Bob Gilliland , first pilot of the SR-71 Blackbird spy plane and a Memphian, dies at 93. On a near-cloudless Dec. 22, 1964, a brawny, broad-shouldered Memphian strapped into what was then the world's fastest aircraft at a secret airstrip in California.
Who was the first pilot of the SR-71 Blackbird?
Pure Speed! The world's fastest piloted aircraft first flew on 22 December 1964, at a speed of 2,193 mph, the SR-71 still holds the record as the world's fastest stealth aircraft. Check out the videos below! On the first flight, piloted by Bob Gilliland , the SR-71 reached a top speed of Mach 3.4.
How many SR-71 pilots were there?
There were only 85 pilots and RSOs who were trained to fly the SR-71 operationally. Another 40 or so were trained to fly test flights for the plane, said Buz Carpenter, a former SR-71 pilot who is now a docent at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum annex in Chantilly, Virginia.
Did Chuck Yeager ever fly an SR-71?
On this day, Brigadier General Chuck Yeager became the 335th person to have the joy and privilege of taking a ride in what has to be the one of the most incredible airplanes ever to take to the air; the Lockheed built and designed SR-71 Blackbird.
Is the SR-71 Blackbird still flying?
The SR-71 was last flown by NASA in 1999, which used two of the aircraft for high-speed and high-altitude aeronautical research. Since then, the surviving Blackbirds have all found their way into museums .
Why do SR-71 pilots have to be married?
The pilots that flew the SR-71 had to be married because they were less likely to defect to the USSR . Single males are more likely to defect since there is nothing holding him back, especially if the co-pilot is also single male.
Is there a plane faster than the SR-71 Blackbird?
The iconic SR-71 Blackbird spy plane is known for being the official record holder for the fastest jet-powered, piloted aircraft of all time. However, there has actually been a legitimate, jet-powered, piloted aircraft that was faster than the SR-71, the A-12 Oxcart .
What made the SR-71 so fast?
In fact, the SR-71 flew so fast that even in the cold of those rarefied heights, the friction of the air heated its titanium skin to 550 degrees Fahrenheit .
Is the SR-71 still the fastest plane?
The SR-71 Is Still the Fastest Plane Ever (The Engine Was Designed for Another Jet) ... The engines in question, which were used for the SR-71 as well as for its predecessor, the Lockheed A-12, were designed to fly at speeds of up to Mach 3 (more than 2000 miles per hour) at an altitude of up to 80,000 feet.
What does SR-71 stand for?
The SR-71 designation has been attributed to lobbying efforts by USAF Chief of Staff General Curtis LeMay, who preferred the SR (Strategic Reconnaissance) designation over simply RS (Reconnaissance, Strategic). The aircraft was introduced to operational service in January 1966.
How fast can the SR-71 fly around the world?
The Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird is the fastest jet aircraft in the world, reaching speeds of Mach 3.3–that's more than 3,500 kph (2,100 mph) and almost four times as fast as the average cruising speed of a commercial airliner. Key elements of the SR-71's design made this possible.
How many SR-71 pilots died?
The SR-71 served with the U.S. Air Force from 1964 to 1998. A total of 32 aircraft were built; 12 were lost in accidents and none lost to enemy action. The SR-71 has been given several nicknames, including Blackbird and Habu.
How many Sr 71s are left?
The SR-71 Blackbird next to its U-2 Dragonlady progenitor, a plane that ended up surviving long after the SR-71 was retired. The four remaining flyable SR-71 Blackbirds were disposed of by the end of 2003.
How fast can an SR-71 fly across the US?
The SR-71A displayed at the Museum's Udvar-Hazy Center was flown from Los Angeles to Washington, DC on March 6, 1990. This record-setting flight traversed almost 4,828 kilometers (3,000 miles) in 1 hour, 4 minutes, and 20 seconds, averaging a speed of 3,418 kilometers per hour (2,124 miles per hour) .
Why did they retire the SR-71 Blackbird?
Despite the aircraft's incredible flight characteristics, the U.S. Air Force (USAF) retired its fleet of SR-71s on Jan. 26, 1990, because of a decreasing defense budget, high costs of operation and availability of sophisticated spy satellites .
How does the SR-71 fly?
SR-71s are powered by two Pratt and Whitney J-58 axial-flow turbojets with afterburners, each producing 32,500 pounds of thrust. Studies have shown that less than 20 percent of the total thrust used to fly at Mach 3 is produced by the basic engine itself.
