Posted on 01/20/2023 3:43:38 AM PST by Libloather
There are an unending number of interesting facts about the SR-71 Blackbird, probably the coolest aircraft ever produced by any Air Force, anywhere in the world. It’s the only airframe that’s made of 85% titanium, titanium that was purchased by the CIA from the Soviet Union – the country the aircraft was built to spy on. It’s capable of cruising at more than three times the speed of sound at 85,000 feet – and that speed and altitude are its only defenses.
**SNIP**
It’s also the only Air Force aircraft ever made with the “SR” designation. The reason for that is actually a mistake made at the White House in 1964.
If one were to go back in time and look at the press conferences, manuals and other material related to the SR-71 Blackbird and the revelation of its existence, they might not notice anything was ever flubbed by the President of the United States. A deeper look into the speeches made by the president that year shows that Johnson may have made a slip-up, but his loyal military officers simply changed the name of the bird to suit the president’s flub.
**SNIP**
On July 25, 1964, President Johnson gave a speech to the American people to tell them about this state-of-the-art spy plane the United States had been using against the Soviet Union. The White House stenographer, apparently confused by earlier references to the RS-70 Valkyrie, wrote “RS-71” in the White House transcript. President Johnson’s speech itself, however, called it the SR-71. The fact that the program was declassified that day makes it even hard to go back and get a definitive ruling on its intended designation.
(Excerpt) Read more at wearethemighty.com ...
SR-71 and A10 Warthog. Two amazing aircraft.
See inside the SR-71 cockpit; learn about the U-2, former reconnaissance satellites and more during ‘Secrets Revealed’ event March 7-8 at National Museum USAF
Thank you for posting this!
No Blackbird has ever been lost or damaged due to hostile action: in fact, even though according to Airman Magazine over 4,000 missiles have been fired at the SR-71 during its service life, none of them hit.
https://theaviationgeekclub.com/sr-71-rso-tells-the-story-of-the-first-time-the-blackbird-was-shot-at-by-a-missile/
One was shot down in D.A.R.Y.L.
Johnson revealing highly classified information to the world for personal gain is treason. He should have been impeached and thrown in prison.
Saw them do flybys at the local air show many times. Loudest engines by far from any other aircraft.
Truly a bucket list museum. Just about everything that ever flew is there.
LOL. Do you really believe your government would tell you if one of those things was shot down?
I believe anyone shooting down on would gloat.
”SR stands for ‘spy rocket.’”
Yeah. There would be parts on display. Same as with the U-2.... Shoot down, wait for US government denial, produce wreckage.
The SR-71 was designed without the aid of computers.
Awesome engineering for the time.
I was shown a film while on active duty in the USAF probably in about 1965, not before Aug 1964. It was being called the YF-12 at the time. The aircraft is the one shown here-
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_YF-12 .
I do have a photo of a SR-71 covered in foam after crashing at Kadena AB.
SR platform was the best assignment I worked on when I was on active duty.
Or they would say nothing and pretend they didn’t know anything while they combed through the wreckage and salvaged as much sensitive military technology as possible.
Right, for more than 20 years an enemy of the US would keep it quiet. Okay
The 1960 U-2 incident had an added complication: the Soviets captured the pilot alive. He wasn’t worth much to them unless his capture was highly publicized.
The U.S. kept the incident secret for more than 50 years until the records were declassified. The story is in the news now because the guy is still alive and is being awarded the Navy Cross.
What makes you think the Soviet government was any less capable of keeping secrets than ours?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.