SR-71 Blackbird Pilot's Flight Manual (Paperback)

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Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Created by Lockheed's brilliant designer Kelly Johnson, the SR-71 was one of the most legendary aircraft to emerge from the "Skunk Works". Capable of Mach 3 flight, the SR-71 could survey 100,000 miles of the earth's surface from an altitude of 80,000 feet.

The Blackbird holds the coast-to-coast speed record of 64 minutes flown at over 2100 m.p.h. It was also one of the first aircraft to be shaped in such a way as to have a very low radar signature.

Originally created for the elite group of men who drove "the sled", this Flight Operating Handbook provides a revealing look into the cockpit of one of history's great planes. Just recently declassified, this book contains all the basic pilot's instructions for the SR-71 and two-seat training model. This affordable facsimile has been reformatted, but care has been taken to preserve the integrity of the text. Please note, some pages are still classified and have been omitted.

This is an authentic Air Force document reproduced in its entirety (except for classified omissions) and featuring attractive gloss covers.

From the Publisher

The Lockheed SR-71, unofficially known as the Blackbird and by its crews as the "Habu", was an advanced, long-range, Mach 3 strategic reconnaissance aircraft developed from the Lockheed YF-12A and A-12 aircraft by the Lockheed Skunk Works. It flew from 1964–1998. The legendary "Kelly" Johnson, in particular, was the man behind many of the design's advanced concepts. The SR-71 was one of the first aircraft to be shaped to have an extremely low radar signature. The aircraft flew so fast and so high that if the pilot detected a surface-to-air missile launch, the standard evasive action was simply to accelerate. No SR-71 was ever shot down.

Product Details

• Paperback: 348 pages
• Publisher: Lulu.com; First Edition edition (May 3, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1411699378
• ISBN-13: 978-1411699373
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #721,504 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Only a Partial Manual, December 24, 2007

By	Pen Name (Northern Virginia, United States) - See all my reviews

This book consists of only Sections I and II of the SR-71 "Dash One", which contain the equipment descriptions and normal procedures. The sections containing information such as emergency procedures, flight characteristics, crew duties, and aircraft performance data are all missing. This unclassified information is available in online versions of the manual, therefore this book has to be rated as a big disappointment.

1 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars X-15 Rocket Plane Pilot's Flight Manual, May 15, 2006

By	TorpedoEight (USA) - See all my reviews

The X-15 rocket plane flew at Mach 6.72 and at altitudes above 67 miles -- at the threshold of space! The men who flew this amazing plane became the USAF's first astronauts. Powered by an XLR-99 engine capable of producing 70,000 pounds of thrust at peak altitude, the X-15 pushed the envelope for manned aircraft past the post office. Notably, both Apollo commander Neil Armstrong and Space Shuttle commander Joe Engle piloted the X-15. Originally highly restricted, the manual was recently declassified and is here reprinted in book form. This affordable black and white facsimile has been reformatted. Care has been taken however to preserve the integrity of the text