SR-71 Blackbird

[BottomBracket]

I have always admired this plane ever since I was a kid, and I have had several models of it hanging from the ceiling in my old room. I was pretty excited to see one at the Air and Space Museum at DC (the new one at Chantilly). It sure looks fast even when it is standing still.

[mrclark321]

Great shots, I would love to tour that place!

Dan

[CyberDyneSystems]

Coool!

It's so freaken huge!

Great shots..

[myth337]

(and another red pin goes into the big map on the wall...)

[Medic1]

Nice shots.....slick aircraft

[PhotosGuy]

A great aircraft! I've got to see the new museum!

[Ballen Photo]

STILL an impressive Bird after all these years. :D
-Bruce

[CyberDyneSystems]

STILL an impressive Bird after all these years. :D
-Bruce

Absolutely!
Still holds more world records than any other too I'm sure!

We still might not know what all it could do.. who knows what might be classified.. :)

[Ballen Photo]

Absolutely!
Still holds more world records than any other too I'm sure!

We still might not know what all it could do.. who knows what might be classified.. :)
A quick glance up Her Tailpipes tells me She's not just another pretty face. ;)
-Bruce

[PhotosGuy]

A quick glance up Her Tailpipes tells me She's not just another pretty face. Don't get out much, do you Bruce? :D

[Ballen Photo]

Don't get out much, do you Bruce? :D
And I was worried that if I posted "Look at the SIZE of those things!" My words may have been taken wrong. :confused: :lol:
-Bruce

[BottomBracket]

Thanks for looking folks! The Blackbird is truly an impressive plane. I can't help but think how many bicycle frames can be made out of that titanium fuselage. If you're in the DC area, I really recommend going to the Air and Space Museum, both the old and the new. The SR-71 alone is worth the admission price. Ooops, it's free by the way, but you do have to pay a $12 parking fee.

I'll post more pics of the Blackbird and other planes when I get home. Thanks again!

[Wazza]

Nice shots.

Would love to see my favourite aircraft! :)

[JBillings]

Great images and a great museum.....Was there in May and took 400* Images.

What lens did you use?

[RockOne]

This is an awesome machine.

[BottomBracket]

Thanks for looking! JB, most of my shots at the museum were with my 17-40 and 50 mm. Large machines + close proximity = need for widest lens. I resolved to get the 10-22 mm while I was there. Here's a composite pic of the Blackbird at an angle I like. I'll try to do better when I get back.

[kenyc]

Cool shots. A few years back (when it was still in service) I worked on the ground image processing system. Incredible plane, at least 20 years ahead of it's time and still the holder of the airspeed record. This actual plane, if I'm not mistaken. When they retired them they took this one from the CA facility took a loop out over the pacific and set a new record before landing in D.C.

KAC
Edited to correct ... it was not the airspeed record, but a "Continental Crossing" speed record, since they were taking it from Edwards in CA to the Smithsonian in D.C. ....

[Matatazela]

Cool shots! And you own a Bridgestone? THAT IS REALLY COOL!!!

[Andy_T]

One Bridgestone only ... don't you normally need four ???

OK, guess that goes with my conviction that people who even *think* about how many bicycles you could make from the airframe of this bird ought to be burned at the stake for heresy :wink:

But your photos redeem you ... thanks for sharing!

Best regards,
Andy

[Ballen Photo]

One Bridgestone only ... don't you normally need four ???
Not if you were talking about a Bridgestone Bicycle. ;)
-Bruce

[BottomBracket]

Lol, never did I think that bicycles mixed with the Blackbird would be controversial. Actually, bicycle technology is a recipient of the aerospace industry, what with all those exotic lightweight material being developed.

Mat, I have an MB-2 that I turned into a singlespeed. I have had the bike since 1992 and it is my favorite one. It has undergone much component changes through the years that the only original parts are the frame and the fork. I'll post some pics of it soon. By the way, my wife has an XO-1.

Bruce, Andy is right, I need at least 4 of those bicycles! Ever since Bridgestone Bicycles USA folded up, these wonderful bikes are getting scarce. Well their top honcho Grant Petersen went on to set up Rivendell Bicycles, and they are sweet bikes but quite a bit pricey. My Bridgestone rides so well that I wish I sticked up on them before.

Andy, thanks for the kind words!

Kenyc, that's a great story! Here's a photo of the front wheel well cover which has the crew's names on it. Do they ring a bell?

[RockOne]

Actually, bicycle technology is a recipient of the aerospace industry, what with all those exotic lightweight material being developed.
And vice versa. The Wright Brothers started out as bicycle makers.

[Ballen Photo]

And vice versa. The Wright Brothers started out as bicycle makers.
That's right. ;) :lol:
-Bruce

[RockOne]

That's right.
.........er Wright :-) :-) :-) !

[Andy_T]

Haha ... you guys crack me up :D

Now ... maybe I'm a bit different, but when I look at this bird, the first bike that comes to my mind is a Schwinn Stingray Spoiler (the black one) :wink:

Most likely not what any of us would want to take to the road to really ride it, but cool nevertheless.

Best regards,
Andy

[Skip Souza]

Thank you very much for posting these wonderful photos of my all time favorite aircraft. It awes me everytime I see a photo of one. I was saddened when they were retired.

[kenyc]

I did not actually know any of the pilots. Everything was top secret and need to know and all that sort of thing. You've probably been closer to the bird than I have :) But I did process many images they took....

Thanks for the great pics, I have to get back out there to that museum again one of these days.

KAC

[dewmuw]

Always thought it looked more like a spaceship than anything else. Nice angles mate.

[BottomBracket]

Thanks for viewing! I really recommend going to the National Air and Space Museum (both of them) if you are in the DC area. The SR-71 is the crown jewel of the new museum. I spent much of my time just gazing at it while my cousins went around. Of course, there are a lot of other interesting aircraft in the museum, pics of which I will post soon.

I agree that bicycles and aircraft have common heritage. Here's a picture of the Gossamer Albatross, a 70 pound craft made out of aluminum spars and Mylar sheets. The engine was only 0.4 horsepower, in the person of Bryan Allen, who in 1979 had to pedal (which via a direct chain drive powered a push propeller) 3 hours to cross the English Channel from England to France. His average altitude was 16 feet above the water!

[Ballen Photo]

Here's a picture of the Gossamer Albatross, a 70 pound craft made out of aluminum spars and Mylar sheets. The engine was only 0.4 horsepower, in the person of Bryan Allen, who in 1979 had to pedal (which via a direct chain drive powered a push propeller) 3 hours to cross the English Channel from England to France. His average altitude was 16 feet above the water!
I didn't know that aircraft was in the Aerospace museum. I think I remember hearing about this feat.
I'll bet that whenever He dipped significantly below 16 feet, it was a major incentive to PEDAL LIKE MAD. ;) :lol:
-Bruce

[insomnia]

I should know this but what is the yellow aircraft in the background of the first picture? Looks like a V1? ???

[Ballen Photo]

I should know this but what is the yellow aircraft in the background of the first picture? Looks like a V1? ???
I was wondering the same thing when I saw it earlier. It looks like a V1 to me, but I cant say for sure either. :confused:
-Bruce

[PhotosGuy]

Could be. Seems like we fired something that looked like that off the deck of a sub in the 50-60's. Regulus?

[Matatazela]

BB - About your MB2 - I have a Scott Elite Racing, much lighter and faster than my wifes MB5, but I still can't convice my wife to swap with me. The old MB's were one of a kind. I hope you enjoy it for many more years! And I am really jealous that you got to see all that titanium disguised as an aeroplane.