Dragon Lady

[mooneyguy]

Dragon lady...typo sorry


http://www.avweb.com/eletter/archive...ll.html#197436

A flight envelope of 6 kts. Cool video!

[NJT916]

+/- 3 kts....WOW!!!!

Very cool, thanks for posting!

[Chewie von Nubbins]

Nice find. Those guys are truly skilled.

[coa787]

Now, what I don't understand is why they retired the SR-71? They said that the U-2 has been shot down seven times, whereas the SR-71 has been shot at thousands of times and not a single one suffered even a scratch. I don't know, but I think it's time for me to pay a visit to the wiki.

Nice video, though!

[CSK]

woah plus or minus 3 knots?!? I believe that would be, what is referred to as; Coffin Corner. Am I right?

[mooneyguy]

Originally Posted by coa787

Now, what I don't understand is why they retired the SR-71? They said that the U-2 has been shot down seven times, whereas the SR-71 has been shot at thousands of times and not a single one suffered even a scratch. I don't know, but I think it's time for me to pay a visit to the wiki.

Nice video, though!

I had a chance to talk with a blackbird pilot. He said it was simply a money thing to retire the blackbird. Of course Bubba clinton did it first when he slashed the military during his time. They did bring them back for a short time after bubba left office, but the cost was too high. Basically the high tech spy satellites can do the same job cheaper!
The only sr71 that is still, or still could be put back in service is at the National Air and Space Museum

The guy told some great stories! Talked about how they would look down and see "enemy" fighters trying to get up to them, and even shooting at them. of course there was no way they could!
It was an incredible bird! Its a shame to see them sitting out in the open as public displays covered in bird stuff! The one which is on display here in San Antonio flew into Kelly AFB on her own power before being gutted and stuffed!

[coa787]

Originally Posted by mooneyguy

I had a chance to talk with a blackbird pilot. He said it was simply a money thing to retire the blackbird. Of course Bubba clinton did it first when he slashed the military during his time. They did bring them back for a short time after bubba left office, but the cost was too high. Basically the high tech spy satellites can do the same job cheaper!
The only sr71 that is still, or still could be put back in service is at the National Air and Space Museum

The guy told some great stories! Talked about how they would look down and see "enemy" fighters trying to get up to them, and even shooting at them. of course there was no way they could!
It was an incredible bird! Its a shame to see them sitting out in the open as public displays covered in bird stuff! The one which is on display here in San Antonio flew into Kelly AFB on her own power before being gutted and stuffed!

Wow, that's interesting! I wonder how the SR-71 pilot could even look out of the window and look down to see things because of the weird fuselage shape? Anyway, that must have been a lot of fun.

[mooneyguy]

Originally Posted by coa787

Wow, that's interesting! I wonder how the SR-71 pilot could even look out of the window and look down to see things because of the weird fuselage shape? Anyway, that must have been a lot of fun.

Sorry, I tend to over simplify my writing sometimes. They did have according to him onboard radar, or some such equip that would let them know of "threats" and if they were being "engaged" again, not that it would matter, no one could get close enough to actually hit them. He did make a comment of being able to do something that would actually give them (the enemy) a visual clue to exactly where they were. I cannot remember what it was any more, but it was just a way to tease them a bit, knowing there was no way they could get to them...just a big kid doing the nana nana na na thing

[TexasFlyer]

That was a great video! Thanks for finding that one.