Lockheed Blackbird: Beyond the Secret Missions (General Aviation) [Illustrated] [Hardcover]

Paul Crickmore (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 11, 2004 | Series: General Aviation

In this book, expert author Paul Crickmore leads the reader deeper than ever before into the 'Black World' of the A-12 and SR-71 top-secret reconnaissance mission. For the first time, detailed first-hand accounts from CIA and USAF pilots bring to life the experience of flying highly classified missions in the Blackbird, whilst Allied and former Warsaw Pact fighter pilots describe their efforts to intercept the spy-plane. Travelling more than a mile every 2 seconds and flying fifteen miles above the earth's surface, the SR-71's performance capacities were truly awesome. This book draws on hundreds of newly declassified Top Secret documents and the experiences of the author's key military contacts to provide the most detailed information available on the SR-71.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Author Crickmore has been involved in SR-71 operations to some extent and so is able to bring his own love of the aircraft to the reader... Full of photos, charts and technical information, this book is as good as it gets. It is a superb reference on the type and is one that every enthusiast of the aircraft needs to have on their shelf." - Scott Van Aken, Modeling Madness --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

About the Author

During his thirteen years at the London Air Traffic Control Centre, Paul Crickmore gained his Pilot’s Licence and flew a large number of RAF and USAF fast jets. In October 1981, he was granted a special security clearance to fly in a KC-135Q during the operational refuelling of an SR-71 from RAF Mildenhall, granting him access to a world usually hidden from non-programme members. Crickmore has since become an expert authority on the Blackbird or ‘Habu’, and has written numerous articles and books about military aviation.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 400 pages
• Publisher: Osprey Publishing; Rev Upd edition (November 11, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1841766941
• ISBN-13: 978-1841766942
• Product Dimensions: 10.6 x 8.1 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,704,524 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Must-have book for SR-71 fans!, May 23, 2010

By 

F-111A (California, USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Lockheed Blackbird: Beyond the Secret Missions (General Aviation) (Paperback)

I have just about every book written about the SR-71 "Blackbird", and I am very pleased to say that this fully revised book by Paul Crickmore is outstanding. Anyone who is familiar with the SR-71 knows the name Paul Crickmore; he has been writing about the Blackbird for decades. I have many of Mr. Crickmore's earlier works,and I was a bit apprehensive about buying this one over the Internet, thinking that it might be a rehash of the earlier volums. I am very pleased to say that "Lockheed Blackbird - Beyond the Secret Missions" is practically a whole new work, and, at 400 pages, it is crammed with lots of facts, tables, and details. Of course, all of the main Cold War events are detailed, and, interestingly, there is a section detailing Soviet MiG 31 intercept missions against the SR-71, flown by MAJ Mikhail Myagkiy.

This volume provides details about every flight of the SR-71, as well as every record held, and the disposition of each aircraft. I'm sure there are many details that are still classified, and unavailable for publication, but aside from this, I'm pretty certain that Mr. Crickmore has included all of the unclassified stuff.

If there is one book to have regarding the SR-71 Blackbird, this one is it. Buy it, read it, and enjoy it; you will not be disappointed.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The definitive book on the SR-71, May 7, 2010

By 

alberchico "tupolev" (new york) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lockheed Blackbird: Beyond the Secret Missions (General Aviation) (Paperback)

Most fans of the Blackbird are familiar with Paul Crickmores books on the aircraft but this one blows them all away. Simply put everything you ever wanted to know about the plane is here. The only other book that might contain more technical details would be the SR-71 flight manuals themselves. And at only $24.95 its a relative bargain.

If you are looking for a good and affordable book on this magnificent aircraft then this would be the best one to buy.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best book on the market!!!, June 4, 2010

By 

Homer Jay "Homer" (The Great White North) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Lockheed Blackbird: Beyond the Secret Missions (General Aviation) (Paperback)

I cannot improve on what the other posters have added. This book is that good. I have multiple books on the SR-71 series, and this is the most comprehensive book I have seen yet. The background, the development, the history, it is all there.

I build scale models, and this book is a treasure trove of detail and knowledge for deep scratchbuilding.