Flying the SR-71 Blackbird : In the Cockpit on a Secret Operational Mission, Revised Edition

For anyone who has ever wondered what it's like to fly the SR-71 on a secret Mach 3 reconnaissance mission, this book has the answer. Completely redesigned and updated with photos from author Colonel Richard H. Graham's personal archive, as well as a new introduction, Flying the SR-71 Blackbird details what an SR-71 mission entailed, from planning to donning a pressure suit to returning to base. The Lockheed SR-71, unofficially known as the Blackbird, was an advanced, long-range, Mach 3 strategic reconnaissance aircraft developed by Lockheed Skunk Works. The aircraft flew so fast and high that not one was ever shot down, even by a missile. SR-71 pilot and instructor Colonel Richard Graham offers a rare cockpit perspective on how regular Air Force pilots and navigators transformed themselves into SR-71 Blackbird crews, turning their unique aviation talents to account in an unprecedented way. Arguably the world's foremost expert on piloting the Blackbird, Graham takes readers along on an operational mission that only a few Air Force pilots have ever experienced. Cover Half Title Title Copyright Dedication CONTENTS PREFACE INTRODUCTION TO NEW EDITION CHAPTER 1 THE MAKING OF A HABU CHAPTER 2 MISSION PLANNING CHAPTER 3 PREFLIGHT ACTIVITIES CHAPTER 4 AIRCRAFT PREFLIGHT CHAPTER 5 COCKPIT LEFT CONSOLE PREFLIGHT CHAPTER 6 INSTRUMENT PANEL PREFLIGHT CHAPTER 7 COCKPIT RIGHT CONSOLE PREFLIGHT CHAPTER 8 STARTING ENGINES CHAPTER 9 BEFORE TAXIING CHAPTER 10 TAXIING AND BEFORE TAKEOFF CHAPTER 11 TAKEOFF AND CLIMB CHAPTER 12 KC-135Q AND “COLD” TANKER AIR RENDEZVOUS CHAPTER 13 ACCELERATION TO MACH 3+ CHAPTER 14 CRUISING AT MACH 3+: THE “HOT” LEG CHAPTER 15 DECEL AND “HOT” TANKER AIR RENDEZVOUS CHAPTER 16 RECOVERY CHAPTER 17 DEBRIEFINGS CHAPTER 18 THE BLACKBIRD’S RE TIREMENT EPILOGUE ACKNOWLEDGMENTS APPENDICES A. Black Shield Memorandum B. Yom Kippur Memorandum C. Cuba Overflight Memorandum D. SR-71 Pilot’s Checklist E. Pilot’s Computer Flight Plan of “Becky” F. Training Sortie Map of “Becky” G. List of Acronyms INDEX A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P R S T U V W X Y Z The SR-71 Blackbird covered the distance from Los Angeles to Washington, D.C., in 64 minutes, cruised 16 miles above the earth's surface, and avoided surface-to-air missiles by simply outrunning them. For anyone who has ever wondered what it was like to fly the SR-71 on a secret Mach 3 reconnaissance mission, Col. Richard H. Graham (Ret.) has the answers. For fans of this technological marvel, the result is a rare perspective on how a handful of pilots and navigators transformed themselves into SR-71 Blackbird crews, turning their unique aviation talents to account in unprecendented ways