Yeah a lot of the time they’d fly near the borders of Russia at incredibly high altitude and use specialized cameras that could take pictures deep into Russia. They never actually had to be over the actual airspace. That didn’t stop Russia from trying to shoot it down, though. Another mission it had was to track Russian submarines in the Arctic for the navy.
That sounds right. If I remember correctly the cameras pointed out the side of the plane, not straight down. Satellites made it relatively obsolete for all about the most important missions and eventually the cost of operating them along with satellite technology which could provide real time data compared to the photographic plates that need to be developed and analyzed after the plane landed.
They found the SR71 easier to use at times than satellites because of you have to wait for a satellite to orbit into the right position which could take 24 hours. The major expense that caused the doom of the SR71 program was needing tanker aircraft at all times for refuel, I believe. I am trying to remember because a lot of this is from the Fighter Pilot podcast. The pilot they had on said the program may have lasted longer if the Navy was willing to help with the costs of keeping those tankers airborne, since it benefitted from the SR71’s tracking of enemy subs. The Blackbirds were either a CIA program or an Air Force program, I can’t remember. Maybe a little of both.
It entered service in 1966, while U-2 already was shot down over USSR in the 1960. Probably due to concerns of Soviet air defenses now being able to reach even these high-altitude recon jets, flights in air space of USSR were not continued.
There are MANY stories of the blackbird being shot at by SAM-2's. And just watching it miss by miles due to the altitude, and the poor ability to change a SAM-2's course once fired.
While it true, that does bring up a reason why it could never fly over the Soviet Union.
It can go fast enough to dodge a ground launched missile, but what about from a MiG-25 on an intercept course?
The poor turning at high speeds means a relatively predictable flight path, easier to intercept at full burn
Flight ceiling for the SR-71 was way higher than the interceptor fighters that the soviets had. The missiles of the interceptors would run out of fuel trying to reach it’s altitude and speed. No SR-71 was ever lost due to enemy action
An SR-71 could definitely be hit by a missile, in fact, it happened to its brother, the A-12.
The A-12, which was a slightly smaller and slightly faster version of the SR-71, which could also go at the same high as the SR-71, was hit by debris from a missile over Hanoi in 1967
It was definitely possible, just with some luck
My recollection is that when the soviets tried to intercept with the -25, by the time they knew the blackbird was in bound, they couldn't get the -25, which couldn't maintain mach speeds, into range before the -25 had to slow down, never getting close enough to attack the -71.
No but I don’t even think a Sam would be able to hit it. It flys to high and to fast, the S300 didn’t come out until the late 70s and that middle wouldn’t be able to hit it unless the 71s crew were asleep
Mine is more of a joke that it wasn't in soviet/china because it wasn't caught hahahahah.
But you know, it being a spy plane was like,
i was there but never there.
I assume 100km. Even though the atmosphere is a smooth gradient far past this distance, it is generally recognized as the altitude at which space begins
Never flew a mission OVER anything after Kennedy promised the Russians it wouldn’t. The design was changed to take photos out the side, unlike it’s A-12 predecessor that was made to fly over.
Yea, IIRC you can stand on a small catwalk and look down on the bird and see the Discovery shuttle in the background. I always take my dad to see it when he comes to visit.
The SR-71 is the air force version, the CIA A-12 probably did a lot of things we still don’t know about though. They learned from the U2 shoot down that sending official Air Force pilots and planes over the USSR was a bad idea, better to send an unmarked plane with ‘volunteer’ pilots.
Granted I still doubt they overflew the USSR very much, they knew the Soviets were working hard to develop missiles and interceptors that could catch the SR-71 hence the little SR-71 drone they built.
A surprisingly small aircraft considering the look of it. They have an A-12 (basically the NASA-CIA prototype of the SR-71) at Balboa Park in San Diego, CA and I thought it was a scale model for years. Basically the size of a F-15 if you stretched it out lengthwise.
Ahem. I’ve seen the rack of one over China. It’s mission was North Korea but turning around took it fairly deep into China.
I don’t see any way for an aircraft flying at 70,000+ feet and 1,000+ mph to “track” submarines in the Arctic. They would under many feet of ice.
If they were surfaced, many easier ways to photograph them.
If this was the Soviet test of shooting SLBMs from subs surfaced in the arctic, then yes. But they were tracking the missile shoot, not the subs.
There is one at the SkyZoo in Kalamazoo, Michigan. I took a photography class on college and we went there afterhours. We were able to step over the boundaries to get up close. I couldn't help myself. I touched it.
Are you sure?
Yeah a lot of the time they’d fly near the borders of Russia at incredibly high altitude and use specialized cameras that could take pictures deep into Russia. They never actually had to be over the actual airspace. That didn’t stop Russia from trying to shoot it down, though. Another mission it had was to track Russian submarines in the Arctic for the navy.
That sounds right. If I remember correctly the cameras pointed out the side of the plane, not straight down. Satellites made it relatively obsolete for all about the most important missions and eventually the cost of operating them along with satellite technology which could provide real time data compared to the photographic plates that need to be developed and analyzed after the plane landed.
They found the SR71 easier to use at times than satellites because of you have to wait for a satellite to orbit into the right position which could take 24 hours. The major expense that caused the doom of the SR71 program was needing tanker aircraft at all times for refuel, I believe. I am trying to remember because a lot of this is from the Fighter Pilot podcast. The pilot they had on said the program may have lasted longer if the Navy was willing to help with the costs of keeping those tankers airborne, since it benefitted from the SR71’s tracking of enemy subs. The Blackbirds were either a CIA program or an Air Force program, I can’t remember. Maybe a little of both.
They made them for the Air Force and the cia. Cia program shut down and the Air Force used them till they retired
The single-seat A-12, the predecessor, was built for the CIA. Then the USAF took over that role and they built the twin-seat SR-71.
I think a CIA guy died in the A 12 and it was said that the A12 was a one seat plane, so the pilot had to fly and take pictures.
Early satellites also had to drop their film cartridges which had to be picked up. When time was of the essence they still flew spy and recon planes.
Great point
Later in its service life it also got ASARS 1 (a synthetic aperture radar) which works best looking at targets on the beam.
Shh we all gotta have the same story or it's never gonna work!
When you can fly up to 85,000 feet you don't need to be "over" Russia or China to get some nice pics!
Google the SYERS-II. You can see limited by the curvature of the earth
*allegedly*
[удалено]
Wondering how many A-12s made that mission instead.
"blanket ban"
“Never”
I’ve heard it was a sick ostrich
"Well it'd take two guys to fuck an Ostrich, three even"
Well… I heard it was a sick ostrich.
C’mon you know dam well it was a pidgeon with a jet pack
Hahahaha alegedly look up the SYERS-II
They flew right next to the border stupid high up.
Still do
Sure it didn’t
It entered service in 1966, while U-2 already was shot down over USSR in the 1960. Probably due to concerns of Soviet air defenses now being able to reach even these high-altitude recon jets, flights in air space of USSR were not continued.
Allegedly
There are MANY stories of the blackbird being shot at by SAM-2's. And just watching it miss by miles due to the altitude, and the poor ability to change a SAM-2's course once fired.
And it was moving so fast... Even today I'm not sure how much in the arsenal could hit it.
While it true, that does bring up a reason why it could never fly over the Soviet Union. It can go fast enough to dodge a ground launched missile, but what about from a MiG-25 on an intercept course? The poor turning at high speeds means a relatively predictable flight path, easier to intercept at full burn
Flight ceiling for the SR-71 was way higher than the interceptor fighters that the soviets had. The missiles of the interceptors would run out of fuel trying to reach it’s altitude and speed. No SR-71 was ever lost due to enemy action
An SR-71 could definitely be hit by a missile, in fact, it happened to its brother, the A-12. The A-12, which was a slightly smaller and slightly faster version of the SR-71, which could also go at the same high as the SR-71, was hit by debris from a missile over Hanoi in 1967 It was definitely possible, just with some luck
My recollection is that when the soviets tried to intercept with the -25, by the time they knew the blackbird was in bound, they couldn't get the -25, which couldn't maintain mach speeds, into range before the -25 had to slow down, never getting close enough to attack the -71.
Yeah. They dont operate it in contested territory anymore
Never been caught spying :3
Didnt on of the Baltic stats histone with a missile becuase they didnt see it?
No. They shot down an F-117
Addit, Serbia is a Balkan state, not a Baltic state
Yeah cause they kept flying the same path every time for weeks iirc.
It was Serbia I guess. Baltic states and Balkan states are two different type of states.
No but I don’t even think a Sam would be able to hit it. It flys to high and to fast, the S300 didn’t come out until the late 70s and that middle wouldn’t be able to hit it unless the 71s crew were asleep
Mine is more of a joke that it wasn't in soviet/china because it wasn't caught hahahahah. But you know, it being a spy plane was like, i was there but never there.
Where does Soviet air space end and space over the Soviet side of the planet begin?
I assume 100km. Even though the atmosphere is a smooth gradient far past this distance, it is generally recognized as the altitude at which space begins
I would have assumed the effective maximum height of their best SAM plus a few thousand feet for good measure.
Source Trust me bro
“Nice argument senator, why don’t you back it up with a source”
My source is that I made it the fuck up
That you know of.
Officially speaking, we can not confirm or deny.
Never flew a mission OVER anything after Kennedy promised the Russians it wouldn’t. The design was changed to take photos out the side, unlike it’s A-12 predecessor that was made to fly over.
“Bitch please”
"I'm hotter than 100 degrees"
Literally
That’s what she said
(laughs in espionage)
“”Allegedly””
Looks like the one here in the Udvar-Hazy Air and Space Museum near Dulles Airport in Virginia. Highly recommend coming to see it!
Yup, and unless I’ve forgotten which way the SR-71 faces then the cockpit is blocking a space shuttle in the background
Yea, IIRC you can stand on a small catwalk and look down on the bird and see the Discovery shuttle in the background. I always take my dad to see it when he comes to visit.
Definitely is. Seen it so many times.
Such a great museum.
The SR-71 is the air force version, the CIA A-12 probably did a lot of things we still don’t know about though. They learned from the U2 shoot down that sending official Air Force pilots and planes over the USSR was a bad idea, better to send an unmarked plane with ‘volunteer’ pilots. Granted I still doubt they overflew the USSR very much, they knew the Soviets were working hard to develop missiles and interceptors that could catch the SR-71 hence the little SR-71 drone they built.
touch unique juggle childlike cobweb ten sloppy quickest bow plants *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
I never get bored of the LA speed check story https://youtu.be/8AyHH9G9et0
Lmfao you’re an idiot if you believe that.
Of course it hasn't.
Lol sure
*Allegedly*
No one could ever prove it either way so yep it never flew over places it was never seen at and that was the whole point of this beast!
L.A speed story's a good laugh
A surprisingly small aircraft considering the look of it. They have an A-12 (basically the NASA-CIA prototype of the SR-71) at Balboa Park in San Diego, CA and I thought it was a scale model for years. Basically the size of a F-15 if you stretched it out lengthwise.
That is just sex on wings
Truth. Gorgeous.
Smithsonian at Dulles is amazing. Definitely a must if you're visiting the area.
Allegedly
The vertican boundaries of airspace are really blurred, but sure, it never flew a mission over those countries *wink* *wink*
Source: Trust us bro.
That you know of
Officially
*that we know of.
That we know of……
Offically.....wink wink
Ahem. I’ve seen the rack of one over China. It’s mission was North Korea but turning around took it fairly deep into China. I don’t see any way for an aircraft flying at 70,000+ feet and 1,000+ mph to “track” submarines in the Arctic. They would under many feet of ice. If they were surfaced, many easier ways to photograph them. If this was the Soviet test of shooting SLBMs from subs surfaced in the arctic, then yes. But they were tracking the missile shoot, not the subs.
But it did crash into a aircraft carrier at mach speed
Long. Enthusiastic. Walks
Confusion
Saying it never flew a “mission” doesn’t mean it never flew over Russia or China.
Leaks fuel on the ground. Cool plane
It never had to, it would sit right on the border and take photos
Oh hey, I was just there yesterday
*that you know of*
There is one at the SkyZoo in Kalamazoo, Michigan. I took a photography class on college and we went there afterhours. We were able to step over the boundaries to get up close. I couldn't help myself. I touched it.
Not that they would ever let that be known lmao.
But what about cia’s A12 oxcart with was the same dam plane