Last revised: November 21, 2008

 Photo Album #4A.

Lunch at Beale AFB

Bea Youngblood, S/Sgt Wilson (Tour Guide), Dee Worrill, Robert Young

T-33 Trainer

Robert Young, Carl Whaley, Ron Fandrick, Dale Herrington, Robert Youngblood

SR-71 Strategic Reconnaissance Aircraft

The SR-71, unofficially known as the "Blackbird," is a long-range, advanced, strategic reconnaissance aircraft developed from the Lockheed A-12 and YF-12A aircraft. The U.S. Air Force retired its fleet of SR-71s in 1990, but returned them in 1995 until 1997. Throughout its nearly 24-year career, the SR-71 remained the world's fastest and highest-flying operational aircraft.

Boom operator's view of an SR-71, during refueling operation.

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1974 Speed Record: New York to London in 1 Hour 54 minutes and 56.4 seconds. The SR-71's average speed was 1,807 statute mph over the 3,461 statute mile course, slowing to refuel one time from a KC-135.

SR-71 on the taxiway

Speed Record: On the return trip, the Blackbird set another record from London to Los Angeles in 3 hours 47 minutes and 39 seconds.
(The SR-71 had to slow over major U.S. cities.)

SR-71 with drag chute deployed at landing.

                      Last revised: November 21, 2008

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