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MetalliMyers
Administrator
A Pompous Ass
Location: LV-426
Joined: 3/12/2009
Post Count: 1723
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Date Posted: 2/25/2011 10:03:33 AM Subject: How a Pilot Risked His Life to Spy on Libya (flying the SR-71)
http://ca.gizmodo.com/5768790/how-a-pilot-risked-his-life-to-spy-on-libya
Back in the late 80s, the United States and Libya were rabid enemies. This is the thrilling story of Brian Shul and his Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird, as he zoomed through the skies of Qaddafi's country, dodging anti-aircraft missiles.—JD
Highlights
We trained for a year, flying out of Beale AFB in California , Kadena Airbase in Okinawa, and RAF Mildenhall in England . On a typical training mission, we would take off near Sacramento, refuel over Nevada, accelerate into Montana, obtain high Mach over Colorado, turn right over New Mexico, speed across the Los Angeles Basin, run up the West Coast, turn right at Seattle, then return to Beale. Total flight time: two hours and 40 minutes.
On her final flight, the Blackbird, destined for the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum , sped from Los Angeles to Washington in 64 minutes, averaging 2,145 mph and setting four speed records.
That's pretty amazing.
Post Edited on 2/25/2011 10:05:34 AM
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TechnoBeaver
Master Wizard
I've never seen a movie before
Location: Greenwich, CT
Joined: 9/9/2010
Post Count: 1223
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Date Posted: 2/25/2011 10:22:39 AM Subject:
Impressive. Like one of the comments at the end, it would take me longer to pump half a tank of gas than it would for that pilot to go from Chester to Pittsburgh.
The plane was flying a mile every 1.6 seconds, well above our Mach 3.2 limit.
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