XH558 - was Re: using new technology etc

[Guy Sotomayor]

> On Jun 18, 2015, at 9:32 AM, Peter Cetinski <pete at pski.net> wrote:
> 
> 
>> On Jun 18, 2015, at 12:26 PM, Guy Sotomayor <ggs at shiresoft.com> wrote:
>> 
>> 
>>> On Jun 18, 2015, at 9:18 AM, Peter Cetinski <pete at pski.net> wrote:
>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>> My son is stationed at Beale AFB (where the SR-71s were originally based) and 7963 is on static display there.  I've been up to it (you can actually *touch* it!)  They are wicked cool looking and *big*.   They also have a static display of the drone which could be launched from the back of an SR-71.  After some initial testing (can't remember if they lost an aircraft in the process), they decided it wasn't a particularly good idea.  The clearance between the drone and the vertical stabilizers/rudders is not large.
>>>> 
>>>> TTFN - Guy
>>> 
>>> 
>>> I worked on the cameras on the SR-71 at Beale in the late 1980s.  Still gives me goosebumps thinking about it.  The drone was the D-21 which flew on the back of the M-21 (which was modified A-12 (which itself was the SR-71s predecessor)).  You can see a video of that fateful test here.
>>> 
>>> https://youtu.be/GMyC2urCl_4
>> 
>> Thanks.  I hadn't seen that film before.
>> 
>> I'm sort of sad about the SR-71.  Our house is on a hill that can (almost) overlook Beale.  It would have been *amazing* to have seen/heard SR-71s taking off.
>> 
>> BTW, we see U-2s occasionally from our house.
>> 
>> TTFN - Guy
>> 
>> 
> 
> Yes, you never got tired of seeing a “sled” (our nickname for the blackbird) take off.  Even more impressive were the engine tests of the J-58 where they used to invite us to come watch at night.  You were able to stand within 50 feet or so of the engine which was locked down into a test harness as they ran it at full afterburner.  The ground would shake and your teeth would rattle as your ear protectors tried to bounce off your head.  I’m sure the tinnitus I have today was caused by those experiences.  

Yes, I'm familiar with the nickname.  The pilots were called "sled drivers".  ;-)

The start cart was amazing as well.  2 Buick V8 engines made *one* start cart and were required to start the J-58.  I can imagine the racket while starting it up.

I also found it interesting that while taking on fuel during in flight refueling the SR-71 became thrust limited and required lighting one of the afterburners (at minimum) to be able to maintain flight while attached to the tanker...the asymmetric thrust made for interesting times.

Great stories.

TTFN - Guy