Dr. Evil
Mother of God.
This, I've got to hear.
Moving the SR-71 prototype
- Thread starter Tharkûn
- Start date
This, I've got to hear.
msethhunter
Well-known member
MrIncredible
Is fintastic
It's all I got, man-we didn't do anything special-skunkworks was before my time, as was his time at Lockheed. Just amuses me to have met the guy.
msethhunter
Well-known member
I still call bullshit. Again, you were 10 when he died. He was a recluse the last part of his life. He was sick for years from all the funny chemicals he was exposed to.
MrIncredible
Is fintastic
How many could there be? There's a Kelly Johnson (formerly of Lockheed) at my company.
Traq
Well-known member
In the late eighties I was on a deployment on the southeast coast. Our aircraft were holding between the runways waiting for clearance to take off. The tower wouldn't let them go. We were miserable in the heat and humidity. After an eternity and multiple requests, the tower finally told us why they we're not allowed to move: "There is an aircraft inbound with an emergency". OK. So we start looking towards the approach end, and see nothing. Visibility was CAVU and there was nothing there.
The aircraft we're running dangerously low on fuel and the tower won't let us cross the runway to return to our flightline. They are FIRM: "hold your position". The emergency crews are at various positions along the taxiways, and we still cannot see an aircraft on final, and we have MILES of visibility.
The F5's are now below minimum fuel and are about to shut down in place when one of our guys begins waving his hands and pointing up. WAY UP. A few short miles from the runway, and at 9-10K ft we see an aircraft. We're on the radios "No way that is the emergency, no fucking way, he's too close"
Just then the aircraft starts descending. More like FALLING out of the sky. In an instant we see the TOP of the aircraft and instantly recognize it as the SR71. It is nose down and screaming towards the ocean. We're convinced it's going in the drink. At the last minute it flares, the gear comes down and it comes over the numbers and by us fucking moving, 200kts +. It's on the ground, 'chute out and smoking tires trying to stop.
We found out later that they lost a motor on a mission and we were on their closest divert field. They had no support at the field, and our squadron was tasked with providing assistance. We climbed up to get the pilot out, and once he was out, he kicked us off the aircraft to enable him to open the rear cockpit without allowing us near it. Once they were on the ground, they led us around the jet to guide us in properly checking it and preparing it for the hangar. Our hangar.
The next morning a C5 was on the runway and they were replacing the motor. During maintenance, we were not allowed near, but once it was buttoned up, they invited us over to have a look. We were even granted access to the front cockpit.
Their crew was very interested in us due to the recent movie release and all of the hype. We we're interested in them because, well...IT'S A FUCKING SR71!
We partied on Duval that night and helped them load up the next morning. It was something I'll never forget.
The aircraft we're running dangerously low on fuel and the tower won't let us cross the runway to return to our flightline. They are FIRM: "hold your position". The emergency crews are at various positions along the taxiways, and we still cannot see an aircraft on final, and we have MILES of visibility.
The F5's are now below minimum fuel and are about to shut down in place when one of our guys begins waving his hands and pointing up. WAY UP. A few short miles from the runway, and at 9-10K ft we see an aircraft. We're on the radios "No way that is the emergency, no fucking way, he's too close"
Just then the aircraft starts descending. More like FALLING out of the sky. In an instant we see the TOP of the aircraft and instantly recognize it as the SR71. It is nose down and screaming towards the ocean. We're convinced it's going in the drink. At the last minute it flares, the gear comes down and it comes over the numbers and by us fucking moving, 200kts +. It's on the ground, 'chute out and smoking tires trying to stop.
We found out later that they lost a motor on a mission and we were on their closest divert field. They had no support at the field, and our squadron was tasked with providing assistance. We climbed up to get the pilot out, and once he was out, he kicked us off the aircraft to enable him to open the rear cockpit without allowing us near it. Once they were on the ground, they led us around the jet to guide us in properly checking it and preparing it for the hangar. Our hangar.
The next morning a C5 was on the runway and they were replacing the motor. During maintenance, we were not allowed near, but once it was buttoned up, they invited us over to have a look. We were even granted access to the front cockpit.
Their crew was very interested in us due to the recent movie release and all of the hype. We we're interested in them because, well...IT'S A FUCKING SR71!
We partied on Duval that night and helped them load up the next morning. It was something I'll never forget.
wazzuFreddo
WuTang is 4 the children
^
cool. I love hearing about this stuff.
cool. I love hearing about this stuff.
2strokeYardSale
Moab on my mind
Enchanter: So ... the dude in the rear has the cool gear? :teeth
Traq
Well-known member
The fact that shit like that happened when computers were essentially non-existent is really depressing when you look at what's being accomplished today...like nothing.
CoorsLight
Well-known member
Yup. That piece of near-extraterrestrial technology was created by slide rules, brass balls, and a sense of purpose.
The neo-liberal era has destroyed American innovation.
yodaisgod
KHAAAAAN!
On the flip-side, imagine what they can do now. :thumbup
Poxy
Well-known member
:laughing
Taste sweet liberal death from above. It's mission? Taking away your guns.
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Hooli
Big Ugly
Sure, blame Liberals. Political forum is that way man ---------> :laughing
For the rest of you I found this little snippet... :nerd
youtu.be/-1250fZuhUg
CoorsLight
Well-known member
Neo-liberalism is different from liberalism.
I'm not blaming liberals; in fact the neo-liberal era was ushered in by conservatives for the most part.
Look it up.
EDIT: I should say so-called conservatives. People like Reagan, Kissinger, etc.
I should have said "globalism" instead, since the term "neo-liberalism" has little meaning in the brave new world of America today. At any rate, it marked the end of meaningful education and investment in R&D.
I'm not blaming liberals; in fact the neo-liberal era was ushered in by conservatives for the most part.
Look it up.
EDIT: I should say so-called conservatives. People like Reagan, Kissinger, etc.
I should have said "globalism" instead, since the term "neo-liberalism" has little meaning in the brave new world of America today. At any rate, it marked the end of meaningful education and investment in R&D.
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Poxy
Well-known member
Traq
Well-known member
I think he meant so-called conservatives caused neo-liberalism as a reaction to their policies. But, I am also what is called confused...so-called.
CoorsLight
Well-known member
It was confusing to me, too. Here's the wiki, FWIW:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neoliberalism
Republicans and Democrats, it doesn't matter. They serve the same masters.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neoliberalism
Republicans and Democrats, it doesn't matter. They serve the same masters.