Lockheed Sr-71 Blackbird Pilot's Flight Operating Instructions

Book excerpt: Created by Lockheed's brilliant designer Kelly Johnson, the SR-71 Blackbird is one of the most legendary aircraft to emerge from the famous "Skunk Works." Capable of Mach 3 flight, the SR-71 could survey 100,000 miles of the earth's surface from an altitude of 80,000 feet. The SR-71 holds a coast-to-coast speed record of 64 minutes flown at over 2100 m.p.h. The SR-71 flew from 1964-1998 for the USAF (with a brief retirement from 1989- 1995), and completed over 17,000 sorties and over 11,500 hours at Mach 3. During that time 12 of the 32 aircraft produced were lost in accidents, although with only one fatality. The Blackbird also flew as a NASA research aircraft from 1992-99. Originally created for the elite group of pilots who drove "the sled," this Flight Operating Handbook provides a revealing look into the cockpit of one of history's great planes. Just recently de-classified, this book contains all the basic instructions for the SR-71A and twin-cockpit SR-71B training model. Please note, this book was created from a classified original made available through the Freedom of Information Act. As a result some pages may have substandard print quality. A limited number of pages are unavailable or still classified and have been omitted. Care has been taken to preserve the integrity of the text.