Is there a flying model of the SR-71

[Fatman]

11-21-08

 

Question where can you find a flying model of the SR-71 (BlackBird).

 

Thanks

 

Fatman

[sparkomatic]

microsoft flight sim...

[Stick]

From Ralph Johnson, Air Traffic Controller/Supervisor at Winnipeg Air Traffic Control Center

 

For those that don't know, "The Sled" is the SR-71 Blackbird spy plane from

the 1960s and still the fastest airplane on earth. That we know of. I'm sure

the government has a few secrets yet!

In his book, "Sled Driver", SR-71 Blackbird pilot Brian Shul writes: "I'll

always remember a certain radio exchange that occurred one day as Walt (my

back-seater) and I were screaming across Southern California 13 miles high.

We were monitoring various radio transmissions from other aircraft as we

entered Los Angeles airspace. Though they didn't really control us, they did

monitor our movement across their scope. I heard a Cessna ask for a readout

of its ground speed. "90 knots" Center replied. Moments later, a Twin Beech

requested the same. "120 knots, Center answered. We weren't the only ones

proud of our ground speed that day as almost instantly an F-18 smugly

transmitted, "Ah, Center, Dusty Five-Two requests ground speed readout."

There was a slight pause, then the response, "525 knots on the ground, Dusty

Five-Two." Another silent pause. As I was thinking to myself how ripe a

situation this was, I heard a familiar click of a radio transmission coming

from my back-seat...as at that precise moment I realized Walt and I had

become a real crew, for we were both thinking in unison. "Center, Aspen

Two-Zero, you got a ground speed readout for us?" There was a longer than

normal pause.... " Aspen , I show 1,742 knots" (That's about 2,004.658 mph for

those who don't know). No further inquiries were heard on that frequency.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

In another famous SR-71 story, Los Angeles Center reported receiving a

request for clearance to FL 600 (60,000 ft). The incredulous controller,

with some disdain in his voice, asked, "How do you plan to get up to 60,000

feet? The pilot (obviously a sled driver), responded, "We don't plan to go

up to it; we plan to go down to it." He was cleared.

[Jug]

11-21-08

 

Question where can you find a flying model of the SR-71 (BlackBird).

 

Thanks

 

Fatman

I think the Italian Mafia here at CA have a WIP, but status is unknown.

 

Good friend of mine, sled driver, said his aircraft had a complete INS dump which left him without anything but a magnetic compass (like you stick on your sunshade in your car) on the Murmansk fun run from Mildenhall, UK, and quoted, "Let me tell you, when you are lost at Mach 3, you're really lost". Obviously, they made it back, but their return was a little off resulting in an unannounced and spectacular fly-by of the Arc de Triumph. Then again, that's another story..............

Edited November 21, 2008 by Jug

[+bobrock]

We have one in the pipeline, still pretty far away though. Don't expect to see anything before 2009.

[+DoctorQuest]

If you DO have MSFS there is a freeware one that has been released by Alphasim. I have not flown it myself but Alphasim usually produces a pretty good product.

 

http://www.alphasim.co.uk/index2.html

 

Click on the Freeware link.