Tue Oct 09, 2007 8:32 am
I was at A PLACE where there was an SR-71 mission ready. This was about two years ago. 
Tue Oct 09, 2007 2:43 pm
mustangdriver wrote:I was at A PLACE where there was an SR-71 mission ready. This was about two years ago.
I remember you talking about that at MAPS!
Tue Oct 09, 2007 4:42 pm
mustangdriver wrote:I was at A PLACE where there was an SR-71 mission ready. This was about two years ago.
Was that one of the NASA bird's? Where was it?
Tue Oct 09, 2007 6:39 pm
THat is about as far as I can go into it. I was a guest. I do not believe it to be a NASA bird.
Tue Oct 09, 2007 6:43 pm
They strapped him to the nose of one with bungee cords in an effort to confuse the Iranians. Trust me, I have an inside man.
Tue Oct 09, 2007 6:47 pm
Ha Ha! 
Tue Oct 09, 2007 7:42 pm
I don't believe it for a minute MustangDriver. I've been following the SR-71 since 10/73 when it deployed to Griffis AFB for missions over the Middle East.
NASA had the last SR-71A 64-17980 (on display at Edwards) and SR-71B 64-17956 (at the Kalamazoo Air Zoo now), both have been retired. They turned SR-71A 64-17971 back over to the USAF and it was reactiavated in 1995 (Now at Evergreen, I saw it there a month ago). (Congress gave up $100mil in 1995 to reactivate 2 SR-71As and 1 SR-71B, which last flew in 10/99)
I thiink I've accounted for every SR-71 or YF-12 airframe in existance, all of which seem to be on public display. I've seen at least 10 of them in person.
OK, so where is this unfunded SR-71 that is ready for missions at least 8 years after the last flight of the SR-71
Mark H
NASA had the last SR-71A 64-17980 (on display at Edwards) and SR-71B 64-17956 (at the Kalamazoo Air Zoo now), both have been retired. They turned SR-71A 64-17971 back over to the USAF and it was reactiavated in 1995 (Now at Evergreen, I saw it there a month ago). (Congress gave up $100mil in 1995 to reactivate 2 SR-71As and 1 SR-71B, which last flew in 10/99)
I thiink I've accounted for every SR-71 or YF-12 airframe in existance, all of which seem to be on public display. I've seen at least 10 of them in person.
OK, so where is this unfunded SR-71 that is ready for missions at least 8 years after the last flight of the SR-71
Mark H
Tue Oct 09, 2007 8:42 pm
Mustang Driver, I too am skeptical, Gen Metcalf would never let one of HIS birds fly again ! 
I've heard that he would have the motor mounts cut out of it before he'd let something like that happen !
I've heard that he would have the motor mounts cut out of it before he'd let something like that happen !
Tue Oct 09, 2007 8:47 pm
I'm hesitant to mention this, but here goes...
My dad was in the Navy as a young man many years ago. He tells a story about a long, black, oddly shaped airplane coming in for an emergency landing at Boca Chica NAS in Key West where he was stationed. The MPs ran out, covered the plane with tarps and camo nets & it was towed into a hangar. Everyone on the flightline was ordered to go home & given the day off. They were told to phone in the next day to see if they should come in or not.
Years later, he said he saw pictures of the SR-71 and that was the plane that he saw on that day.
My dad was a radio operator on PBY & Albatross as well as a few others. He had his PPL since he was a young lad as my grandfather was a CFI before there was CFI - pre WWII.
I mention that to say that my dad knows airplanes & isn't a dummy when it comes to spotting them. Additionally, he's worked in aviation his entire life & currently owns an FAA repair station.
All that for the punch line - the year my dad claims he saw the SR-71 was 1962 - at least two years before all accepted timelines have IOC for SR-71. BTW, this was during the Cuban Missile Crisis in Oct '62.
Bottom line - you may not believe my dad, but I do. Similarly, I believe mustangdriver's story to be plausible simply because there is so much that is classified at many different levels...many are not even aware there are classification levels above TS...
My dad was in the Navy as a young man many years ago. He tells a story about a long, black, oddly shaped airplane coming in for an emergency landing at Boca Chica NAS in Key West where he was stationed. The MPs ran out, covered the plane with tarps and camo nets & it was towed into a hangar. Everyone on the flightline was ordered to go home & given the day off. They were told to phone in the next day to see if they should come in or not.
Years later, he said he saw pictures of the SR-71 and that was the plane that he saw on that day.
My dad was a radio operator on PBY & Albatross as well as a few others. He had his PPL since he was a young lad as my grandfather was a CFI before there was CFI - pre WWII.
I mention that to say that my dad knows airplanes & isn't a dummy when it comes to spotting them. Additionally, he's worked in aviation his entire life & currently owns an FAA repair station.
All that for the punch line - the year my dad claims he saw the SR-71 was 1962 - at least two years before all accepted timelines have IOC for SR-71. BTW, this was during the Cuban Missile Crisis in Oct '62.
Bottom line - you may not believe my dad, but I do. Similarly, I believe mustangdriver's story to be plausible simply because there is so much that is classified at many different levels...many are not even aware there are classification levels above TS...
Tue Oct 09, 2007 9:18 pm
mustangdriver wrote:I was at A PLACE where there was an SR-71 mission ready. This was about two years ago.
So, you were a guest at a location that had a top secret aircraft ready to be used and you were obviously sworn to secrecy, then you go on a public forum and tell us about it. Better watch out for those black helicopters buddy.
Steve G
Tue Oct 09, 2007 9:24 pm
You can alwasy P.M. me.
Tue Oct 09, 2007 9:25 pm
P51Mstg wrote:I don't believe it for a minute MustangDriver. I've been following the SR-71 since 10/73 when it deployed to Griffis AFB for missions over the Middle East.
O.K.
Tue Oct 09, 2007 9:27 pm
I have no issues with your timeline, Ernie.
How many years did Have Blue and the follow on F-117 fly before it was publicly announced. But those were black programs unannounced to the public, just like the SR-71 would have been prior to LBJ letting the cat out of the bag. ( and he got the designation wrong, but it stuck ) There would be no reason to hide a previously open program like the SR-71. I don't believe it was ever included in any treaties so its continued operational existence would have no need for additional secrecy. And can you really rehide a program that's been in the open for 40 years ?
How many years did Have Blue and the follow on F-117 fly before it was publicly announced. But those were black programs unannounced to the public, just like the SR-71 would have been prior to LBJ letting the cat out of the bag. ( and he got the designation wrong, but it stuck ) There would be no reason to hide a previously open program like the SR-71. I don't believe it was ever included in any treaties so its continued operational existence would have no need for additional secrecy. And can you really rehide a program that's been in the open for 40 years ?
Tue Oct 09, 2007 9:40 pm
bipe215 wrote:mustangdriver wrote:I was at A PLACE where there was an SR-71 mission ready. This was about two years ago.
So, you were a guest at a location that had a top secret aircraft ready to be used and you were obviously sworn to secrecy, then you go on a public forum and tell us about it. Better watch out for those black helicopters buddy.
Steve G
No, not exactly.
Tue Oct 09, 2007 9:50 pm
I don't want you guys thinking I saw Elvis in a UFO or something, but I did see something that doesn't jive with what I have always heard of the SR-71 timeline. No, I did not fly or even touch it.