View Single Post
  #9   Report Post  
posted to rec.boats
John H.[_3_] John H.[_3_] is offline
external usenet poster
 
First recorded activity by BoatBanter: Dec 2007
Posts: 2,115
Default Great article - SR-71 Blackbird...

On Mon, 10 Mar 2008 00:36:57 GMT, Short Wave Sportfishing
wrote:

On Sun, 09 Mar 2008 20:23:20 -0500, John H.
wrote:

On Sun, 09 Mar 2008 23:10:44 GMT, Short Wave Sportfishing
wrote:

On Sun, 09 Mar 2008 22:40:01 -0000, wrote:

On Sun, 09 Mar 2008 20:49:11 +0000, Short Wave Sportfishing wrote:


http://maggiesfarm.anotherdotcom.com...-Brian-Shul-I-
loved-that-jet.html

That's one special plane. I don't know how true it is, but I read
somewhere that the SR-71, once ran out of fuel over Tennessee, and still
managed to land safely at it's base in Texas. Kelly Johnson's Skunk
Works did some amazing development, quickly too.

I'm trying to remember the name of the book, but it detailed the SR-71
and U-2 programs. Came out a couple of years ago. That story about
the SR-71 losing fuel is true. There was also one about a U-2 that
was returning from a mission over Soviet Russia and ran out of fuel
over Anchorage only to land at Nellis AFB. They figured the glide
path at altitude with the U-2 could have taken them as far south as
Luke or Williams AFB in Arizona. :)

I remember during the first Tet Offensive, we were at Bein Hoa AFB on
a lay over when the fecal matter started raining down. We were put on
temporary assignment to reinforce the "black" hanger where the U-2
planes were until a "special unit" could arrive and take over
security. I got a look at one up close and it was freakin' huge - not
massive, but just plain huge - the wing span was amazing.

The really interesting this were the chase vehicles - Chevy ElCamino
SS 396s.

Those CIA guys really knew how to live right. :)


Did you ever make it to the Special Forces Club at Bien Hoa? Put down a lot
of beer staring at the infrared image of Ann Margaret in that place!


Never got there, although I remember stories of the picture.

We didn't have a lot of time at Bein Hoa. When the CIA security guys
showed up from Saigon, we were put in support of a Air Police
detachment chasing the NVA off the base. After that, as soon as they
could get us out of there and back to Danang, they did.

It was safer. :)


I'll say this - it took more than sirens to get those SF guys to leave a
pitcher of beer on the table. If the damn building wasn't shaking, they
stayed and drank. What a rip.
--
John