MilitarySpot.com

Serving the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard and National Guard

Online Schools
| Find Jobs
Follow MilitarySpot:
 
  • Home
  • Enlist
    • Join The Army
    • Join The Navy
    • Join The Air Force
    • Join The Marines
    • Join The Coast Guard
    • Join The National Guard
    • ASVAB
    • Army Physical Fitness Test
    • Military Draft
    • Prior Service Army Enlistment
  • Career
    • Join the Military
    • Jobs for Military and Civilians
    • Career Center
    • Prior Service Army Enlistment
    • Criminal Justice
  • Education
    • Online Schools
    • Spouse Education Benefits
    • GI Bill
    • Military Schools
    • Criminal Justice
  • Benefits
    • Army Benefits
    • Navy Benefits
    • Air Force Benefits
    • Marine Corps Benefits
    • National Guard Benefits
    • Coast Guard Benefits
    • 2012 Basic Pay Rates
    • Allowances
    • Special & Incentive Pay
    • Military Spouse Education Benefits
    • VA Education Benefits
    • GI Bill
  • News
    • Headline News
    • Army News
    • Marines News
    • Airforce News
  • Finance
    • Debt Relief
    • Military Pay Rates
    • Military Personal Loans
    • VA Loans
    • Military Star Card
    • Military MyPay
  • Spouses
    • School Finder
    • Scholarships & Grants
    • PCS, DITY, & Moving
    • Pay Rates
    • MyCAA
    • Education Benefits
  • Community
    • Military Games
    • Military Reunions
    • Classifieds
    • Photo Gallery
    • Buddy Finder
    • MilitarySpot Pinups
    • Military Bases
  • Resources
    • Military Alphabet
    • Military Reunions
    • Military Acronyms
    • Currency Converter
    • Military Tools
    • Ranks
    • Military Time
    • Military Tactics
    • Military Discounts
    • Military Games
    • Military Videos
    • Photo Gallery
    • Infographics
    • How To
  • Travel

SR-71Blackbird Pilots and Crew Relive Absolute Speed Record

SR-71Blackbird

AUGUST 10, 2016, ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. (AFNS) – In 1976, it was a different time. The Cold War with the Soviet Union was in full swing and Americans were standing in line to buy gas. That year was also the country’s bicentennial birthday. To celebrate, officials decided to attempt to break some records with an aircraft known as the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird.

On July 28, 1976, retired Maj. Gen. Eldon Joersz, the pilot, and retired Lt. Col. George Morgan, the reconnaissance systems officer (RSO), set the world absolute speed record for jet-powered airplanes with a speed of 2,193 mph. The record still stands today.

Contact a Recruiter!

“We never dreamed, I guess we never gave it much thought, how long the record would last,” Joersz said.

Today, that plane sits in the Robins Air Force Base Museum of Aviation, and for three days, the museum hosted Joersz and Morgan, and 12 other crewmembers and pilots who were part of the SR-71 program. About 300 people also visited the museum July 30 for a public event commemorating the 40-year anniversary of the record-setting flight.

“The way we look at it, we represent the crew force, we represent the airplane and we really represent America,” Joersz said.

Do you have Prior Military Service? The NAVY Wants You!

Both men were able to get back in the cockpit of their famed aircraft for a while during their visit to the museum.

“It’s as impressive to me now as when I first saw it and flew it. Every time I flew it was my favorite memory,” Morgan said.

There were only 85 pilots and RSOs who were trained to fly the SR-71 operationally. Another 40 or so were trained to fly test flights for the plane, said Buz Carpenter, a former SR-71 pilot who is now a docent at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum annex in Chantilly, Virginia.

The SR-71 never had a fatality in its 30-plus years of operation.

Tom Joyce, an instrument and inlets technician on the SR-71, also attended the event and said one of his fondest memories was hearing the aircraft crank with its start cart containing two 450-cubic-inch engines.

Joyce, who worked on the SR-71 from 1975 to 1988, said he remembered the first time he went out to see the Blackbird.

“It was amazing. It doesn’t look like an airplane and then they put astronaut suits on the pilots,” he said, smiling.

Most of the missions the Blackbird flew are still classified.

“Those reconnaissance operations are what brought peace and what gave some teeth to the American front during that Cold War … Thank you from a country that could not have won the Cold War without your efforts,” Col. John Cooper, the 461st Air Control Wing commander, said during the July 30 event.

The SR-71 came to Robins in 1990, with more than 2,885 hours of air time in its career.

Related Posts:

  • Become a Pilot For a DayBecome a Pilot For a Day
  • First Aviation Mechanic Display Added to the National Museum of the U.S. Air ForceFirst Aviation Mechanic Display Added to the National Museum
  • Sea Knight’s Final FlightSea Knight’s Final Flight
  • National Naval Aviation Museum Ensures USS Forrestal “Trial by Fire” Accident is Forever RememberedNational Naval Aviation Museum Ensures USS Forrestal…
  • Aviation Museum Displays Christopher Kringle’s Flight Jacket During Holiday SeasonAviation Museum Displays Christopher Kringle’s Flight…
  • Introductory Flights: New River FamiliarizationIntroductory Flights: New River Familiarization

Comments

Filed Under: News

First Name:
Email:
 
  • News
  • Enlist
  • Education
  • Career
  • Finance

DoD Honors Barbara Bush as ‘Dedicated Advocate’ for Military

APRIL 20, 2018, Washington D.C. – The Defense Department paid tribute today to former first lady Barbara Bush, who died April 17. She was 92. “Mrs. Bush had many roles with great significance to many people,” chief Pentagon spokesperson Dana W. White said in a news conference today. “To the military, she was a Navy […]

First Female Marine Students Arrive at SOI-West

MARCH 8, 2018, Camp Pendleton, CA – This marks the first male-female integrated Marine Combat Training Company on the West Coast. “It is important, one team one fight, at the end of the day it’s to show the Marine Corps can produce [Marines] regardless of gender and complete any mission.” Said Sgt. Ambar Gonzalez, a […]

The Forever GI Bill

The Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act, also known as the “Forever GI Bill,” was signed into law on August 17, 2017, and brings significant changes to Veterans’ education benefits over the next few years. Most enhance or expand education benefits for Veterans, servicemembers, families and survivors. Here’s a list of the changes and […]

The Soldier Doctor That Diagnoses Helicopters

MARCH 29, 2018, Taji Military Complex, Iraq – A torque wrench squeals as it secures the bolts of a forward support tube onto a UH-60 Black Hawk engine in a maintenance shop March 23. U.S. Army 1st Battalion, 126 Aviation Regiment (General Support Aviation Battalion) aircraft power plant repairer Spc Kathleen Scanlon, works with her […]

The Three Biggest Mistakes Service Members are Making With Their Money

APRIL 4, 2018, Hanscom Air Force Base, MA – Since April is Financial Literacy Month, Joe Chesloski, a personal financial counselor with more than 20 years of business and finance experience, offered his perspective on the biggest mistakes service members make with their money — and how those mistakes can be avoided. BE CAUTIOUS WITH […]

Recent Posts

  • DoD Honors Barbara Bush as ‘Dedicated Advocate’ for Military
  • DoD Must Be More Agile in Technology Development
  • ‘Realm of the Possible’ Revealed by Multi-Mission Unmanned Surface Vehicle
  • Soldiers, Marines Bring Joint Light Tactical Vehicle Operational Testing to Completion
  • DoD, DHS Outline National Guard Role in Securing Border
MAINMENU


SITESEARCH
Can't find something? Try using our site search to dig through our entire site.



Still having trouble? Try the Advanced Search to refine your searches.
NEWSLETTERSUBSCRIBE
Sign Up To Receive Information, Updates and Special Officers from MilitarySpot.com.



Don't miss an issue! Jump in the Newsletter Archives to catch up on previous issues.
FOLLOWMILITARY SPOT

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter & StumbleUpon and more. Keep up with MilitarySpot.com news & updates. We also have an RSS Feed.

Advertise | About | Write for Us | Contact | Feedback | Recruiter Network | Unsubscribe | DMCA | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use
 
Copyright 2004-2018 Sun Key Publishing. All Rights Reserved.

This is a private website that is not affiliated with the U.S. government, U.S. Armed Forces, or Department of Veterans Affairs. U.S. government agencies have not reviewed this information. This site is not connected with any government agency. If you would like to find more information about benefits offered by the U.S. Department of Veteran’s Affairs, please visit the official U.S. government web site for veterans benefits at http://www.va.gov.