As a tanker pilot supporting the SR71, I can tell it was a great mission. Nearly every mission required a two ship of tankers. We had JP7 fuel to offload and it was usually shared between the wingman. The dynamics was that wingman flew 1/2 mile at 85 degrees off the lead aircraft (nearly wings abreast). This was intentional as the SR crew had limited visibility. If lead couldn’t offload, they would immediately move to #2. you started at 320kias and accelerated to 355KIAS. Even with those speeds, the offload of the fuel put the SR at a high AOA which often required them to run one of their afterburners to stay safe. We had great and proficient boom operators, there weren’t a lot of planes that you would refuel at 355 knots.
I was at Wright-Patterson the day they retired the one they got. Came in from either Beale or Edwards in 60 minutes. Watched it land after several photo passes and a couple approaches. That was in February of 1990. I'll never forget it. I have a picture of the airborn chute not inflated yet with smoke coming off the tires. Coolest thing I ever saw.
Honestly a sight to behold. These old KC-135Q were going full bore as fast as they possibly can, and the SR-71 was slowing down so much, it's practically stalling out. These pro's made this look EASY.
I saw the SR 71 fly when it came to the Toronto International Air show on Labour Day at the Canadian National Exhibition I think in 1987. It did its loops and stuff and when they laft the came from over the city in a southerly direction and just as it went over Lake Ontario it lit the afterburners and went straight up. that was the only time I ever seen one. Years later I find out Maury Rosenburg was the pilot and later he was the one that did the fly by at Sac Metro in that famous story that is all over you tube. Every couple of years I watch the video of Maury Rosenburg talk about it near the end of the presentation.
As a young airman, on my way to a TDY mission to a crash site from Beale AFB, CA to Kirkland AFB, NM and the high desert area in NM, I hopped a ride on one of these tankers. The boom operator came and asked me would I like to watch a B-52 being refueled. It was something I had never seen before or since during my short Air Force career. A remarkable sight, indeed.
They used to park our C-130s in the hard stands across from the SR hangers at Mildenhall back in the 80s and we would sit on top of our tails and watch them start, taxi and take off if we happened to be in town. Very impressive aircraft and the second sexiest just behind the C-130....
You forgot to show the KC-135Q Navigator. The person who directs the airborne rendezvous. without whom the A/R wouldn't be possible. (Killer Nav 1977-1982, KBAB)
@Robert Frazier I worked at the Inflight kitchen right on the flightline and took the perimeter road to gate 3 to get to North Morgan manor and would park near the end of the runway on the rise just to watch it take off, which was usually just before sunset. Then I would watch the 2 exhaust flames become one and then disappear, probably by that time it was over Korea.
Robert and Brian, after I shipped out of Beale, in Marysville, CA, I was sent to Kadena to a SAC mission to help set up a photo lab for the escalation missions of bombing the hell out of So Viet Nam. We processed the B-52 radar scopes as well as the 11 X 11 aerial camera films. I was there in Okinawa for a year and a half when my enlistment was up in June, '69. Honestly, it was war, but the waste of taxpayer money and the waste of resources would stagger any citizen's imagination. I told my re-up officer I did NOT want to be part of this war effort. He was dumbfounded and he tried his level best to convince me to reconsider, but I had had enough. I was honorably separated in June '69 at Travis AFB, CA. By the time you fellows were stationed in Okinawa, the Vietnam war was over. I just want to thank you both for your service. Bob
The Blackbird was once described as a flying gastank with two massive engines and a place for a human to ride along! Watching the tanks leaking fuel through the cracks in the skin as they fill up is pretty strange too.
Same year the Berlin wall came down. Habu was just getting started. Brian and Walt tell a story of not clearing a storm formation until 70,000ft!!!! On a climb out over the south China sea, I think it was. 70,000ft till they cleared the clouds. Another 10,000 and they are at Operational.
Standard Aviation fuel just wont do for this girl. She requires a special blend of kerosene just for her that wont burn less its made to. Don't believe me? Look it up. In my opinion... The most beautiful aircraft ever made.
Did the refueling pump have to overcome the pressure of the blanketing nitrogen, or is there a unique configuration for fuel blanketing during the refueling process?
The Blackbird carried 260 liters of liquid nitrogen. This nitrogen expands into its gaseous form, as it is pumped into the fuel tanks to top them off as fuel is consumed. Without the nitrogen, the empty fuel tanks would cavitate from the increased pressure when returning to lower altitudes to refuel. There was no nitrogen pressure to counter upon refueling, only after the tanks were full would the nitrogen be slowly introduced to account for the void when under temperature changes and pressure differentiations.
Did somebody know the flight path of SR-71 from Takeoff, refueling, climb parameters, cruise, decend and landing? Want to know roughly speed (Mach or knots) for flying it in the sim ;)
Right, they apparently never solved the issue of leaking due to sealants being unable to withstand high temps, so they refueled after takeoff, then got up to altitude and speed, stretching the plane and sealing the tanks in the process. Unbelievable.
@@jimbarrofficial That is correct. At altitude and Mach 3+ the J-58 engines would grow 6" longer and 3" around. An astounding fact, but true. There fuel needs were another strange fact.
Leaks sealed themselves in flight. It was a totally unique aircraft at the time and the engineers had there brains on overdrive to deal with the amounts of physics to deal with. Kelly Johnson was the fellow behind the SR-71. It was way ahead of the U-2 that was shot down over Russia (USSR) in '60 or there abouts. I got to see these aircraft up close during my air force days in '67 as a photographer.
As a tanker pilot supporting the SR71, I can tell it was a great mission. Nearly every mission required a two ship of tankers. We had JP7 fuel to offload and it was usually shared between the wingman. The dynamics was that wingman flew 1/2 mile at 85 degrees off the lead aircraft (nearly wings abreast). This was intentional as the SR crew had limited visibility. If lead couldn’t offload, they would immediately move to #2. you started at 320kias and accelerated to 355KIAS. Even with those speeds, the offload of the fuel put the SR at a high AOA which often required them to run one of their afterburners to stay safe. We had great and proficient boom operators, there weren’t a lot of planes that you would refuel at 355 knots.
I was on a B52 crew, and remember refueling around 800 knots.
At what altitude did you refuel ?
It was generally between 26-28k. We still had to accelerate to 320kias and continue to 355kias. With J57 engines, always a tough ask.
@@edjarrett3164 Thanks, interesting.
800 knots? Cute story son time for bed
I was at Wright-Patterson the day they retired the one they got. Came in from either Beale or Edwards in 60 minutes. Watched it land after several photo passes and a couple approaches. That was in February of 1990. I'll never forget it. I have a picture of the airborn chute not inflated yet with smoke coming off the tires. Coolest thing I ever saw.
Man, that is a sight few would have seen and all would remember. An SR-71 just metres underneath you.
Honestly a sight to behold. These old KC-135Q were going full bore as fast as they possibly can, and the SR-71 was slowing down so much, it's practically stalling out. These pro's made this look EASY.
The HABU. Loved watching them in the 70’s & 80’s in Okinawa. The most amazing aircraft of its time.
I saw the SR 71 fly when it came to the Toronto International Air show on Labour Day at the Canadian National Exhibition I think in 1987. It did its loops and stuff and when they laft the came from over the city in a southerly direction and just as it went over Lake Ontario it lit the afterburners and went straight up. that was the only time I ever seen one. Years later I find out Maury Rosenburg was the pilot and later he was the one that did the fly by at Sac Metro in that famous story that is all over you tube. Every couple of years I watch the video of Maury Rosenburg talk about it near the end of the presentation.
As a young airman, on my way to a TDY mission to a crash site from Beale AFB, CA to Kirkland AFB, NM and the high desert area in NM, I hopped a ride on one of these tankers. The boom operator came and asked me would I like to watch a B-52 being refueled. It was something I had never seen before or since during my short Air Force career. A remarkable sight, indeed.
They used to park our C-130s in the hard stands across from the SR hangers at Mildenhall back in the 80s and we would sit on top of our tails and watch them start, taxi and take off if we happened to be in town. Very impressive aircraft and the second sexiest just behind the C-130....
Legend has it that up there somewhere, it’s still refuelling now.
If I was that refueling boom operator, I'd be like holy crap that's like an SR-71, imma scared!
You forgot to show the KC-135Q Navigator. The person who directs the airborne rendezvous. without whom the A/R wouldn't be possible. (Killer Nav 1977-1982, KBAB)
Boom Operator. One of the best jobs in the Air Force.
This must be an incredibly difficult procedure . All I can say is ; IMPRESSIVE ! ! What an aircraft the SR 71 was !
This is absolutely amazing!
I never tired of watching the "Habu" take off while at Kadena AFB on Okinawa!
@Robert Frazier I worked at the Inflight kitchen right on the flightline and took the perimeter road to gate 3 to get to North Morgan manor and would park near the end of the runway on the rise just to watch it take off, which was usually just before sunset. Then I would watch the 2 exhaust flames become one and then disappear, probably by that time it was over Korea.
Robert and Brian, after I shipped out of Beale, in Marysville, CA, I was sent to Kadena to a SAC mission to help set up a photo lab for the escalation missions of bombing the hell out of So Viet Nam. We processed the B-52 radar scopes as well as the 11 X 11 aerial camera films. I was there in Okinawa for a year and a half when my enlistment was up in June, '69. Honestly, it was war, but the waste of taxpayer money and the waste of resources would stagger any citizen's imagination. I told my re-up officer I did NOT want to be part of this war effort. He was dumbfounded and he tried his level best to convince me to reconsider, but I had had enough. I was honorably separated in June '69 at Travis AFB, CA.
By the time you fellows were stationed in Okinawa, the Vietnam war was over. I just want to thank you both for your service. Bob
Love that video I wish I could’ve saw SR 71 blackbird fly in person !
I've seen one. At the museum. Castle Air Museum, California. They also had B-29, B-36, B-52... and assorted fighters.
@@BornAtheist The only one I've seen was on March Air Base Museum on Riverside, California
I saw one fly out of the aerospace America air show in Oklahoma City in the early 90s very loud engines
The Blackbird was once described as a flying gastank with two massive engines and a place for a human to ride along! Watching the tanks leaking fuel through the cracks in the skin as they fill up is pretty strange too.
I didn't realize how big the 71 was. It looks almost as big as the kc 135.
Noticed that also! - A beast of a plane !
Same year the Berlin wall came down. Habu was just getting started. Brian and Walt tell a story of not clearing a storm formation until 70,000ft!!!! On a climb out over the south China sea, I think it was. 70,000ft till they cleared the clouds. Another 10,000 and they are at Operational.
Standard Aviation fuel just wont do for this girl. She requires a special blend of kerosene just for her that wont burn less its made to. Don't believe me? Look it up. In my opinion... The most beautiful aircraft ever made.
Theres no providers of that special fuel anymore
Thats the reason for the "Green flame" ??
When the pump turns on, there is a screen on the bottom of the tanker so you can watch gas station tv.
Jetfire goes for a drink lol😉
O m g m8
Do we get baby SR-71s out of this procedure?
Habu is a thirsty bird 🦅
It looks like the tanker is spilling a lot fuel into the wind
SR71 mates with KC135Q
what a job! no pressure there!! What altitude did they do this at?
around 25k ft, 300 knots
300 knots? I did not know the SR-71 had reverse! 🤣
@@williammain7281 You can be at + Mach 3 while still well under 300 Kts
@@12345fowler If its high enough then its completly right Sir! ;)
Looks like 50
Did the refueling pump have to overcome the pressure of the blanketing nitrogen, or is there a unique configuration for fuel blanketing during the refueling process?
The Blackbird carried 260 liters of liquid nitrogen. This nitrogen expands into its gaseous form, as it is pumped into the fuel tanks to top them off as fuel is consumed. Without the nitrogen, the empty fuel tanks would cavitate from the increased pressure when returning to lower altitudes to refuel. There was no nitrogen pressure to counter upon refueling, only after the tanks were full would the nitrogen be slowly introduced to account for the void when under temperature changes and pressure differentiations.
@@battlefieldking8749 Thanks!
Did somebody know the flight path of SR-71 from Takeoff, refueling, climb parameters, cruise, decend and landing? Want to know roughly speed (Mach or knots) for flying it in the sim ;)
I certainly hope the boom operator isn't as shaky as this video is, they're gonna have a good time delivering fuel to that Blackbird, lol.
and they are flying at 600 mph
Was there a problem refueling or why do they make three different attemps?
For training, multiple hookups.
The SR-71 was designed to leak badly even when refueling.
Right, they apparently never solved the issue of leaking due to sealants being unable to withstand high temps, so they refueled after takeoff, then got up to altitude and speed, stretching the plane and sealing the tanks in the process. Unbelievable.
@@jimbarrofficial I wonder if advancements in materials science could have fixed the problem today.
@@jimbarrofficial That is correct. At altitude and Mach 3+ the J-58 engines would grow 6" longer and 3" around. An astounding fact, but true. There fuel needs were another strange fact.
Leaks sealed themselves in flight. It was a totally unique aircraft at the time and the engineers had there brains on overdrive to deal with the amounts of physics to deal with. Kelly Johnson was the fellow behind the SR-71. It was way ahead of the U-2 that was shot down over Russia (USSR) in '60 or there abouts. I got to see these aircraft up close during my air force days in '67 as a photographer.
HD = Horrible Definition
And... Got ready to fly.. to Russia :-)
SIERRA HOTEL !!!