"THE BLACKBIRDS ARE FLYING" LOCKHEED SR-71 BLACKBIRD PROMO FILM SR-71A / SR-71B X-PLANE XD12994

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This promotional film for the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird dates to the 1970s. Its purpose is to describe these amazing aircraft and their related abilities, and it was likely created to promote Congressional authorization of funds in support of the plane and its trainer variant. The film opens in darkness with an airplane taxiing slowly in front of hangars. A jet plane takes off into the darkness. Lockheed California Company. Advanced Development Projects. The Blackbirds are Flying. A black jet soars through the air, 1:15. The SR-71A, strategic reconnaissance aircraft, 1:33. The SR-71A exits the hangar, 1:46. The SR-71A approaches the runway, 2:10. The Lockheed Blackbirds, 2:19. The SR-71A takes off, 2:36. The SR71-A soars through the clouds, 2:40. The Blackbird soars at 80,000 feet, 3:00. View from above on the SR71-A, 3:15. The YF12-A, an interceptor, 3:21. The SR-71, a reconnaissance aircraft, 3:25. The SR-71B, a dual control pilot trainer, 3:32. J58 Engine, 3:40. Mid-air fueling, 3:42. The SR-71A soars through the air, 4:12. The YF12-A Interceptor rolls across the tarmac, 4:24. The aircraft are maintained on the ground, 4:40. The press at Edwards Air Force Base, The YF-12A flies overhead, 5:02. The pilots exit the aircraft, 5:26. Radar dish on the end of the aircraft, 5:36. AIM-47 missile is loaded onto the aircraft, 5:48. Drone is destroyed by the YF-12A in mid-air, 6:03. The YF-12A soars above the clouds, 6:48. The SR-71A, Reconnaissance bird takes off from the runway, 6:57. The pilot approaches the SR-71A aircraft with assistance, 7:12. The SR-71A rolls down the runway, 7:30. The SR-71B rolls down the runway, 8:04. The SR-71B soars through the air. An SR lands on the runway. 9:07. Parachute ejects from the back of the landing SR, 9:13. Pilots suit up with the help of their fellow servicemen, 9:32. Pilots don aluminumized outer shells to their suits and put their helmets on, 10:06. Pilot’s suits are checked for leaks, 10:55. Pilots climb the stairs to enter the aircraft, 11:18. Starter carts assist with starting the engines on the SR inside the hangar, 11:43. The SR exits the hangar, 11:57. The SR-71A takes off, 12:30. The SR soars above the clouds, 12:54. KC-135 tankers initiates mid-air fueling, 13:15. The SR comes down the runway, 14:15. The Ninth SRW (Strategic Reconnaissance Wing) of the Air Force oversee the operation of the aircraft. The Blackbirds are Flying.
The Lockheed SR-71 "Blackbird" is a long-range, high-altitude, Mach 3+ strategic reconnaissance aircraft that was operated by the United States Air Force. It was developed as a black project from the Lockheed A-12 reconnaissance aircraft in the 1960s by Lockheed and its Skunk Works division. During aerial reconnaissance missions, the SR-71 operated at high speeds and altitudes to allow it to outrace threats. If a surface-to-air missile launch were detected, the standard evasive action was simply to accelerate and outfly the missile. The shape of the SR-71 featured a reduced radar cross-section.
The SR-71 served from 1964 to 1998. A total of 32 aircraft were built; 12 were lost in accidents with none lost to enemy action.The SR-71 has been given several nicknames, including "Blackbird" and "Habu". Since 1976, it has held the world record for the fastest air-breathing manned aircraft, a record previously held by the related Lockheed YF-12.
The SR-71A was the main production variant. The SR-71B was a trainer variant. There was also an SR-71C which was a hybrid aircraft composed of the rear fuselage of the first YF-12A (S/N 60-6934) and the forward fuselage from an SR-71 static test unit. The YF-12 had been wrecked in a 1966 landing accident. This Blackbird was seemingly not quite straight and had a yaw at supersonic speeds. It was nicknamed "The Bastard".
This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit www.PeriscopeFi...

[@garystafford6570]

I was stationed at Beale AFB from 1974 to 1977 as an aircraft maintenance specialist, 43151E on the KC-135Q. I started out in the 456th OMS in SAC and then later into the 9th OMS when SAC was disbanded. My aircraft, tail number 1464 helped support the SR-71 air refueling mission. It was an incredible aircraft and I never got tired of watching it take off or land.

[@fhuber7507]

Still one of the most amazing designs ever built.

[@theusher2893]

The design is timeless.

[@Kaspertube513]

Useless more like

[@GPRaitsakas]

I wonder if the Russians have anything even close to this.

[@davenone7312]

Spent 24 of my 47 working years at Beale. Worked the SR from 76-78. The old SR hangars are all gone except for one. The same T-38's the pilots used for training are still there used by by the U-2 pilots. The U-2's came to Beale in June 1976. Thats when we got rid of our B-52's. Worked all them too. Those were the days, riding the launch truck of the SR at 0 dark 30, watching it take off was very impressive I have to say! Maintenance wise that jet was the worst!!

[@karlbraun9564]

The designer of the Blackbird, Kelly Johnson was a genius, sheer genius.

[@tedsaylor6016]

"That f'ing Sweede can SEE the air"

[@tedsaylor6016]

@cjhyde78 didn't seem to prevent this CV shit now, did it???

[@dragoonTT]

Kelly Johnson would approve any design coming forward to him before it got implemented. He was always calling engineers out and if you didn't have think skin don't think about working under him. Should read Skunk Works by Ben Rich and Leo Janos if anyone wants further information.

[@ramosel]

Ted Saylor Neither did your birth... so what’s your point?

[@oxcart4172]

If u read Ben Rich's book, he wasn't even in the room when it was designed-but get's all the credit.

[@Seveneleven44]

Greatest airplane ever to grace the sky. Beautiful in every sense of the word. Kelly Johnson was truly an American legend.

[@bravofoxable]

Still unsupassed, still a flying piece of art.... Masterpiece

[@reconbyfirea-3136]

When I was a kid in the early 70s,my dad would bring home film and projectors from the plant. We would watch this very film in our living room along with others from the plant,Kelly Johnson was a household name,around our house,even my mom knew Mr.Johnson. Skunk Works was our life for decades. When I see the SR71 only my dad comes to mind.

[@josephmartin7687]

Salute and a big ty to all your old mans work!

[@jafleming0409]

Of course your mom knew "Mr. Johnson" you were born, haha, just kiddin ya, cool story though bro.

[@michaelbauers8800]

There's a Kelly Johnson Blvd. in Colorado Springs. Of course a common name, but given the role of this town in aerospace and the air force, certainly possible was named after the aeronautics engineer. Why would they call a high altitude surveilance plane, an interceptor?

[@MaxAC]

The cackle of the twin Buick Nailheads for the start carts. B, E, A, utiful......

[@RickyJr46]

Every aspect of that project is amazing: design, construction, and operations.

[@dziban303]

Amazing soundtrack

[@lycossurfer8851]

This promo sold me; I'll take 2 please.

[@DeadlyGopher]

That will be 68 million, please.

[@17hmr243]

@@DeadlyGopher bulk discount

[@michaelhawk8230]

My stops per hour as a UPS driver always suffered when making deliveries on the flight line at Beale AFB. It was awesome watching the Blackbird if it was active at the same time I was present.

[@sonnyburnett8725]

Totally understandable!

[@skydiverclassc2031]

I used to work north of Beale, up in the woods east of Chico. It was a lucky day when an SR-71 came over on it's landing approach. Still at high altitude, but it had a very distinctive sound.

[@thomastrout9997]

I remember reading the camera equipment on the Blackbird could photograph a mailbox on a country road from 8 miles up. Pretty impressive for the late 1960s.

[@MegaBait1616]

The lines of the SR-71 are beautiful.....

[@roberttudor455]

The Blackbird and the F 1/11 are my two favourite planes of all. Such beautiful designs.

[@thetreblerebel]

Uses it's own fuel to lubricate its engine. Every component had to withstand 1000 degree farenheit without fail. Fastest airbreather ever made piloted by man.

[@shadovanish7435]

I saw a plastic model kit of the SR-71 in a local hobby shop in about 1978, when I was about 14, & was amazed at the futuristic design, as depicted on the model box cover, but wasn't sure if the depiction was of an imaginary concept, or of a real aircraft. I asked my older brother (who was with me that day) if the model was based on a real aircraft, & he said it was, & told me of some of the SR-71's performance capabilities. Even then, I was somewhat knowledgeable of U.S. military aircraft, & aircraft of other countries, but I had never heard of the SR-71. I purchased the model (an old Revell kit) right away, thinking it was the coolest aircraft I had ever seen (& I probably still do). The kit was rather basic, but built into a decent representation of the mysterious, futuristic form of the SR-71. I spray painted the model flat black. Back then, it seemed to me the SR-71 was largely unknown to the general public, even though its existence had been public knowledge for years. I imagine this was because of the "low profile" nature of the SR-71 & its mission, which probably suited the Air Force, to avoid public attention. After the SR-71's we're retired (in the early '90's, I think), several were placed in museums, & I believe it may have been shortly afterward that many people finally "discovered" the SR-71. I was able to see one of the retired SR-71's in the early '90's at the Battleship Alabama museum in Mobile Alabama, during Annual Training with the ANG. I don't think I even knew the museum had an SR-71, until I happened to see it parked in outside museum area. I had long hoped to see an SR-71 taxi & take off, but just seeing it the museum was definitely worthwhile to me.

[@myguitarjoe]

I got this model too,....A 12

[@FredPilcher]

Most wonderful aeroplane ever built.

[@jameseaton5703]

These Planes should still be flying, just like the amazing B52s.

[@stashi0176]

So badass. It even has tail fins like a 60s Caddy 😉👍

[@DavidGalich77]

When I was young that was the most famous brid around. I loved being in an AF family.

[@cougar99bf]

so cool thanks for posting!

[@allgood6760]

The plane is a legend.. thanks 👍

[@josephmartin7687]

I got to see one up close at The National air and space museum! Still have the pics somewhere. I was only about 15 at the time. They also had a F 16 there with a ladder and for like 20 bucks u could climb up and they took your pic with a flight helmet on ! So it looked like you were the pilot! Awesome to experience as a kid!

[@randyrizzo615]

Had the pleasure of seeing one of these in flight. We were in a Lear 35 at FL410 over Wink, TX inbound to KDAL. We could hear ATC talking to a military aircraft at FL390 looking for higher. ATC broadcasts simultaneously on VHF/UHF, but we could only hear the VHF side of the transmissions. ATC then gave us a traffic advisory, "724 Golf Lima, an SR 71, one o'clock, 5 miles, FL390". And about as fast as you're reading this he went from a speck on our right to one on the left, crossing right in front of us. As soon as the controller had separation, the next transmission was his call sign followed by, "cleared to FL600 and above!" (FL600 is the ceiling for controlled domestic airspace) We watched, saw the glow of the burners kick on, he pitched up, and was gone! What a kick to fly something like that! We inquired as to his speed, "Sorry, that's classified!" That woulda been '77 or '78 thereabouts.

[@TSi99999]

Wow never knew we had an interceptor armed version! Wicked

[@michaelmccarthy4615]

The Pima air museum has one of them. It's very cool up close. They have it accompanied by some ground support equipment used in it's operation.

[@t.sewell1513]

Pensacola air museum also has one. And yes, they are very impressive in person.

[@TuffBurnOutTeam]

Where are all the rest of them

[@villiamo3861]

@@TuffBurnOutTeam One of them is in Duxford, England - the only one outside the USA, the one that set the level fight sustained height record for a jet in the 70s. And still holds it..

[@markchidester6239]

If you have never seen one, go check it out. A thing of beauty to say the least. I was in DC a few years ago and saw the one at Dulles airport. Wow! That alone was worth the 12 hour drive. Everything else was a bonus. Truely an amazing sight. You can see it from the floor and the upper deck.

[@gustavoantonelli]

This is the best video in the Blackbird I have seen. Congrats!

[@maverick1685]

every time I encounter a Blackbird at a museum, I take many dozens of photograph's - such an Awesome bird.

[@caseinnitratjr6861]

🦨 works Big thanks for the upload PeriscopeFilms

[@PeriscopeFilm]

You are so very welcome. Love our channel? Help us save and post more orphaned films! Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/PeriscopeFilm Even a really tiny contribution can make a difference.

[@fredericktaylor2891]

In the late 60's and early 70's I was stationed in the East China Sea at a long-range radar site, we were one of the sites that provided air defense to Okinawa. A squadron of SR-71s were stationed there, they were called Habu's after a snake on the island that was stealthy and sneaky, they all had a painting of this snake on the vertical stabilizers. The missions they flew were top secret, no notification of their launch or destination was passed to the sites. We rarely managed to get a paint on one of them due to the RAM on the skin and the fact that they cruised near the detection ceiling of the radar system. If we got a paint on one it was very faint and irregular in shape, looked more like system noise. Since all tracks were called in for ID we would get an immediate cease tell order and all information recorded was destroyed.

[@timpeterson2738]

Second most beautiful bird just behind the Avro Arrow .

[@theonlybuzz1969]

As a kid most of my friends had on ups of women next to exotic supercars, Ferrari and Lamborghini, me it was a SR 71 in flight and one on the deck, on the deck she looked like she was travelling at over a thousand miles per hour, beautiful piece of workmanship that could have been Art ....wonderful

[@tippo5341]

Never a better creation or construction out of the Skunkworks...a never to be equalled or better design, simply ahead of its time then, and even today!!!!! Loved this aircraft from the first time I'd seen it, and that awe never cedes!!!!

[@john-ze7eu]

I saw one of these at a museum... They are deceptively small. I always pictured them as huge...cool hey to see in person

[@macmacc7402]

How come we don’t have anymore people like Kelly

[@jt95124]

My father worked at the skunk works on this, then went to area 51 for flight test. We were FBI cleared, they went to our neighbors and he had to give all financial facts and pass lie detector test. An x-15 pilot lived on our street. My sister had a high school class with Chuck Yeager's kid. I saw the B-70 take off and land, many other things. I lived at Edwards Air Force Base and then Lancaster. Was summer intern at data processing center working on F-15 testing. Lousy weather and marginal tv signal, cool aerospace tech. Excellent schools and fast planes - not much else good about the place. Dad took me to the flight line once, was in the main hangar. Toured the rocket test site. The first part of the movie "The Right Stuff" was shot at Edwards, scenes on streets and in houses just like mine. I stood next to the F-104 with the rocket that Yeager crashed. Neil Armstrong made a speech to my high school science club. I was out to the ruins of Pancho Barnes' place from the movie, and saw her at the fair and Christmas parade. Dream childhood for kid who liked jet planes.

[@PeriscopeFilm]

Thanks for these comments. You should definitely watch the movie "The Legend of Pancho Barnes and the Happy Bottom Riding Club"! Love our channel? Help us save and post more orphaned films! Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/PeriscopeFilm Even a really tiny contribution can make a difference. Subscribe! Become a channel member kzbin.info/www/bejne/hXWliGami8abi6c

[@lknanml]

Still my favorite plane. Come on DCS. I don't care if I can only take pics and cross the map in 7 mins. Thanks for the amazing find here.

[@pooja_2023]

Whoa... Look at this Blackbird beauty! Lockheed design genius! Been a huge fan of this aeronautical cum engineering marvel! Superb stealth mode! Simply marvelous!

[@steveshoemaker6347]

excellent.....That Blackbird was and still is a....Mighty thing....Thanks for the upload...!

[@dougball328]

Funny how they totally omitted the A-12. The YF-12 was derived from the A-12, not the SR-71. Notice the YF aft body at 5:00 versus the SR at 13:50. The SR has a 'stinger' extension to help with the area ruling. Here is a great description of the various aircraft: www.cia.gov/news-information/featured-story-archive/2015-featured-story-archive/oxcart-vs-blackbird.html

[@etanneriii]

they have one of these at the Kalamazoo air zoo, its awesome for its time.

[@colinwhyte3402]

I've seen a few of these flying, but only at airshows back in the dim & distant past. The stories of what they did & where they flew will probably never be told. Some were just recon missions that kept an eye on the other side, & others helped bring people to the negotiating tables (Check out the flights to the middle east in the 70's) All important, & we still do not really know how many were built. If anyone gets a chance I can heartily recommend heading up to Palmdale to The Blackbird Museum, where they have a SR-71A & an A-12, & not forgetting a U-2D.

[@ClassicStreetIron]

One of the benefits of being stationed at Beale AFB was watching the Blackbird take off at night.

[@CrpMag]

Growing up in Penn Valley we used to see them all the time as kids. I lived for those moments!

[@joeblow5214]

My grandpa was a maintainer on SR-71 out of Beale. My dad was born there in 1968.

[@BeaRrug66]

68JCodeCougar How loud was it? I heard the start cart was equally impressive!

[@ClassicStreetIron]

@@BeaRrug66 Pretty loud from even the barracks

[@michaelhawk8230]

68JCodeCougar Hammonton Smartsville Rd. by the Doolittle Gate,Lol

[@russburton7660]

An Absolute awesome aircraft still no replacement and it was conceived 70 years ago

[@Anony_Mouse_V]

Satellites made these unnecessary , so no replacement needed .. Amazing aircraft that would look and even be futuristic in modern time ..

[@bothewolf3466]

I bought one of these because of this video, but its still mint-in-box, under my bed. I'm always buying things, I don't need, ya know?

[@hectic5173]

Most bad ass aircraft ever made.

[@jamespoteat9361]

I hope, somewhere, there are a couple of these still operational.

[@jagboy69]

nope. They are done. Satellites took over the reconnaissance end of it. Last high altitude bird I saw flying was a U2 and that was back in 2003 during the war. We flew them outta cyprus. It would not surprise me if they are done too.

[@unclebuild8480]

Wikipedia reports as of Feb 2020 the U-2S is still flying with no immediate plans to retire it. The RQ-4 Global Hawk drones are not yet ready to fully replace the Dragon Lady.

[@tedsaylor6016]

Kelly (and his fine small team) designed that thing by THINKING. No fancy computers, but using all the experience thay had in aircraft design to push it further. It would be hard for a "modern team" to design such a thing today even with unlimited computer power, because what mattered were the design DECISIONS, and those where made by THINKING and EXPERIENCE.

[@rohnkd4hct260]

My all time favorite aircraft

[@drewtim]

Great video... got to watch them doing touch and goes at Kadena. And loved the brief cameo of a C-141 Starlifter!

[@neilbishop1686]

Been up top of Habu Hill...many times....

[@lloydadkins885]

the yf-12a aim-47 missile system became the f-14 AN/AWG-9 radar and aim-54 Phoenix

[@JoePJack1]

This video will self destruct.

[@blancolirio]

Oroville Dam! (8:45)

[@shaynechild2517]

The SR 71 B Jett is sitting at Hill Air Force base Aerospace museum.

[@justsittinhere72]

I remember reading an article on the SR 71 back in the early '70's. If they could race an SR 71 against a 30:06 bullet at muzzle velocity from LA to NYC it would beat the bullet by 5 minutes.

[@Patmofar]

The muzzle velocity of a 30-06 bullet is 2800 feet per second. The SR-71 could travel at Mach 3.3 which is 3,620 feet per second. That's a 560 miles an hour difference. It would be over an hour faster LA to NYC.

[@briancooper2112]

If i was allowed to fly a airplane, it would be the SR-71!

[@chlyon]

The good old days , Hay everybody come take interment pics of our revolutionary new plane

[@user-mp3eq6ir5b]

I've seen SR-72's Fly across Tucson to "Touch & Go" at Davis Monthan. Also, Tandem A-19's in the Desert plus B-52's "Flying Blind" at 500 feet over the Mogollon Rim. Could see "Black Outs". "Fly by Wire"

[@seoceancrosser]

Mach 3 plus! Plus, means classified! What an airplane!

[@futsuu]

Operationally stealthy; typographically groovy.

[@renaldolama9517]

Nice find! Where did you un-earth this one?

[@kclefthanded427]

Back when missiles were barely faster than the YF-12

[@bestamerica]

hi K... ' what name of missile and come from

[@sonnyburnett8725]

bestamerica , At the time it was Sam-2 and who else?

[@GoSlash27]

Interesting... No mention of the A-12 "Oxcart", which predated these models and had even crazier performance.

[@borisjohnson1944]

@@bobrobert319 LOL, what?

[@Blogengezer]

@chcpr1 -Lots of $10,000 toilet seats, and $5,000 hammers. ;

[@timmensch3601]

The start cart at 11:40 sounds like a healthy v8

[@238839]

2 V8's coupled together from my understanding.

[@Blogengezer]

Two souped V 8, Buick engines, so it was called 'The Buick'.

[@dew2667]

Originally powered by a pair of Buick V8s, later versions were repowered with a pair of big block Chevy V8s.

[@rejeanbeaudette6929]

I wonder why the Avro Arrow project development was halted and destroyed so suddenly...

[@erickrobertson7089]

Good question. Avro had some interesting designs. I'm guessing that by 1959/1960, despite being a new plane, it had already been eclipsed in speed and altitude by the F106 (also a Delta design) and the F4. Also, I think the MIG 17 had a very high altitude capability. Bombers were eclipsed by ICBM's which negates the need for interceptor planes. The B-58 Hustler meet a similar fate although it began as a supersonic bomber, it was reassigned the role of an interceptor but only for a short time. JMO. I don't know. That's a good question for the Canadian Defense Ministry.

[@BeryJensen]

aaaaand now we have drones

[@droceretik]

That can fly around the World at Mach 3 at 80,000 ft. and launch missiles?

[@eatcommies1375]

Can we se the documentary on SR72 next? Please!........

[@steveshoemaker6347]

Paul all you got to do is type it in youtube and you can watch it...l have...!

[@eatcommies1375]

steve shoemaker I have done that, I meant the official Lockheed documentary one, we might have to wait 40 years for that one:). I think I saw the contrail from it’s pulse engine in N/W Colorado, circle,line,circle

[@merlin5by533]

Hey, did you notice the last notch in the throttle was "Holy Shit"?

[@UtilityCurve]

Ludicrous speed.

[@skydiverclassc2031]

@@UtilityCurve Just don't go to plaid. Radar cross section is terrible.

[@trentland]

Soundtrack by Lalo Schifrin?

[@rdubb77]

There are 3 types of Blackbirds, but the third (SR-71B) was a misnomer in this video. The third is the A-12, which was the dad of all Blackbirds, but it wasn't declassified until the 80's.

[@bobrobert319]

A12 YF12 SR71A SR71B and M21 with D21 drone.

[@rockets4kids]

If you've never heard the "LA Speed Check" story go find that video and watch it now.

[@dbradley3]

Big money... $R-71

[@CARDINAL701]

If you look up 'badass' in the dictionary there is a photo of the SR-71 Blackbird.

[@arodrigues2843]

The YF-12A, ( F-12A), was never produced, nor entered service.!! Only the prototypes.

[@Blogengezer]

-'Oxcart'..

[@thetreblerebel]

They should tell us about...Aurora..

[@bobnewkirk7186]

I read, (late March 2020) Lockheed Martin released a statement to the effect: “ if you want to see an SR-72, look up !). Anybody else hear anything?

[@tedwarner2186]

Look up project aroura

[@mikemotteberg3527]

The SR-72 is a Mach 5 Vehicle, Has anybody heard a Sonic Boom lately?

[@bobnewkirk7186]

Actually Mike, I live about 7 miles from Plant 42. Last night at 10:53pm, (oh, I looked at the clock after) I was just about blown out of bed by the loudest Sonic Boom I have ever heard ! Not saying it was an SR-72, but there has been a lot of night time activity lately and whatever made this boom must have been Haulin Azz !

[@mikemotteberg3527]

@@bobnewkirk7186 Thank you Bob for that information, I used to live in Acton As a young boy, I used to hear sonic booms all the time, Now I live in Southern Oregon I don't hear sonic booms no more.

[@bobnewkirk7186]

Mike Motteberg Hi Mike-Wednesday night at 10:50pm we just about got blown out of bed by the loudest sonic boom I’ve every heard! Not saying it was SR-72 but definitely something really hauling! A friend said 2 heavies, (tankers?), took off from Plant 42 earlier , and about a half hour later they blacked out the airport and “something “ took off under full burner!

[@ninotravis1341]

X plane .vs. SR plane💀🌊

[@RaquelFoster]

The SR-71 and XB-70 will always be the coolest airplanes ever made. But the SR-71 is silly. It's probably closer to the space shuttle than a jet in terms of cost per flight. To keep the fuel from igniting in the tanks at high temperatures they invented JP-7 fuel with such high octane that it took explosives to start the engines - and they needed a bomb squad to refill the starter fluid. The engines dynamically reconfigured themselves to reduce drag at high speed by bypassing most of the compressor, and the engine needed to delicately balance the shockwave in the intake. If there was any kind of hiccup, the engine stalled with a dramatic bang, and after you shit your pants you needed to restart it ... if you had enough explosive starter juice left. The XB-70 used more normal JP-6 fuel and they pressurized it with nitrogen to make sure it wouldn't ignite in the tanks at high temperature. And the engines were normal except that they feathered the compressor blades to reduce drag. See "variable stator compressor patent." The SR-71 went Mach 3.2 and carried a camera. The XB-70 went Mach 3.1 and carried 50,000 lbs. of bombs, and it wasn't a special-needs airplane like the SR-71. I spent a lot of time in the Wright-Patt Air Force Museum when I was little. Everybody liked the SR-71, and that was inside. They used to just let the YF-12 and XB-70 sit outside. But they had the J58 and YJ93 engines inside where you could play with them. And an Me-262 engine. "Junkers" seemed like such a funny name...

[@mikemotteberg3527]

Both were mach 3 aircraft, One was mostly made of titanium the other was made of aluminum?

[@RaquelFoster]

​@@mikemotteberg3527 The XB-70 was 9% titanium, and the exterior parts that weren't titanium were stainless steel on top of a super-thin stainless steel foil honeycomb.

[@mikemotteberg3527]

@@RaquelFoster This is good information Thank you, I guess my point is, The SR71 Is a little faster than They say it is ?

[@mikemotteberg3527]

I remember Back just before 1990, The Cost of a SR71 Pre flight was 800.000 $

[@mikemotteberg3527]

The XB70 Valkyrie, I hate to say it , It was not a sinister looking aircraft.

[@steveb9151]

1:02 A film about the coolest, most bad-ass plane there ever was...and some meatball of a designer chooses this typeface? -Looks more like the opening title from "Good Times".

[@PeriscopeFilm]

Totally true comment...thanks for being a sub.

[@Nothing-qq4hd]

I purchased a blackjumpsuit on Ebay listed as "SR-11 jumpsuit NASA" i noticed the stitching actually read "SR-71 Test Team" on the back of the jumpsuit. On the front in red thread is the name "JOE" and "NASA" does this ring any bells to anyone out there. Would really enjoy to put the mystery I found to rest. Thank you all. Juan

[@bobrobert319]

Doug Balls had it made to wear trick or treating. He loves trick or treating on Halloween. Or any day of the year really. Notice the staining around the crotch and seat area? Thats Doug when he gets excited. I would bet he really misses that jumpsuit. He would probably buy it from you. You can find him in this comment section or in any gay mens chatroom you can find. He goes by Doug Dp Me Balls.

[@Batters56]

By the 1970s it was at least a 15 year old design! So happy to bring it into the white world.

[@geneshepherd9393]

But they cant make ventilators.

[@DigginIt]

Why would you put your time stamp in the middle of a History Channel film? I've seen this video years ago! Don't Pass it off as Your's... If you can tell me something I don't know about the bird I'D BE IMPRESSED!

[@lwilton]

First, it's not a History Channel film. HS found it lying in the dumpster and just stuck their name on it. Originally this wasn't a Periscope Film either. They found it in the dumpster and stuck their name on the copy of it that they had. They spent money on cleaning up the print to make it viewable, and they want to get that money back by selling clean prints to anyone willing to buy their work from them. They stick the timecode in the middle to keep you and your friends from ripping it off and selling it to History Channel for big bucks. This was made by Lockheed about 30 years before History Channel existed, and about 15 years before cable TV existed. It was a promo film to show to members of a congressional committee to get funding for the project. If you like it was an infomercial for a specific audience.

[@therealsharat]

The yf 23 is the next gen black bird, and after that is the Legendary Sr 72

[@VAMobMember]

The SR-71 is not flying today. That’s the SR-72

[@evernhamanderson]

@7:20, is that pilot wearing spurs?

[@dew2667]

Sort of....kept your feet tucked to the seat in the event of having to eject.

[@stuartbrodrecht6057]

Surprised there wasn't a street cleaner followed it when it taxied out.

[@3rdFloorblog]

The pilots who had the privilege to fly the Blackbird were lucky SOBs.

[@Blogengezer]

-Fast thinkers.. ;

[@rdubb77]

Rarer then astronauts and just as qualified. Only 80 something operational pilots over the entire career.

[@rosinopetrini1066]

It look like a concord

[@rdubb77]

Planes that cruise at supersonic speed have a similar shape, generally sleek Delta wings.

[@dks13827]

Should have kept 2 of them for more research flying, IMO.

[@sbfcapnj]

T E H S L E D

[@FourthWayRanch]

why is this guy putting a black timer banner across all his vids?? seriously?

[@PeriscopeFilm]

Here's the issue: Tens of thousands of films similar to this one have been lost forever -- destroyed -- and many others are at risk. Our company preserves these precious bits of history one film at a time. How do we afford to do that? By selling them as stock footage to documentary filmmakers and broadcasters. If we did not have a counter, we could not afford to post films like these online, and no films would be preserved. It's that simple. So we ask you to bear with the watermark and timecodes. In the past we tried many different systems including placing our timer at the bottom corner of our videos. What happened? Unscrupulous KZbin users downloaded our vids, blew them up so the timer was not visible, and re-posted them as their own content! We had to use content control to have the videos removed and shut down these channels. It's hard enough work preserving these films and posting them, without having to spend precious time dealing with policing thievery -- and not what we devoted ourselves to do. Love our channel and want to support what we do? You can help us save and post more orphaned films! Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/PeriscopeFilm Even a really tiny contribution can make a difference.

[@somethinsomethin7243]

Yf-12a = intercepter??? Yeah uhhhuhhh

[@arodrigues2843]

At 03:07,you stated: ... "the high temperatures encontered at those altitudes"... That's a mistake, misleading your viewers, that at 80,000 feet, one encounters HIGH temperatures.!!! You should explain, that those, very high, temperatures, are a result of SPEED, and the FRICTION, of the (rarefied), air molecules against the fuselage.!! (Above Mach 3.0)!!! And notice, that at 80,000 feet, the temperatures are, more or less constant, around MINUS 54 Celsius.!!! (Cold, isn't it??)

[@commentatron]

@@bobrobert319 Close. There was a Wm Shatner documentary (or was it a Twilight Zone episode?) that gave a glimpse of the gremlin responsible for the heating.

[@dougball328]

@@bobrobert319 I beg to differ, but it is the air. Due to compressibility the temperature goes as Mach number squared. An airplane flying at Mach 3 has 225% the temperature problem that a Mach 2 airplane has (9/4). Mach 2 = aluminum. Mach 3 = titanium. Mach 4+ = Inconel.

[@dougball328]

@@bobrobert319 I have searched high and low and can find no reference to a system on the SR-71 to deal with high altitude dust. So provide me with a reference that I can access. I have two degrees in aerodynamics and designed vehicles across the entire Mach spectrum for 40+ years. I assure you that high altitude dust was never a factor in any design, at any speed. Compressibility heating was another issue altogether.

[@dougball328]

@@bobrobert319 And after 40 years of designing airplanes I can recognize someone who is not worth wasting any more time on. Enjoy your ignorance.

[@commentatron]

@@bobrobert319 No, no I'm quite sure you're wrong. Besides, I ain't the boy named Sue you seem to be. Go fight yo daddy!

[@semperparatus3685]

We've lost more than we've gained with CAD. We can NO LONGER build some of the more powerful engines because each one was handmade and the builders are dead.

[@bearbuster157]

Strange, it doesn't look fast.

[@brookbond2474]

Интересно в этом фильме говарят американцы своему пилоту то что если увидешь приблежающий миг -35 то давай поварачивай обратно, в других вильмах они это говарят

[@Tamburello_1994]

MiG-25 pilot, eh?

[@rogerdemaine5712]

Originally called SR-17 until President Reagan introduced it as SR-71.

[@orangelion03]

President Johnson.

[@dougball328]

And the supposed screw-up was RS-71 (it was never 17) Turns out that this little story is false - a reporter got confused. The airplane was always the SR-71. And yes, I, too, went for many years believing the RS story to be true. Regardless, it was truly a magnificent piece of engineering. For the A-12, the CIA only cared about the pictures and not what the airplane looked like. Kelly''s monthly reporting requirement was two pages business/financial and one page engineering. Amazing what can happen, and how fast it can happen, when the bean counters stay the hell out of the way!

[@orangelion03]

@@dougball328 Thanks Doug. A quick perusal of my copy of Jay Miller's minigraph makes no mention of the "SR-RS issue" so I'm going to cop to "remembering a myth".

[@dougball328]

@@orangelion03 Here is a decent accounting of what happened. www.quora.com/Why-did-the-Blackbirds-codename-change-from-RS-71-to-SR-71 No matter what, it was one helluva airplane!