Tom Drake

But we would fly coordinators with, and you see this coming in, man, it's, you know, multiple times the speed of sound, right? Way over 2,000 miles an hour. The top speed, yeah, you'll see books out there, there's things that have come out, but it was never revealed what its true top speed was. But it could cruise it easily three times. And then some the speed of sound root mean easily.

That is bananas.

That is bananas.

That is bananas.

It was difficult for ground stations to, to maintain contact even as a blip because it was moving so fast. Yeah. That was, but that was advantage. Yeah. Fly super high 80,000 plus feet. And if you need to, fly really fast. I mean, it was faster than a bullet. Wow. Oh, yeah. Fascinating airplane. I used to watch it. The Blackbird. I used to.

It was difficult for ground stations to, to maintain contact even as a blip because it was moving so fast. Yeah. That was, but that was advantage. Yeah. Fly super high 80,000 plus feet. And if you need to, fly really fast. I mean, it was faster than a bullet. Wow. Oh, yeah. Fascinating airplane. I used to watch it. The Blackbird. I used to.

It was difficult for ground stations to, to maintain contact even as a blip because it was moving so fast. Yeah. That was, but that was advantage. Yeah. Fly super high 80,000 plus feet. And if you need to, fly really fast. I mean, it was faster than a bullet. Wow. Oh, yeah. Fascinating airplane. I used to watch it. The Blackbird. I used to.

I had a little moped because I lived right off the west end of the runway at Mildenhall. And I had a little moped. It was a 49cc moped. my air crew members would joke around, say, oh yeah, here comes Tom in his RC-49, you know, with my big bag, right? And you go around the back of the runway and the SRs at that time were stationed there.

I had a little moped because I lived right off the west end of the runway at Mildenhall. And I had a little moped. It was a 49cc moped. my air crew members would joke around, say, oh yeah, here comes Tom in his RC-49, you know, with my big bag, right? And you go around the back of the runway and the SRs at that time were stationed there.

I had a little moped because I lived right off the west end of the runway at Mildenhall. And I had a little moped. It was a 49cc moped. my air crew members would joke around, say, oh yeah, here comes Tom in his RC-49, you know, with my big bag, right? And you go around the back of the runway and the SRs at that time were stationed there.

They would rotate, but they were stationed there, had their own special hanger, maintenance and everything else in a more secluded part of the base. But it was so fascinating watching them get ready to take off from the end of the runway.

They would rotate, but they were stationed there, had their own special hanger, maintenance and everything else in a more secluded part of the base. But it was so fascinating watching them get ready to take off from the end of the runway.

They would rotate, but they were stationed there, had their own special hanger, maintenance and everything else in a more secluded part of the base. But it was so fascinating watching them get ready to take off from the end of the runway.

you know, as they accelerated at speed down the runway. Steve, can you pull up an image of the SR-71 so we can see it? But you're seeing like all the fuel be dripping out of it right at the end of the runway, just dumping. Because it wasn't until it got to speed when the titanium, when it started to heat up, that it would actually seal the tanks. Amazing airplane, even to this day.

you know, as they accelerated at speed down the runway. Steve, can you pull up an image of the SR-71 so we can see it? But you're seeing like all the fuel be dripping out of it right at the end of the runway, just dumping. Because it wasn't until it got to speed when the titanium, when it started to heat up, that it would actually seal the tanks. Amazing airplane, even to this day.

you know, as they accelerated at speed down the runway. Steve, can you pull up an image of the SR-71 so we can see it? But you're seeing like all the fuel be dripping out of it right at the end of the runway, just dumping. Because it wasn't until it got to speed when the titanium, when it started to heat up, that it would actually seal the tanks. Amazing airplane, even to this day.

Remember, this was drawing, we're not analog era. They were using computers to create this, right?

Remember, this was drawing, we're not analog era. They were using computers to create this, right?

Remember, this was drawing, we're not analog era. They were using computers to create this, right?

This is Kelly Johnson's skunk works, right?