And what country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
I saw one fly once, at an AFA graduation in 1967. It came across slow at about 5K, hit the throttles and climbed out of sight in pretty short order. I read their other airshow trick was to dump fuel so as to be visible at altitude and then sonic boom the crowd.
My father was an engines working on that plane. Kelly Johnson hated security clearences, and grudgingly got top secret clearances only where the Air Force made him do it. Too much paperwork, and long delays slowing his team from working. Different times. On the other hand, he brought in all the engineers's wives and told them not to complain about the long working hours, because if the Russians found out what their husbands were doing, they might kill them.
It was an era long before digital. The camera in the SR-71 carried a roll of film about 9 inches wide and TWO MILES long. Saw one fly at Beale AFB and toured the film processing plant. That takeoff was the loudest thing I've ever heard. Probably a factor in why I have this screaming case of tinnitus today.
Such an awesome feat of engineering. Wish they would still fly them, even if just for air shows.
ReplyDeleteI saw one fly once, at an AFA graduation in 1967. It came across slow at about 5K, hit the throttles and climbed out of sight in pretty short order. I read their other airshow trick was to dump fuel so as to be visible at altitude and then sonic boom the crowd.
DeleteImagine the security clearances you would have to have had to work there.
ReplyDeleteMy father was an engines working on that plane. Kelly Johnson hated security clearences, and grudgingly got top secret clearances only where the Air Force made him do it. Too much paperwork, and long delays slowing his team from working.
DeleteDifferent times.
On the other hand, he brought in all the engineers's wives and told them not to complain about the long working hours, because if the Russians found out what their husbands were doing, they might kill them.
It was an era long before digital. The camera in the SR-71 carried a roll of film about 9 inches wide and TWO MILES long. Saw one fly at Beale AFB and toured the film processing plant. That takeoff was the loudest thing I've ever heard. Probably a factor in why I have this screaming case of tinnitus today.
ReplyDeleteGreat story about the slowest flyby by an SR-71:
ReplyDeletehttps://theaviationgeekclub.com/story-behind-famed-sr-71-blackbird-super-low-knife-edge-pass/
Worked with one of the test pilots for the SR-71 program many years ago. Had some stories to tell.
ReplyDeleteBuilt when most Americans had two things.....pride in their country and the ability to keep their mouths shut....
ReplyDelete