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Post by daoleguy A.J. Hoehn (deceased) on Dec 6, 2009 4:03:34 GMT 9
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Bullhunter
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318th FIS Jet Shop 1975-78
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Post by Bullhunter on Dec 6, 2009 4:49:53 GMT 9
Yep, I was there then. We were all counseled & briefed that it was all classified. If anyone asked us about Blackbirds we were to say nothing. The story goes that one took off and the pilot got aggressive and caused a sonic boom above Rome, NY and shattered a number of store front windows. I kept my pocket camera handy but never seen one land or take off so I did not get a photo.
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Post by Gene on Dec 6, 2009 17:11:40 GMT 9
Yep, I was there then. We were all counseled & briefed that it was all classified. If anyone asked us about Blackbirds we were to say nothing. The story goes that one took off and the pilot got aggressive and caused a sonic boom above Rome, NY and shattered a number of store front windows. I kept my pocket camera handy but never seen one land or take off so I did not get a photo. probably considered a good thing...(about the camera)
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Post by kilroy on Dec 7, 2009 11:22:32 GMT 9
taking pictures of habu back then would of got you 5 to 10 in the pokey.
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hambone
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Post by hambone on Feb 7, 2010 6:02:23 GMT 9
I was there from Apr75 to Mar78 and the SR-71 was there. Saw them land and take off a few times. They would go straight to the hanger and close the door behind them. Just curious do any of you remember a KC-135 that caught fire while on the Hotel row. It was winter of 76 or 77. I remember ice melting off the 49th shop building and having to wear sunglasses just to watch it.
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Bullhunter
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Post by Bullhunter on Feb 7, 2010 11:38:13 GMT 9
Sure, A co-worker of mine was operating the the jet engines. It all happened just after I PCS'ed. My close friend told me that they hung a raw engine in the #4 position. I think test cell was down for maintenance and the FMS CO authorised the test run and trim to be done on the wing. There was some defect in the jet engine and the rest is history as the aircraft was a total loss. The maintenance crew operating the engines barely got out with their lives. I wonder what happened to the CO career? :thumbsdown That is about all I remember. I once saw some photos of it.
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Post by Jim on Apr 16, 2013 5:37:12 GMT 9
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Jim Scanlon (deceased)
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Post by Jim Scanlon (deceased) on Apr 16, 2013 6:45:03 GMT 9
I posted this in the wrong spot, but the story about The Griff was also dealing with the "Blackbird".
Great story, that has been underwraps for many years.
I think there are still some things about the "Blackbird" that are still classified.
Who knows, some may still be flying.
I got this from a cousin-in-law who lives in Minneapolis.
"I worked in Avionics at Honeywell
We made cockpit instruments for the Blackbird.
I remember once i asked a group leader what the dial indicator (Angle of attack) was for.
He said it was classified and could not tell me, but if i bought a Poplar Science Magazine i could read about it.
That cracked me up."
Jim Too
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Post by LBer1568 on Apr 16, 2013 11:55:40 GMT 9
On a side note,to the story talks about the Brits not wanting SR71 ops. Well during the same period, we had 2 U-2's operating out of a hanger right next to our flight simulator building at RAF Upper Heyford. They took off right after dark and landed right before sunrise. And they were parked inside hangers during the day. The BBC ran a news show about rumors that we were flying Spy missions out of UK and of course the State Dept and British Gov all denied it. And that night they repeated missions. This went on for a week until they left and didn't return. They had flown in a C-141 with ground crews and that awesome Firebird that did "Co-pilot" mission as plane took off and landed.
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