Sr71 picture

Anytime

 

The base Commander (Col. Duane Deal...now General) at my first assignment was an SR-71 pilot. I thought that was pretty damn cool. Then I pcs'd to Beale AFB (home of the SR-71). Although they were decommissioned in 94 (I think) I never actually laid eyes on an operational Blackbird. They still fly the U-2 and the KC-135 out of Beale and an un-manned spy plane called Global Hawk.

 

I work with 1 of the SR71 pilot for year but never knew it until the General introduce to us when he retire.

 

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Had the rare chance of seeing a SR flyby at the Abbotsford air show in Canada,,many moons ago. (Quote from Mod)

I was working at Hertz at the Vancouver airport the year the SR-71 came up for the Abbotsford show (Expo 1986?). After the show it must have refueled at the airport and I got to see it leave. I will never forget it- looked like an office building turned on its side with a thunderstorm following about a mile behind. Suddenly, it stood on its tail and shot nearly straight up. It was gone in seconds. Undoubtedly the coolest plane ever built.

 

I think it was 86. I remember it being super loud on the flyby, towing the basketballs on a string M diamonds,,lol.

 

I was lucky enough to work at Tyndall AFB in Panama City FL doing contract work on the flight line for 2 years. cant tell you how cool it is to have an F-22 fly 20 feet over your head and turn vertical. the smell of burning fuel, the heat from the afterburners, and the insides of your body rumbling is awesome, but its nothing like seeing an SR-71. that is the coolest plane ever!!

 

Wow. Flipping sweet!!! Any videos, or was that not allowed at the time!?!?

 

we were not even allowed to take cell phones that close to the runways, so unfortunitly i have nothing. we were warned that once we cross the red line, they have every right to shoot us if we did anything that was against their rules. needless to say, besides stopping work and staring with a hard-on i did nothing but the planned tasks

 

That is what I thought.