Tag:

blackbird

When a pilot of an F-101 once attempted to compete against an SR-71

by Till Daisd October 6, 2023

‘On takeoff roll, an F-101 came upon our wing; he was going to race us whether we wanted to or not,’ Richard “Butch” Sheffield, SR-71 Blackbird Reconnaissance Systems Officer

The Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird Mach 3 strategic reconnaissance aircraft kept its title as the world’s fastest and highest-flying operational aircraft for approximately 24 years. It could survey 100,000 square miles of the Earth’s surface per hour from an altitude of 80,000 feet.

It is therefore not surprising that the aircraft has consistently broken records for both speed and altitude due to its astounding flight qualities.

The following story is taken from Colonel Richard “Butch” Sheffield, an SR-71 Blackbird Reconnaissance Systems Officer, unpublished book by Col. Richard (Butch) Sheffield titled “The Very First” (RSO).

‘Sometime, early in the program, in January 1967, I believe, we aborted and landed at Buckley Air National Guard (ANG) Base near Denver. The base was home to an F-101 squadron. The F-101 was an interceptor assigned to defend the US in case of war. The fighter community considered it a “hot” aircraft.

‘After we got out of our pressure suits and arranged for the take-off the next day, we went to the Officer’s Club wearing loaned flying suits and our white pressure suit boots. The fighter pilots who came around wanted to know all about our aircraft, like; how fast, how high, and the rate of climb. What they really wanted was to race us as we climbed out after takeoff. We declined all offers of information and races.

‘The next day, on takeoff roll, an F-101 came upon our wing; he was going to race us whether we wanted to or not. Apparently, the F-101 had been orbiting the field just waiting for our takeoff.

‘The SR could climb fast but was no match for the F-101 at those altitudes. He stayed right on our wing up to 25,000 feet where we leveled off to hit a tanker that we always did. About the time we leveled off, someone from the F-101 came on UHF and said, “You guys aren’t so hot.” So I replied, “How fast can you climb above 80,000 feet?” The F-101 made a quick exit.’

Check out the Habubrats Facebook page for further Blackbird photos and stories.

Photo by U.S. Air Force

October 6, 2023 0 comment

Cold War

The real top speed a Lockheed Blackbird has ever achieved

by Till Daisd September 21, 2023

written by Till Daisd

“During early flight testing at Area 51 with the A-12s, Jim Eastham told me that A-12 #128 flew as fast as any A-12 during testing. On the particular day that the A-12 red lined everything,” Jim Goodall.

As the U-2 spy plane’s replacement, the CIA created the highly classified A-12 Oxcart in order to satisfy the need for a very quick, extremely high-flying reconnaissance aircraft that could get by Soviet air defenses. It started operating on November 12, 1965.

In addition to the A-12 demonstrating its value throughout its brief operational lifespan, the Oxcart project as a whole gave birth to the SR-71, the second-longest-lasting aerial reconnaissance aircraft in US intelligence history.

The SR-71 Blackbird has historically operated in more hostile airspace and with greater impunity than any other reconnaissance aircraft. It is the swiftest air-breathing engine-powered aircraft. The Blackbird was at the forefront of aviation technology advancements during the Cold War due to its performance and operational accomplishments.

In order to acquire intelligence from locations deep inside Soviet territory, manned aircraft had already been replaced by orbiting reconnaissance satellites by the time the SR-71 went into operation. The Blackbird remained an essential instrument for gathering global intelligence since satellites could not continuously monitor all geopolitical hotspots. The SR-71’s pilots and RSOs frequently provided information that was crucial to the development of successful US foreign policy.

The Blackbird was built to cruise at “Mach 3+,” or more than 2,200 mph or slightly over three times the speed of sound, and at heights up to 85,000 feet.

Well, as we’ve already mentioned, the most commonly asked Blackbird question is probably how high and how quickly it actually flies.

“I’ve answered this question before, but here goes,” says Jim Goodall, former Master Sergeant at U.S. Air Force and author of the book Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird: The Illustrated History of America’s Legendary Mach 3 Spy Plane. “The fastest an SR-71A has ever gone is Mach 3.43 in 974 [Blackbird #61-17974, better known as “Ichi-Ban”], at the time, a Site II bird. It blew out both inlets as it had a dual unstart.”

Goodall keeps going. “ The inlets were designed to fly at its “Sweet Spot” of Mach 3.24, according to Ben Rich. From the A-12 through the final SR-71 constructed, all manned Blackbirds were built with the same top speed in mind.

“But during early flight testing at Area 51 with the A-12s, Jim Eastham told me that A-12 #128 flew as fast as any A-12 during testing. On the particular day that the A-12 red-lined everything.

“During a routine top-speed envelope expansion flight, A-12 #128 was having a hard time getting past Mach 2.7 as the outside air was too warm. The reason for the flight test card that day was to validate a new inlet bypass door schedule.

“Jim said he dropped the nose down a bit to see if he could at least reach Mach 3.0. Out of nowhere, Jim hit good air, and in the dive with good air, he red-lined everything. He went into his descent profile and headed back to the test site.”

Goodall concludes:

“When all was said and done; and for a very brief 15 seconds, Jim hit Mach 3.56, or just under 2,400 mph. Mind you, this was a one-time event and was never duplicated.”

The True Fastest Speed Ever Reached by a Lockheed Blackbird — *SR-71A Blackbird #61-17974, better known as “Ichi-Ban,” and a T-38 chase plane.*

Photo by U.S. Air Force and Central Intelligence Agency

September 21, 2023 0 comment

Cold War

The SR-71 had to refuel immediately after takeoff, and Blackbird Pilot explains why

by Till Daisd September 8, 2023

written by Till Daisd

The crews of the SR-71 Blackbird remember the KC-135Q Stratotanker crew with gratitude for their attention to their safety

The Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird requires JP-7 fuel, which the KC-135Q variant of the renowned KC-135 Stratotanker was modified to carry by separating the JP-7 from the KC-135’s own fuel supply (the body tanks carrying JP-7, and the wing tanks carrying JP-4 or JP-8). Also, the tanker included unique fuel systems for transferring various fuels across tanks. The KC-135T model, which could separate the main body tanks from the wing tanks where the KC-135 gets its engine fuel, was renamed after the KC-135Q model when it was given the CFM56 engines.

The KC-135Q crews and their aircraft set themselves apart from the rest of the Air Force in a number of ways, including the fact that they were the only ones certified in the specific radio-silent rendezvous techniques used by the SR-71 and that their boom operators were the only ones capable of refueling the Blackbird.

If it weren’t for the SR-71’s ability to refuel in the air, its range would only be about 2,000 NM. The aircraft’s range was increased through numerous air refuelings to the limit of the crew’s endurance. Several missions have traveled more than 12,000 NM. The SR-71 and KC-135Q tankers’ forward basing enabled them to respond more quickly, conduct missions with shorter ranges and shorter durations, require fewer air refuelings, and operate more efficiently overall.

The story of the SR-71 Blackbird that pitched up and collided with a KC-135Q tanker during an air refueling over El Paso

If the SR-71 landed somewhere where JP-7 fuel was not accessible, the Q-model tankers flew in with the fuel and were able to refill the SR-71 using transfer hoses on the ground.

In his book SR-71 The Complete Illustrated History of THE BLACKBIRD The World’s Highest, Fastest Plane, former SR-71 pilot Col. Richard H. Graham explains why the Blackbird needed to refuel immediately after takeoff.

“Many people believe we refueled after takeoff because the aircraft leaked fuel so profusely that we needed to fuel up quickly. We had to refuel right after takeoff for only one reason, and it wasn’t because we leaked JP-7 fuel on the ground. Yes, the plane does leak fuel, but not enough to require refueling after takeoff.

“The JP-7 fuel reaches temperatures well over 300 degrees F. during Mach 3 cruise, making the fumes in each of the six fuel tanks very volatile and potentially explosive. The metal skin of the aircraft approaches 400 degrees F., adding to the volatility of the fuel inside the tanks. One of our aircraft limitations was a maximum speed of Mach 2.6 without an inert atmosphere inside the fuel tanks.

“The aircraft had three liquid nitrogen Dewar flasks containing 260 liters of liquid nitrogen, located in the nose wheel well. The only way to ensure a 100 percent inert atmosphere in each fuel tank was to refuel the plane inflight completely full of JP-7, allowing ambient air in each fuel tank to vent overboard. Once full of fuel, gaseous nitrogen would now dominate each fuel tank’s empty space above as it burned off JP-7. The nitrogen gas pressurized each fuel tank to 1.5 psi above ambient pressure and inerts the space above the heated fuel to prevent autogenous ignition. This is why we refueled after takeoff. Then we could safely accelerate beyond Mach 2.6.

“There was one other way of achieving tank inerting, called a Yo-Yo. but this was a maintenance nightmare. A few of our missions required the SR-71 to accelerate to Mach 3+ right after takeoff with a 65,000-pound fuel load. The Yo-Yo procedure had the crew chief completely refuel the plane to full tanks of 80,000 pounds of fuel. Then, with the nitrogen pressurization system working, they de-fueled 15,000 pounds of JP-7, ending up with a 65,000-pound fuel load and a plane that was capable of going immediately to Mach 3+.”

The SR-71’s refueling process took at least 15 minutes, but at times it felt much longer. As opposed to other SAC tankers, the KC-135Q did not require constant alertness. The KC-135Q crew members are remembered warmly by the SR-71 crews for their attention to detail in ensuring their safety.

Check out Habubrat’s Facebook page for further Blackbird photos and stories.

Photo by: U.S. Air Force

September 8, 2023 0 comment

Cold War

Before the SR-71 maiden flight, the cockpit had to be rearranged or the USAF would not buy it

by Till Daisd September 6, 2023

written by Till Daisd

The Blackbird’s cockpit needed to be rearranged prior to the aircraft’s first flight, but the cost was high and it wasn’t functional.

The SR-71 Blackbird collected intelligence during its service in some of the most difficult environments on Earth. The SR-71 remained the fastest and highest-flying operational aircraft for approximately 24 years of its life. It could survey 100,000 square miles of the Earth’s surface per hour from an altitude of 80,000 feet.

The SR-71 was intended to operate at high speeds, altitudes, and temperatures; in fact, it was the first aircraft to be built using titanium since a typical aluminum frame would melt under the friction of air molecules passing over it at Mach 2.6.

Because of its cutting-edge engineering, even the tools used to construct the SR-71 had to be created from scratch. The SR-71’s task was to collect pictures while also using its sensors to detect electronic surveillance and cautiously navigate close to the enemy’s border. All of that and more was managed by the Reconnaissance Systems Officer (RSO).

The officer in the SR-71 who completed the checklist for the pilot was known as the RSO. Both his and the Pilot’s jobs had to be known to him. He did the SR-71’s Navigation. The Pilot would ask his RSO, “Where am I landing?” to acquire the precise coordinates if he had to make an emergency landing, which happened more frequently than you would imagine.

There is a saying: “You’ve never been lost until you’ve been lost going 2,100 mph!”

The cockpit of the SR-71 was rearranged prior to the aircraft’s first flight. The redesign of this cockpit was highly expensive, yet it still wasn’t usable. Thus, Butch Sheffield, Tom Schmittou, and Coz Mallozzi, the first three RSOs selected for the program, took a look at it and demanded that they redo the cockpit, which they did.

A quote from Colonel Richard “Butch” Sheffield’s unpublished book. ‘I asked one of the Lockheed Skunk Works engineers who design this, and he said; “NO ONE”. He went on to say, “Kelly told us to put the instruments anywhere they would fit.” What a mess! Airspeed on one side, attitude on the other, altimeter in the middle, we couldn’t even tell what time it was, it was a nightmare.’

Check out the Facebook Page Habubrats for awesome Blackbird photos and stories.

Photo by U.S. Air Force

September 6, 2023 0 comment

History

The SR-71 Blackbird’s final flight (at Mach 3.2)

by Till Daisd September 4, 2023

written by Till Daisd

At the Edwards AFB Open House Airshow on October 9, 1999, an SR-71 Blackbird made its final flight

The brief video in this post, which was recorded on Saturday, October 9, 1999, at Edwards Air Force Base (AFB), shows the final flight of an SR-71 Blackbird.

The flight took place at the Edwards AFB Open House Airshow. After taking off, the SR-71 climbed to an altitude of 80,100 feet and reached a speed of Mach 3.2, or 2,430 mph.

She emptied a trail of fuel in anticipation of the sonic boom so the crowd would see her. Before landing for the final time in her history, the Habu flew three flypasts over Edwards. She did not fly again after October 9, 1999.

The Mach 3 SR-71A Blackbird spy aircraft from Lockheed ruled the skies for a quarter of a century. More people than have flown what continues to be the world’s fastest, highest-flying jet, according to SR-71 pilot and author Brian Shul more people have stood atop Mt. Everest than have flown what remains the world’s fastest, highest-flying jet. A total of 32 aircraft were built.

Foreign agents treasured the SR-71’s revolutionary technology so highly that Lockheed was given the government’s order to destroy all of the tools used to design and construct the Blackbird in 1968. Airman Magazine claims that the SR-71 was also the first stealth aircraft ever built.

The airplane had to adopt a distinctive shape in order to become almost undetected. The wings were integrated into the body, and the forward fuselage had long, blade-like features called chines that helped deflect incoming radar waves.

The Blackbird’s radar cross-section was additionally reduced by the twin fins over the engines that were slanted inward and the pointed engine cones. The bottom fuselage of the 107-foot SR-71 was practically flat, giving it a sleek, futuristic spear shape.

Radar-absorbing paint made of ferrite (iron) was used to coat the SR-71. Due to 600-degree exterior temperatures brought on by friction during flight, the paint helped to prevent the aircraft from being targeted and made it even more difficult to target. The spy plane’s official Air Force name, Blackbird, was also given to it by the black paint.

Photo by NASA

September 4, 2023 0 comment

History

The Lockheed A-12 Oxcart was the first stealth aircraft

by Till Daisd August 30, 2023

written by Till Daisd

The A-12 was an early attempt by Lockheed to create a spy plane that could avoid enemy detection and anti-aircraft fire. It was the first “attempt” at a stealth aircraft

The Genesis of Stealth

Clarence “Kelly” Johnson, the top engineer at Lockheed, faced an almost insurmountable challenge. On paper, the specifications for the spy plane that could capture incredibly clear pictures from 70,000 feet seemed like pure fantasy: A Mach-3 aircraft that could outrun missiles by actually flying nonstop for hours on end. An attack plane that could hide from the radar surveillance of its adversaries.

Johnson, however, simply handled all inquiries and informed his hand-selected group of Skunk Works staff members of what needed to be done. He developed the A-12, a high-speed, high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft that was the result of Project Oxcart, a covert military program.

The A-12 was an early attempt by Lockheed to create a spy plane that could avoid enemy detection and anti-aircraft fire. It was the first effort at an airplane that would be “stealthy” due to the outer design that reduced its radar cross-section (RCS). The employment of black paint and little iron balls to further amplify the beginnings of stealth aided to boost the emission of internal heat.

When the A-12 was being designed, titanium was the best option available before the discovery of building materials based on carbon fiber. Titanium was employed in only around 85% of the manufactured A-12, and it was mostly on parts that were subjected to the highest temperatures. Polymer composite materials made up the remaining 15% of the aircraft. In reality, the new composite materials that absorb radar were an enhancement to RCS. They took the place of the fillets and were constructed from iron ferrite and silicon laminate mixed with asbestos to block radar signals and increase the stealthiness of the aircraft.

The “titanium goose,” the A-12 in the image, is the trainer. Looking at the composite materials employed in the airplane, this is the best example I could find. It was essential to fool the radar. This was the true birth of stealth because the CIA’s A-12 had its initial design in 1959. The SR-71 continued in this vein.

The top-secret A-12 “Oxcart” flew for the first time on April 26, 1962, at a Nevada airfield that never existed. The “Article 121” aircraft started to oscillate badly in the air before dissipating into a cloud of dust, which Clarence “Kelly” Johnson, the plane’s designer, called “horrible to watch.”

It was determined that some of the A-12’s equipment was mounted backward after returning to the runway. The mistake was fixed, and the remaining flights were performed without a hitch. The replacement for the U-2, a top-secret CIA aircraft, was capable of Mach 3 flight at altitudes above 80,000 feet (more than 2,000 miles per hour).

Unlike the SR-71, the A-12 Oxcart was a single-seat, super-secret spy plane. It was also considerably more rare. In fact, the SR-71 was created from the A-12.

Check out the Habubrats Facebook page for further Blackbird photos and stories

Photo by: U.S. Air Force, CIA, Chris Hunkeler from Carlsbad, California, USA, and Mys 721tx Own work via Wikipedia

August 30, 2023 0 comment

Cold War

An aluminum gun was a part of the SR-71 Blackbird crew members’ survival kit

by Till Daisd August 22, 2023

written by Till Daisd

During the harshest period of the Cold War, the SR-71 Blackbird Mach 3 + spy plane crew used some unusual equipment while flying through Soviet-controlled airspace

The SR-71 Blackbird collected intelligence during its service in some of the most difficult environments on Earth. The SR-71 was built using titanium because of the friction created by air molecules traveling over its surface at Mach 2.6, which would melt an aluminum frame since it isn’t designed to operate at extraordinary speeds, altitudes, and temperatures.

Because of its cutting-edge engineering, even the tools used to construct the SR-71 had to be created from scratch. Also, during the coldest period of the Cold War, the crew of the SR-71 Blackbird Mach 3+ spy plane carried a variety of interesting equipment while flying through Soviet-controlled airspace. Notwithstanding the fact that no SR-71s were ever shot down, Blackbird pilots and RSOs had a survival kit that contained a number of unusual items.

SR-71-Survival-Kit — SR-71 Blackbird pilots Survival Kit

One long-standing urban myth or joke, according to Last Stand On Zombie Island, was that the SR-71’s survival kit contained:

“One low power 38 revolver; two boxes of ammunition; four days’ concentrated emergency rations; one drug issue containing antibiotics, morphine, vitamin pills, pep pills, sleeping pills, tranquilizer pills; one miniature combination Russian phrase book and Bible; one hundred dollars in rubles; one hundred dollars in gold; nine packs of chewing gum; one issue of prophylactics; three lipsticks; three pair of nylon stockings.”

A highly uncommon aluminum gun that was manufactured in order to make it lightweight was part of the SR-71 survival kit.

Yet as Richard Graham, a former Blackbird pilot, writes in his book SR-71 Revealed the Inside History, “the survival kit contained standard Air Force survival items: a one-man life raft, day/night flares, desalinization kit, emergency UHF radio with spare batteries, first aid kit, thermal blanket, fishing gear, survival manual, and maps. Tethered between you and the survival kit was the inflated one-man life raft, ready for a water landing.”

A sealed envelope that the SR-71 crews were instructed to hand to anyone bothering them was another item carried in the pressure suite (but not in the survival kit that was in the ejection seat). When they were concerned about having an SR-71 land on their tiny base in South Korea, Butch Sheffield, presented the sealed envelope to the base commander. The contents of that envelope and what it stated are unknown, but the base commander smiled, acted amiably, and was ready to go above and beyond to ensure the crew’s comfort.

Check out Facebook Page Habubrats for awesome Blackbird photos and stories.

Photo by: U.S. Air Force and Linda Sheffield Miller

August 22, 2023 0 comment

History

President Lyndon B. Johnson introduced the YF-12A, the Blackbird Mach 3+ Interceptor, on February 29, 1964

by Till Daisd August 10, 2023

written by Till Daisd

The USAF ordered 93 F-12B Blackbird Mach 3+ Interceptors, each of which was equipped with three Hughes AIM-47A Falcon air-to-air missiles in secure compartments at the fuselage’s bottom

On February 29, 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson made the top-secret Lockheed YF-12A, a Mach 3+ interceptor created by Clarence L. “Kelly” Johnson’s “Skunk Works,” publicly known. The interceptor was referred to as the “A-11” by President Johnson.

The YF-12A interceptor shares a lot of similarities with the A-12 Oxcart and SR-71A Blackbird. It is a large delta-wing aircraft with twin engines, piloted by a weapons system operator. The crew of the F-12 wears S901F full-pressure suits made by the David Clark Company due to the altitudes at which it travels.

A YF 12 was sought after by the media following Johnson’s statement. To witness it, they went to Edwards Air Force Base. Since he had just arrived from Groom Lake, Area 51, the airplane was still hot. Johnson announced the YF-12 in part to conceal the CIA’s A-12.

The US Air Force (USAF) ordered 93 F-12B production aircraft, which would have been outfitted with three Hughes AIM-47A Falcon air-to-air missiles in secure bays at the bottom of the fuselage, according to This Day in Aviation. But for three years in a row, Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara refused to release the funds for the acquisition, leading to the eventual cancellation of the project. Even though the F-12 interceptor program was terminated in early 1968, the aircraft functioned admirably. The cancellation was a result of several factors, including high expenditures, the ongoing war in Southeast Asia, and a lesser priority given by the US to air defense.

Variants:

YF-12A Pre-production version. Three were built.
F-12B* Production version of the YF-12A with various improvements such as an increased combat radius from 1,200 to 1,350 nautical miles and an improved fire control system with increased bomber detection range from 100 to 125 miles, was canceled before production could begin.
YF-12C Fictitious designation for an SR-71 provided to NASA for flight testing. The YF-12 designation was used to keep SR-71 information out of the public domain from 1971 to 1978, 61-7951 was temporarily loaned to NASA from the Air Force as “YF-12C #06937.”

August 1963 saw the first of three YF-12 flights. The first and third YF-12s broke numerous records in May 1965, setting marks for speed (2,070.101 mph) and height (80,257.65 feet), respectively. Col. Robert L. “Fox” Stephens, the pilot, and Lt. Col. Daniel Andre, the fire control officer, were awarded the 1965 Thompson Trophy for their speed record flight. The Museum of the Air Force, which is close to Dayton, Ohio, is home to the sole YF-12.

Check out Facebook Page Habubrats for further Blackbird photos and stories

Photo by: U.S. Air Force

August 10, 2023 0 comment

Cold War

SR-71 pilot recalls when his Blackbird flew so fast that he and his RSO arrived at Beale AFB nearly a day before

by Till Daisd August 7, 2023

written by Till Daisd

‘I am really tired of hearing the “LA speed story” so I thought I would relay a mission that gives real perspective to the speed of the Blackbird,’ David Peters, SR-71 Blackbird pilot

The Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird Mach 3 strategic reconnaissance aircraft maintained its position as the world’s fastest and highest-flying operational aircraft for approximately 24 years. It could survey 100,000 square miles of the Earth’s surface per hour from an altitude of 80,000 feet.

It is therefore not surprising that the aircraft has set multiple speed and altitude records throughout its history because of its incredible flight qualities.

SR-71 Pilot tells the story of when his Blackbird flew So Fast that He and his RSO arrived at Beale AFB almost a Day Before They Left Kadena AB — David Peters in SR-71’s cockpit

SR-71 pilot David Peters shares the amazing tale below to provide some context for the legendary Blackbird’s extraordinary top speed:

‘I am really tired of hearing the “LA speed story” so I thought I would relay a mission that gives real perspective to the speed of the Blackbird.

David-Peters-and-Ed-Bethart — David Peters and Ed Bethart

‘We were TDY to Det. 1 at Kadena AB, Okinawa. One of the birds was scheduled for swapping out, and my backseater, Ed Bethart, and I were to fly it home. The replacement came in on Friday, and we were to leave Saturday morning. So, in true Habu tradition, we welcomed the incoming crew and went to a happy hour Friday evening at the officers club.

‘We got up Saturday morning and got ready to go home. Departure was scheduled for 1000. Everything went well, and we left right on time. Headed out to do a pass through the Korean DMZ then into the tankers in the Sea of Japan. Good refueling and a climb out headed for the Sea of Okhotsk and the Kamchatka peninsula of Russia, and from there to more tankers off of Adak in the Aleutian Islands. Another good refueling, and on to Beale AFB, California. We arrived with a low approach, pulled up into a closed pattern, and landed. Following de-suiting and debriefing, we deposited our classified flight documents, jumped in a car, and arrived at the officers club for Friday night happy hour at 1630, 17 1/2 hours before we left Kadena.

‘Try that in any aircraft other than the SR-71. Besides this is actually a true story.’

Check out the Facebook Page Habubrats for further Blackbird photos and stories.

Photo by: David Peters and U.S. Air Force

August 7, 2023 0 comment

Cold War

RS-71 or SR-71? How the famed Blackbird got that designation

by Till Daisd June 29, 2023

written by Till Daisd

According to the story, President Johnson intended to call the Blackbird the “RS-71,” but he misread the letters, and said “SR-71.”

The following story appears in Col. Richard H. Graham’s book Flying the SR-71 Blackbird.

On 24 July 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson gave a news conference at the State Department auditorium with 315 people in attendance. For years I had heard that President Johnson became dyslexic when he announced for the first time that the United States had developed a Mach 3 reconnaissance aircraft. The tale said that President Johnson was supposed to name the Blackbird the “RS-71” and that he confused the letters, reversed them, and said “SR-71.”

In 2000, I decided to research this. I contacted the Lyndon Banes Johnson Library in Austin, Texas, and asked for their help. Mr. Michael Parrish, an archivist at the LBJ Library, said he would assist me in my quest for the truth. He sent me a copy of the exact text of the speech LBJ made that day in 1964. Here is an excerpt:

“Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. I would like to announce the successful development of a major new strategic manned aircraft system, which will be employed by the Strategic Air Command. This system employs the new SR-71 aircraft and provides a long-range, advanced strategic reconnaissance plane for military use, capable of worldwide reconnaissance for military operations.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff, when reviewing the RS-70, emphasized the importance of the strategic reconnaissance mission. The SR-71 aircraft reconnaissance system is the most advanced in the world. The aircraft will fly at more than three times the speed of sound. It will operate at altitudes in excess of 80,000 feet. It will use the most advanced observation equipment of all kinds in the world. The aircraft will provide the strategic forces of the United States with an outstanding long-range reconnaissance capability. The system will be used during periods of military hostilities and in other situations in which the United States military forces may be confronting foreign military forces.

The SR-71 uses the same J58 engine as the experimental interceptor previously announced, but it is substantially heavier and it has a longer range. The considerably heavier gross weight permits it to accommodate the multiple reconnaissance sensors needed by the Strategic Air Command to accomplish its strategic reconnaissance mission in a military environment.

This billion-dollar program was initiated in February of 1963. The first operational aircraft will begin flight testing in early 1965. Deployment of production units to the Strategic Air Command will begin shortly thereafter.

Appropriate members of Congress have been kept fully informed on the nature of and the progress of this aircraft program. Further information on this major advanced aircraft system will be released from time to time at the appropriate military secret classification levels.”

In all three places where President Johnson’s speech text stated, “SR-71,” the audiotapes reveal he said, “SR-71.” The LBJ library also sent me a copy of the “Stenotype Transcript of Press Conference.” In those days the White House used a stenographer who was writing in shorthand what he heard, or thought he heard, the President says.

It seems it was the stenographer who got dyslexic and in the transcript wrote the words “RS-71” in all three places. The stenographer’s version was handed out to the press reporters that day. I am sure the reporters looked at the handout and must have said, “I’m positive Johnson said SR-71 . . . this reads RS-71? He must have got it backward.” In actuality, it was the stenographer who got it backward. However, in slight defense of the stenographer getting it wrong, President Johnson’s first reference to the RS-70, a reconnaissance version of the ill-fated Valkyrie, most likely threw him/her off.

SR-71... or RS-71? How the legendary Blackbird got her designation

Remember, my only goal was to research what LBJ was supposed to have said that day, and he did so correctly. You will find arguments even today as to what the Air Force, Strategic Air Command (SAC), Lockheed, Kelly Johnson, and some crew members thought the plane was supposed to be called.

Photo by U.S. Air Force and Lockheed Martin

June 29, 2023 0 comment

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