Detailed tour through the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird

Join me in this walk-around tour of the spy plane Lockheed SR 71 Blackbird built by Lockheed's skunk works currently on display at the National Museum of the USAF in Dayton (and some footage from Seattle and Washington DC too).
Details about the aircraft: www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/Vis...
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I have two KZbin channels: Paul Stewart (aviation travel vlogs): / paulstewartaviation
Paul Stewart EXTRA (unedited inflight aviation footage): / @paulstewart2ndchannel
Check out my Instagram account: @paulstewartaviation ( / paulstewartaviation ) and Facebook: / ​
If you enjoy this videos and want to see more, you can send me a donation via Paypal :) paypal.me/paulstewartaviation​
00:00 intro
00:22 starting at the front
00:44 ECM defences
01:10 chines
02:10 front landing gear
02:50 panel gaps
03:20 intake spike
03:50 more stealth tech
06:09 AG330 start cart
06:30 rear landing gear and tyres
07:18 JP7 and TEB
08:30 nose cones
09:13 Pratt and Whitney J58 turbojet engine
10:45 cockpit
#aviation #airplane #plane

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Thanks for watching everyone! If you enjoyed the video, please give it a thumbs up. And feel free to subscribe as I have many more videos coming over the next few months... X-15, F-22, YF-23, the first 747/727/737, B-17, B-29, B-36, B-47, XB-70, Hughes H-4 Hercules, YF-12, Space Shuttle Orbiter and more... (footage is already captured so I just need to edit it!)

[@747kp7]

just saw the B-29 video and loved it!!

[@adamdubin1276]

Once spoke with a guy who did maintenance on an SR-71, they had a fun little parlor trick that they used to do with the new guys on base where they would drop a match in a puddle of JP7 and watch as rather than light the puddle on fire the match would simple fizzle out, that is how hard it is to ignite JP7.

[@hoosiercrypto9955]

Good shyt

[@zhannymc1043]

Calling it now - this will blow up, never before have I seen so close to a Blackbird, this is incredible.

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Cheers - I hope so! It cost quite a lot to fly to Dayton from Australia.

[@LouSassles]

In Kansas they have an actual SR-71 on display at this place called the cosmosphere. You can touch the nose and see it up close

[@OG_Wilikers]

I’ve been next to the A-12 on the intrepid nurse I’m and an SR-71 in the greensomething aerospace museum in Oregon, forgot what it’s called, but go to those museums also including the Charleston, Patriots Point in South Carolina, It’s called the USS Yorktown, they are really cool!

[@PaulStewartAviation]

@@OG_Wilikers haha yes the Evergreen Museum near Portland. Yes I also went there and filmed their Spruce Goose and the SR-71 which I'll probably add to my YF-12 video :)

[@OG_Wilikers]

@@PaulStewartAviation yes! That is the name, thank you, got lost in my noggin for a second😂

[@antonego9581]

Probably the most badass machine ever built by humanity

[@hotchkess846]

This to me has always been one of the most fascinating aircraft that has ever been made. The feats of engineering that were used on this machine is absolutely astounding, especially for being a product from decades and decades ago. It blows my mind sometimes what people can come up with and create, and the SR-71 further reinforces this. It's also one of the most beautiful looking aircraft as well in my opinion. I really appreciate your tour of this machine, this video was great!

[@markbuckley4152]

Astonishing considering it was designed with a slide rule!

[@eddierancid4884]

when i was a kid in the 90s, we were fortunate to be invited to Edwards AFB by Lockheed Martin and got to sit in that beautiful old bird. Even as a child, when you look at the instruments you think ''this thing flies that fast in space? ok...'' haha A very rare experience i will never forget!

[@APMo2]

Finally someone who gets the camera up close! So everyone can appreciate the incredible engineering that went into this direct descendant of Icarus himself!

[@iconicshrubbery]

Yes, but Icarus didn't have heat dissipation systems on his airframe...

[@SedatedByLife]

These are gorgeous birds. They're among my favorites. The engineering for its Era was incredible.

[@PointyTailofSatan]

What makes this plane really amazing is the design of the engines. Unlike almost any other turbojet engine. the J58 was like two engine designs in one; a more or less conventional turbojet with afterburner, but with the ability to gradually turn into an almost pure ramjet for ultra fast flight.

[@j.m.1524]

Its insane that the SR 71 was designed with a slide rule, pencils and math.. Crazy!!

[@TheAnnoyingBoss]

Yeah bro and if this is what they were designing on pencil and paper think about what they're designing now with the advanced computer design software

[@venoxx11]

This thing always looks like straight out of Star Wars. Incredible engineering.

[@davidcole333]

I was stationed in Okinawa in the 80s and saw these magnificent aircraft come and go from Kadena AFB. They were magnificent.

[@PaulStewartAviation]

It would have been incredible to see and hear them!

[@rhysgoodman7628]

The 71 also had no flaps or slats, hence the high landing speeds, which requires the beefy gear. Such an incredible aircraft! Borderline spacecraft… Great video.

[@TheAnnoyingBoss]

Alien technology by 1960s standards. It looks like a 2050 model year until you look in the cabin and see all the old-school dials

[@DM-qp7do]

Looking at a plane or fighter plane up close is like seeing a race car up close, they look really nice on TV but when you see one in person you're surprised at how beat up they can be. Rust, dents, dings paint over spray but it really cool to see in my opinion, it makes it more real.

[@seanshaw6311]

Used to watch these a lot as a kid in Okinawa in the 80’s. They had cool flames out of the back and like the U2, you could still hear them long after you couldn’t see them anymore.

[@alfdi-tullio482]

two of my favourite jets A10 warthog and SR71 blackbird two greatest aircraft ever built

[@rockets4kids]

This thing never ceases to blow my mind.

[@milehighstadium06]

He's at the Wright Patterson Air Force Base Museum! I go there every year and love seeing the Blackbird.

[@PaulStewartAviation]

It's an awesome museum!

[@danfreeman9079]

I worked on these birds for over 5 years. Everything about them is remarkable. I still work on parts of them to this day. I make rings out of mission flown titanium parts of their exhaust nozzles.

[@pointofinterest5981]

What do you mean by "still making". Are they further improving the sr 71? You mean it's still under more development? Successor?

[@corbinwentz5883]

I live 5 minutes away from this airbase. I feel more appreciate everytime someone from so far away has such appreciation for aircraft that's located next to me:)

[@adamm1902]

Thank you for making this video! I have been in love with the SR71 since a child. Being unable to walk well, I never thought I would ever be able to see this plane in such detail as you have shown. Thank you Thank You!!

[@djkremer]

Greatest aircraft ever made, hands down...

[@fatherknozebest]

My Father, Lucio Blanco welded the titanium on these awesome jets! I'm 65 now and was born in Torrance in 1958. Thanks for sharing! 😇

[@27Zangle]

I've been blessed to have seen one of these fly. Approach, flyover, and land, then take off. I was very young and it was one of the best days with my father. Those were few and far between.

[@MikeNewland]

Me too at Farnborough Air Show. Amazing things.

[@boalston2484]

After watching the Skunkworks podcast, I have even more respect for the engineering that went into developing this aircraft

[@martinsuareznunez2620]

my all time favorite plane ever ...my dad was a pilot ,when i was just a twarp , he bought one for my birthday , we used to talk HOURS about planes and this thing was just on an other level in so manny ways , one of kind and still holds so manny records till this day ,that never be broken ever , hope you can do a vid of the harrier and the su 27 , i was lucky enough to climb in the sukoi27 on the FIDAE '94 and let me tell you , the cabin is just insane , those where the days........

[@GRosa250]

In 1990 I was a kid working at a gas station in New Jersey and saw what I thought was a meteor in the sky traveling from west to east. It was really high and way faster than an airplane. I always wondered what it was and why there was nothing in the news about it. It took about 20 years for me to finally find out that it was one of the SR-71s doing the cross country speed record.

[@TheAnnoyingBoss]

Its just wild how the top secret supersonic spy plane space jet that costs a giga fortune many years ago is just casually breaking cross country speed records

[@dgattenb]

I went to see one at Duxford,UK . Stunning craft , feels very odd it will be good in 50 years time when we have Aurora on show lol

[@Cammi_Rosalie]

"Behold, the eternal glory of Jetfire!" The Sr-71, My second favorite plane. Second to the A-10 Warthog.

[@mimsnshine]

Incredible aircraft..LA story by the pilot goes great with your technical prowess

[@CRAIGKMSBISMARCKTIRPITZ533]

WOW My Favourite Plane 😍. SR-71 BLACKBIRD 😍. LOCKHEED SR-71 WAS & IS STILL MY FAVOURITE PLANE 😍

[@dwaynebrietzke]

Excellent tour of the plane. Best I have ever seen, actually. And to think this thing was designed and built using slide rulers!

[@SilentGloves]

I was wondering if this was in my neck of the woods. The Air Force Museum is quite something special. When anyone visits Dayton, I suggest it as a must-do.

[@drew7765]

Awesome video. Also impressive, that thunderbird in the background. My grandfather was a mechanic for the Thunderbirds in 1957-1958. Just brought up some good sentimental memories of him.

[@williamdrijver4141]

Now that's a serious airspace / airplanes museum!

[@jasongarufi8187]

Great tour of the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird amazing piece of machinery.

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@MrJames_1]

Not watched it yet but I recognise that background! I like the 'Blackbirds' but the sexiest thing in that museum has got to be the XB-70 Valkyrie :)

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Yep a video is coming for the XB-70 too :)

[@MrJames_1]

@@PaulStewartAviation Excellent! My mate and I walked around that place for two days and didn't see everything. The tiltrotor history they have there (and at Udvar-Hazy) is impressive as well, tho don't know if you're into history vids. Cheers.

[@magzire]

amazing how that engine didnt rip those wings off, so narrow

[@AR-pm9nv]

Was in Okinawa in the mid 80s when these were still operational. Saw them a lot. Never gets old.

[@MrGriff305]

Coolest engineering project ever.. Especially because it started in the late 1950s

[@seanf6724]

Kelly Johnson, The man who could see air!

[@mega-hb4re]

One on the best planes ever built

[@VIDSInsight]

Thank you so much for showing us the "transformer" Jetfire in detail. I've always wanted to see that plane up close!

[@allgood6760]

The plane is a legend ✈️

[@Wildkat-1]

One of mans greatest accomplishments ......RIP Kelly Johnson ....!

[@NowGetThere]

Awesome! The SR-71 has been my favourite aircraft since I was a child.

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Same!

[@unfortunate3256]

My grandpa worked on the sr71s avionics when he was younger. Such a beautiful aircraft

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Very cool!

[@geoffhurley8103]

My Dad worked on the SR71 ECMs. It's the greatest aircraft ever made in my opinion and it was always such a treat to visit Udvar Hazy center with him.

[@haydenvincent8821]

I live 20 minutes from the USAF Museum in Dayton. Seeing the SR-71 right next to the B2 Spirit is a sight to behold

[@jirihamersky6152]

I have never seen such a detailed video about this aircraft. Absolutely wonderful, beautiful. Thanks.

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@chriskeentechnician]

This and the F-117 were my favourite aircraft as a young fella. I had the models and the posters and still love them to this day 👌Awesome looking pieces of kit!

[@lakerfan82k3]

This has been my favorite plane for a couple of decades. I learned a lot from this video and saw views I never thought I’d see. Very thoughtfully put together, Paul! I’m subscribing.

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Cheers - more videos coming

[@TheAnnoyingBoss]

I've had the pleasure to see one in person before and it's quite the machine. Gotta be my favorite jet also. Its an iconic jet. So much history, wild to think for a long time it was top secret and some things still are. Top speed still classified even

[@NocturnalPLUR]

Saw one land and take off again in the 90's. Beautiful

[@frankiecrocker]

In short, the SR 71 is pure genius! Kelly Johnson is an underrated aviation savant!

[@seanf6724]

Not underrated, recognised for a long time as a one of a kind genius.

[@shaunlogan6172]

Certainly NOT underrated, he has and still will get all the credit for the SR-71 coming to fruition

[@Bad_Karma1968]

Paul great vlog !

[@ericcrabtree6245]

When they had the X aircraft in the separate building years ago, you could walk right under its relative, the YF-12 with no barrier.

[@chrissakal532]

I was actually born where these were based out of- Beale AFB, CA! My Dad was an air traffic controller. They also flew the KC-135Q which carried the special fuel for the SR and the TR-1 (advanced version of the U-2 basically). Beale had a museum back then and that was my first exposure to the B-17, B-25, and A-26. They even had the cockpit section of a combat veteran B-29 that you could sit in. When I was little the National Museum of the United States Air Force was just called the Air Force Museum and was only one building. How things have changed!

[@joeypilotte5864]

what an insane piece of technology, this plane blows my mind

[@CPTNSL0]

Thank you for this video - very interesting. I love this museum, too - one of my favorite places to visit!

[@markbuckley4152]

The last time I was at the Air Force Museum there was a former SR 71 pilot answering questions from the visitors!

[@8888chandler]

In 1972 I was on the island of Okinawa, specifically on Kadena AFB. We were getting all the Nukes out since Okinawa was being given back to Japan. In the treaty, no Nukes were allowed on their territories. So Im baby sitting 4 hydrogen bombs on a rack, near the runway,. These nukes were waiting uploading to the many C5's that were coming and going, I looked to my left at a hanger approx 1/4 mile away. The hanger doors were opening. Out roles this black aircraft. The plane is joined by Security vehicles, one on the left wing tip and one on the right. They pace the aircraft down the runway. Half way down this black aircraft kicks in its after burners, gathers speed and begins lift off. Both Security vehicles depart. My mouth is wide open because I have never seen anything like this either in person or in print. The aircraft is now almost at a straight up attitude. It was soon lost to sight. Approx. 4-5 hours later it returns, touches down. Both security vehicles pace it once again as the hanger doors open, it rolls inside, and the doors quickly shut. WTF over. Guess who!! I assume it was running a mission over North Vietnam, or possibly Russia. I understood I just witnessed something very classified.

[@davenone7312]

I remember as a young airman at Beale AFB back in 1975 going in at zero dark thirty to preflight the SR-71's. I was a radio troop at that time (328X0) and so remember being at the north hammerhead watching from very close the awesome take offs of this amazing jet. But I will admit it was a huge pain in the ass to work on!

[@ScoutSniper3124]

I imagine Kelly Johnson and John Moses Browning playing chess in heaven. WELL DONE gentlemen!

[@yogajoeguy]

Looking at this bird with all the dings and bangs on it, thinking they used it so much more than they actually told us!

[@Robslondon]

Brilliant video Paul.

[@paulnutter1713]

Brilliant Paul... as always, keep em' coming

[@anthonytsi]

I will binge watch these vids.

[@johnwilkes8847]

It always amazes me that pilots could fly in all mechanical cockpits with no real GPS or anything, especially when they had to do something like fly over the USSR. We have it so easy today.

[@sydhewitt818]

Thanks Paul for another very informative tour. This aircraft has always amazed me for 60s technology. I had the pleasure of getting up close to one on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier Intrepid in NY.

[@jerrygoldstein3028]

Wow really awesome videos , great descriptions and straight to the point. No annoying music. A+

[@60frederick]

Thank you very much, Paul, for sharing another awesome Video with us.

[@Haider_Malik]

What a fantastic insight! Thank you so much for sharing. This has to be my all time favourite plane

[@magnificencetv7424]

thank u cod for making me aware of this beauty

[@BigJwlz]

Turbines catch fluid motion and turn it into mechanical rotation. It's the compressors that "blow" air.

[@jimamccracken5783]

I was Tech on the SR 71 and they believe me are amazing aircraft.

[@r.kitt.3987]

Prove it.

[@jeckyyeung5072]

Endless thank you for this incredible video Doctor, I've never thought of getting so close to the SR-71 and it's even more enjoyable with your introduction!! Thanks to those who gave you access to get ao close to the SR-71, splendid!!

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@jeckyyeung5072]

@Paul Stewart No rush and no pressure, I'm really looking forward to enjoying your video for the Hercules and maybe even the Space Shuttle!! 😊😊

[@donaldcampbell9219]

In 1988 I was stationed in Okinawa, Japan and saw this black bird take off from (Kadena)? Airport. Quite a sight.

[@vapour250]

Amazing knowledge from your part - well done

[@garyacker7388]

I've walked around one of these here in Ogden Utah at Hill Airforce Base museum. Awesome

[@EstorilEm]

Great video, nice to see the Udvar Hazy SR-71 as well, she’s right down the road from me. You had mentioned the speed record from the Atlantic to the pacific, it actually set a world speed record from LA to the museum outside of DC; 1 hour and four minutes, averaging over 2,100mph. A record that still stands to this day, and will likely never be broken. Pretty incredible to think about for something that’s sitting in a museum… it was truly the pinnacle of high-speed aviation engineering and design.

[@travisriddell5328]

dayton ohio airforce museum. The greatest American Aviation museum in the world

[@mach1jumbo330]

Been waiting for a video like this for a while!

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Glad you enjoy it. My aim is to create a lot of similar fact-orientated tours around significant aircraft. I'm editing my X-15 video now and my XB-70 video will be coming soon.

[@mikefm4]

This is my all time favorite video ever

[@markblackman2542]

thanks for the detail on the chine ,showing the ecm, the geek in me loves this stuff !

[@p00pie]

Awesome awesome tour.

[@ginog5037]

Skunk Works rules the skies!

[@maxon1672]

I was just at the Pima Air and Space museum a few weeks ago, looks like you had some footage of the SR-71 and side-looking radar nose cone from that exhibit. It was INCREDIBLE seeing one of these in person! Great video!

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Cheers and yep I visited PIMA as well and just uploaded my tour through their B-29 and B17. :)

[@ryankruchowski1951]

The sr-71 blackbird, the king of the skies. I wonder what the sr-72 will look like.

[@swiper1818]

Awesome video and very interesting! Clear and well lit given the subject matter - amazing to see all the rivets in the skin close up. superb aircraft!!!

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@kingdilbeck4590]

I've never Understood fully. The SR-71 speed until seeing it backed up to those other jets and the jeet engine exhaust SIZE .....like. Damn.

[@LuiPez-cr6pk]

Amazing video I will go to that museum in time

[@jooei2810]

The greatest airplane ever built!

[@BogeyTheBear]

The pressure suits worn by the crews were originally colored silver as a way to keep them cool by reflecting away any radiant heat from the windows. The problem was that they reflected _sunlight_ just as well, and the glare on the dials cause by the pilot's suit made the cockpit instruments harder to read. So they changed the color to an orangish tan. These were the same kind of suits worn at launch by astronauts flying the first test missions of the Space Shuttle, but a lighter and simpler version was eventually made for astronauts to wear during launch and reentry.

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Interesting. Thanks for the extra info

[@MyCatInABox]

You've got some FANTASTIC videos 😎👍

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Glad you like them!

[@Moosemanity]

What an awesome video

[@Airman..]

Kelly Johnson is the greatest aviation engineer ever lived

[@nickapplebee1971]

Very in depth research mate. Just discovered you on KZbin. Love the videos.

[@wotan10950]

Fascinating! My son and I visited the Udvar-Hazy Museum in Virginia. We took in the SR-71 display there, as well as many other aircraft.

[@wotan10950]

We managed that tour all in one day - flying down early from Stewart Int’t Airport (north of New York City) on a CRJ-200 (Independence Air, long-defunct), flying home in the evening. I’m too old for such nonsense now!!

[@mroflynn7769]

your videos are superb and so informative and interesting . Well done, I wish I could see them live.

[@Roadcalldude]

Good one Paul. Very informative. Thanks for posting!

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@metalonabudget574]

Add is playing atm but im really stoked about this channel the f22 tour was so cool.

[@moe_1886]

What a beautiful aircraft! Can't believe that it's around 85% titanium! Pretty funny on who they had to get it off and how they did it!!! 😂

[@KD5NJR]

Great talk , thanks !