Lockheed SR-71: The Secret Missions Exposed [Paperback]

Paul Crickmore (Author)

Book Description

Series: General Aviation | Publication Date: July 25, 2000

Tasked with performing highly classified missions, Lockheed's SR-71 is an impressive military jet. This volume reviews the alliance between NASA and the Lockheed project, and features a fully detailed listing of USAF missions flown out of Kadena. Also detailed are the flights from Beale AFB in California and RAF Mildenhall in England, as the SR-71 monitored Soviet nuclear submarines in the Arctic Circle and the Baltic. The SR-71 story features contributions from 70 crewmembers and six generals who discuss their experiences and judgements of the Blackbird project.

Product Details

• Paperback: 280 pages
• Publisher: Osprey Publishing; 3rd edition (July 25, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1841760986
• ISBN-13: 978-1841760988
• Product Dimensions: 10.6 x 7.8 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #963,187 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An outstanding tribute, November 21, 2000

By 

Claudio Bompadre - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lockheed SR 71 Revised Ed (General Aviation) (Hardcover)

Rarely an aircraft career has been analyzed so completely. This volume is a gripping account of missions flown by Lockheed SR 71 during its operational life, a tribute to a fantastic aircraft and its technological legacy.

The book narrates the story of plane birth as replacement to the famous spyplane U2. The operational requirements leading to U2 first, than to SR71, shaped these two futuristic reconnaissance platforms; but for the SR71, the author provides full coverage of its development as a aircraft family (interceptor and bomber versions). After introducing the CIA operations and the past highly classified programs, progenitors of Blackbird, a detailed description of aircraft design characteristics is presented, finally a vivid picture of most secret engineering data concerning the equipments and aircraft systems. This is a fascinating reading itself, especially after being entertained by "Skunk Works", the autobiography of Ben Rich, former director of the Advanced Development Projects branch of Lockheed and longtime friend of Kelly Johnson , Blackbird's chief designer. The legacy left by these outstanding scientists is simply gigantic and the technical description of one of their creature is well worth the price. Infact a precious facet of the volume is the cockpits instruments panels, the cutaway view with general internal layout and the inlet (or intake, as Britons prefer) airflow diagram, the first time that such a complicated duct system is described and printed. Also revealed for the first time are the missions operated by Air Force to monitor the Soviet nuclear submarines pens in the Artic during the peak of cold war.

After many years of silent and classified operations, the most impressive airplane ever built is discovered in this engrossing publication. The author delivers outstandingly the technological marvel and the faithful "day by day" care required by the personnel in maintaining the recce plarform a viable military program, a lasting portrait of men who flew and overhauled the almighty Blackbird before its untimely retirement.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Engrossing, August 4, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Lockheed SR 71 Revised Ed (General Aviation) (Hardcover)

Yesss! Engrossing is the only way to describe this book. The Lockheed SR-71, publically known as 'Blackbird' or 'Habu' to US Air Force personnel is one of aviation's most exciting legends. And so it should be: 3,000 mph, and a 97,000 feet operating altitude. Eventually the victim of political cost-cutting, the SR-71 was an astonishing and highly secret achievement when it first flew in 1962. Paul Crickmore goes into great detail about the many covert operations the Blackbird took part in and reveals how it was almost completely invulnerable to fighter interception and SAM attacks. Many Vietnam-era missions are described as are the aeroplane's frequent accidents and incidents. The SR-71, in company with a huge fleet of KC-135 tankers, flew across the world to obtain classified and valuable intelligence for the CIA and armed forces.

19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book, February 28, 1998

By 

[e-mail] (Edwards, California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lockheed SR 71 Revised Ed (General Aviation) (Hardcover)

Mr. Crickmore does a fabulous job in describing operations with the worlds fastest jet aircraft. For airplane buffs amd military historians it is a must read. This book begs the question, "Does this aircraft have any use in a post-cold war world?" You betcha. Somebody should shove this book under the noses of President Clinton, every member of the House and Senate, and the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Mr. Crickmore's describes in plain English why the SR-71 should be kept operational. Simply put, it can't be touched. Saddam Hussein's recent actions prove even more eliquently as to why the SR-71 should be brought back. He stopped U-2 flights (with shoot down threats) over Iraq in November of 1997. This action emboldened Hussein to other actions. Mainly attempting to get UN sactions lifted. Stopping the U-2 is easy enough to do - 9 are known to have been shot down. The SR-71 has been shot at many times but never hit. There's a world of differeence between a 450 mhp airplane and a 2250 mph airplane. Though expensive, the SR-71 is surviveable. The expense is certainly worth while. How much is peace worth to the average American? Certainly worth the cost of an SR-71 fleet. The current mess with Iraq can be traced in part to the premature (again) retirement of the SR-71. President Clinton line item vetoed the SR-71 in October of 1997 - Hussein threatened to shoot down U-2's in November of 1997. The proper response should have been to deploy the SR-71. Read Mr. Crickmore's book - see if I'm wrong. Overall, I'd say the book is well researched and well written.