an eye trained on faster and, well, 3rd generation.. you know.. more sophisticated SA missiles. We had some close calls.. Then of course the Foxbat was passing Mach 3.2.. at least one did anyway.. over Isreal.. and we knew it was only a matter of time. We didn't want to play dangerous games.. you know, risking an intercept in hostile.. [ ] See? ..So we started skirting borders, and our reconnaissance equipment was becoming very powerful and far reaching.. So we got memos from Robert [McNamara, Sec Def.] not to encroach unless absolutely necessary.. you understand? ..So yeah.. We took nothing for granted." Marta Bohn-Mayer, 1990 An enlightening interview, for Janes, and a fascinating insight into the minds of SR-71 pilots and REOs in the 1960s and 70s. I loved the point in the video when he said 'they didn't want to spoil the statistics' lol. It kept everyone on their A-game. Awesome aircraft. Love it.
Excellent coverage!!! Followed and studied this amazing airplane since I was a kid back in the 70's.... Not much new info, but you have seriously covered most parts of the history! THANK YOU... Subscibing
I've only been a subscriber to this channel for a few months & I have to say I'm VERY impressed with the unique video & pics seen here. Footage I've NEVER seen anywhere else- especially for this video. I've watched everything I could get my hands on about this plane for the last 20 yrs & am very impressed with the research & rare images, as well as information presented here. Love the channel- can't wait for more-
Sometimes it seems to me that the Cold War was a fan for engineers on both sides. Kinda big scientific and technological sport, with the opportunity to get almost unlimited resources for their work on the verge of science fiction.
21:45 In the incident 1987 they were escorted by four SAAB 37 Viggen all the way to Denmark, the SR-71 never landed in Sweden they tried land in Denmark but because of to bad weather they landed In West Germany.
SR-71never made any emergency landing in Sweden but in Norway in Bodö a big NATO base. But Swedish Viggen once resqued a Blackbird from Sovjet interceptors after an engine failure and emergency decend, swedish radar observed the plane and send two Viggen that already was up in air to meet the aircraft and thereby keeping Soviet interceptors from attacking and forcing it to Sovjet. The two first Viggen that intercept SR-71 was low on fule and unarmed but was replaced by two othet Viggen that tock over and eskorted it to German airspace theese swedis pilots got medali from USA for their help. Also one Viggen got radarlock on a Blackbird over Baltic sea that was confirmed by system download of Viggen.
The MIG-25 could reach speeds of Mach 3.2+, but only on a single use basis. The engines were basically done after a wide open run. It could sustain speeds of Mach 2.81, and be reusable.
Exactly - which made it completely useless. It’s entire mission was intercepting this aircraft, which was basically impossible (even if they TOLD you where they were coming from, when to take off, their heading/altitude, etc.) It was just impossible.
@@majorborngusfluunduch8694 Yup, in a perfect world it could match speeds (for a minute) but uh, that doesn’t get you an “intercept” that just gets you a tail for a min. 🤣
Sky, you did a fantastic job of presenting this incredible Bird! I would guess being Russian, you paid attention to her as a boy. Just like my friends and I paid attention and respected high performance Russian Aircraft! UNLIKE the ANIMALS (Terrorists) today, the USA/USSR were the last true Warriors. We had a conditional respect for each other, and we both fought with Honor. We both understood that we had the power to DESTROY life on Earth! We both wielded that power more responsibly than anyone else would. . Could you imagine an Islamist with 2000 NUKES?? 😬😵 I'm glad it never came to that. I always pay attention when someone calls her "HABU"... I've got a special connection with her. My Father, Col. Thomas Allocca, FLEW her from 1970-74!! He also worked on the M-21/D-21 Drone project WITH Kelly Johnson, at "Groom Lake"! Kelly spent quite a bit of time at our house at Beale AFB. Him and Chuck Yeager (who trained my Dad on the B-58), were the most fascinating people I've ever known - after my Dad. The "SR-72" is still a pipe dream, with a ton of rumours... but maybe someday someone will come up with an Aircraft that can surpass it. Given that Kelly and the Skunkworks were in the design phase in *1959* says more than anything, what an amazing machine it is!
Having been brought up in a home directly connected with Aviation, I've always enjoyed traveling by plane, but I've never felt a need to watch them with any great pathos or admiration, with their bellies full of luggage and grumbling passengers. However, when I see a film like this one about the SR-71, I just go weak with joy. It inspires something in me, very hard to describe. It is pure art. When you see something so perfect, a Renaissance Painting, a sculpture by Michelangelo, or a building of architectural perfection in perfect harmonic proportions, it's hard not to just be sucked into it magical vortex, and let it take your mind for the ride of your life. Damn, Skunk Works you're good!
thank you, that was an excellent video on the black bird, one of the most iconic planes of all time a huge thumbs up and a sub from me and I even hit the bell for you
... I reference ... "LA Speed Check" and "Buzzing SacMetro Airport" ... two of my favorite Video's/Stores here on U-Tube. But my favorite is about radio traffic w/ FAA Air Control ... Transmissions: " Requesting Flight level 6000" ... FAA Air Traffic Control " If you can get there ... it's all yours ... (HaHa)" .... there was a single word response ... "Discending" ... QUIET/Radio Silence !!! Every pilot knew instantly ... the fastest baddest plane had transmitted that radio call ...
Two small corrections/comments from the beginning of the video. First according to former SR-71 pilot and 9th Wing Commander Col. Richard Graham the SR-71 did not require IMMEDIATE refueling after takeoff. He said that was a myth. However later he did say they fly to 25,000 ft and hit the tanker on a normal mission so not clear what is exactly necessary. I will say I saw an SR-71 fly at our air show in 1987 in San Bernadino including at least 2 low passes after takeoff before heading over the mountains back to Palmdale without any refueling. This was after doing a single engine test the day before the air show. Apparently it had enough fuel to make it that far. However it did leak fuel after the static engine run once they put it back into the hanger. Second is Palmdale is not technically an USAF base. It is called Plant 42 and is partially government owned and now operated by Edwards AFB although technically owned by Wright-Patterson AFB per Wikipedia. Palmdale and Edwards AFB are 2 different places although somewhat "close" together. Still a bit of a drive from Palmdale to Edwards AFB as Edwards is a huge base. Just from the main west gate to main base is a bit of a drive, not to mention further to get to NASA Dryden/Armstrong test facility. Made the drive myself numerous times including to watch the Space Shuttle land on Runway 22. Otherwise great video. Спасибо! ;-)
And, the fuel tanks were indeed purged and pressurized on the ground, not after takeoff. I'm surprised anyone could think it leaked enough to effect when they refueled, that would be a huge lake of fuel on the ground. Fun facts: A whopping 3,000 lbs of fuel is used during ground maneuvers before takoff. 3,000 lbs of fuel at scheduled cruise of Mach 3.17 is enough for an amazing161 miles! Quite fuel efficient.
Fun fact: Most of Titanium of the SR-71 came Russia, CIA use third party and dummy companies at that time, they’re all buying all of the Titanium, but USSR didn’t know who’s they’re selling the titaniums to. When I saw this story, it made my mind blown.
The best narrative of this beauty of the sky is one called "Sled Driver" because that's what they called themselves manufactured by "Skunkworks" I love that name
0:38 "If the national symbol of the United States was an airplane it would be that symbol". Good words, but I think the Queen 747 would be the US sybmol
@@flyerkiller5073 It would be interesting to watch the video about the Soviet MiG-25 and Mig-31. In fact, they were made to intercept the SR-71 and the B-70
Another first class video, fully researched and accurate. Such a treat to watch this kind of video without all the errors so many others seem to pass along as fact. Great job. By the way, and I mead no disrespect, but has anyone ever mentioned you sound a little like strong bad's more educated older brother?
Dere vordan ville ett passasjer fly sett ut om det skulle flydd i ute i verdensrommet asså ytterste atmosfære? Har det da gåd mindre drivstoff da eller mere drivstoff? For ferden har jo gådd raskere? Vordann vile slike passasjer fly sett ut har det vert så vanskeli og bygge og drifte i dag med dagens teknologi? Og trykk kammer teknologi?
Imagine how compact an SR-71 replacement could be in the 2020's considering how far technology and sensors have come in the way of overall physical size, not to mention the fact that the average iPhone is literally a Super Computer compared to 60's computing power.
I see the blackbird I click on the video. Great video if I may offer one suggestion for us Americans can you please start saying speed and altitude numbers in kilometers and miles? Or maybe just put a graphic on the screen that shows what you are saying in miles. Thanks!
It's difficult when the body is at Mach 5.7 After Mach 7.5 is very possible . The difference is .20 percent of extra power They got, it in future for lunarfly. by, s. Pretty kool . I've flown easily over 500,000 air miles , in my career. Cheers to aviation
The greatest jet aircraft of all time. At some point, the U.S. may or may not reveal the long rumoured successor to the A12 / SR-71 Blackbird aircraft. IF this aircraft does or will exist, presumably it will have superior performance, or what's the point? Even so, it will NEVER take the title of "Greatest of All Time" from the original Blackbirds..... Because the new aircraft will extend the bar set by the Blackbird a comparatively modest amount in terms of it's maximum performance parametres, as a kind of "Blackbird 2.0". However, it won't represent the GARGANTUAN, pioneering leap in performance, technology, and aviation in general, that the Blackbird was in it's time, doing it for the FIRST time, spearing aviation towards the unknown realm approaching Hypersonic flight. As much as it WAS an operational aircraft doing REAL work as an intelligence gathering platform, it was also in effect an experimental, like the X-15 for example. Even as it entered service, what is now known about aircraft operating at that level of performance, was being learnt from the Blackbird. Each mission was more data on every aspect of analysis, including short term and long term wear on the airframe, and it's effect on lifespan. The aircraft were constantly upgraded & improved as new components were developed, with electronic automation for quickly restarting an "inlet unstart" on one or both engines being a MAJOR, welcome improvement for pilots, who were previously forced to do this manually. The new aircraft, IF it exists, will simply extend the Blackbird's achievements, not overshadow them or blow them away, and it will never represent the same achievement in aviation design & engineering. AND, the new aircraft will be a product of digital design by "quantum supercomputers". Not "Good Ol' Boys" in hats, wearing Bowling or Hawaiian Shirts, smoking pipes, aided by nothing more than pencils, paper, slide-rules, and their imaginations. Those guys were REAL engineers in the truest sense. Working hands-on with tool makers and fabricators to not just design & engineer groundbreaking aircraft, but the groundbreaking new types of tooling & methods needed to build them. Today's "engineers" are little more than minders or babysitters, overseeing the superior autonomous computer intelligence & capabilities that have taken over all these tasks. The only "supercomputers" Clarence "Kelly" Johnson, Ben Rich, and the other geniuses at the "Skunkworks" had, were in their skulls. In a way I pity them, as today's designers & engineers can NEVER hope to equal their achievements, let alone best them. Kelly Johnson was the aviation equivalent of Leonardo da Vinci.
If the SR is 50% heavier than the A12, how much faster does that make the A12? I have heard SR/A12 pilots say both planes could fly faster than the official records... how fast is the question.
I've seen other videos where it was said that it could easily do 3500 miles an hour. It was essentially Limited by the airframe. Also the maximum altitude was said to be over a hundred thousand feet. Whether this is true or not I do not know.
They also figured that if you replaced all the leading edges with modern composites and new turbine blades that can take a higher inlet temp, and change nothing else it’s a Mach 5 aircraft before the J-58 and inlet can’t produce any more thrust.
Some former Soviet pilots have said that the MiG-31 is what led to the eventual retirement of the SR-71. When they were reliably to get a radar lock on the SR-71 they stopped flying over the Soviet Union.
So I only read the abstract and cannot stand the video. Maybe you could tell me, why a nation with ballistic nuclear missiles and which shot down U-2 prior, cannot heat seek a SR-71 with ground to air missiles. This way the SR-71 would have to make a U-turn so that it is only seen once heading out and then shot outside the Soviet Union which would be bad for politics. Also, those missiles are expensive and SR-71 can indeed sail to reduce heat signature and restart the engines once the missile passed.
So why didn't the mig 31 ever shoot one down? The Soviets would shoot down civilian aircraft like the 747 from Korean Air. I think you just want to believe what you want to believe. We kicked your butt and a story we won the Cold War and the story we won the Space Race end of story
@@johnkirby5427 I know a person who makes custom tin foil hats for people like you. I can give you their phone number if you like because it's obvious whoever the person is it's making your tin foil hats is making them quite a bit too tight. Have a bad day
The Soviets had similar program. But the lost political will to continue with it because of Soviet Doctrinal policy(it added know significant advantage to them) in the Advent of Nuclear ICBM.
