More Blackbird Trivia

After our last discussion about the SR-71 Blackbird, a debate ensued as to
whether the Blackbird actually overflew Soviet airspace, in direct violation
of the agreement the U.S. signed with the U.S.S.R. after the Francis Gary
Powers incident. This agreement forbade overflights.

I was under the impression that the U.S. *had* flown the SR-71 over
Russia -- so I decided to check with a friend who worked closely with the
Blackbird for over three decades. It turns out we're all correct, sort
of...

Here's his response:

"Hi Jay, I am still out of town but will be home later this week. The
Blackbird was banned from crossing Russia by a law congress passed after the
Gary Powers incident. We did however fly the D21 over there but it was not a
complete crossing but an in and out mission. The SR71 did fly the perimeters
and could obtain a lot of elint data that way around every edge of Russia."

So there you have it. The Blackbird itself did not overfly Russia -- but
the D21 (that weird-looking probe that was mounted on top of the Blackbird,
between the two tails) did. It was not, however, a complete crossing.

Or, at least, that's what the experts are willing to admit to us at this
point! :-)
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

In a previous article, "Jay Honeck" said:
So there you have it. The Blackbird itself did not overfly Russia -- but
the D21 (that weird-looking probe that was mounted on top of the Blackbird,
between the two tails) did. It was not, however, a complete crossing.

The D21 wasn't a probe, it was an unmanned drone that was launched from
the SR-71. You probably mean the same thing, but when I see "probe" I
tend to think of something that stays attached.

BTW: Everything I've read suggests the D21 was spectacularly unsuccessful.
Besides killing a few SR-71 pilots in separation accidents, they also had
a couple that never returned from missions into China, and most of the
rest that did come back were found to have not collected any data due to
glitches.

--
Paul Tomblin http://xcski.com/blogs/pt/
"AOL would be a giant diesel-smoking bus with hundreds of ebola victims on
board throwing dead wombats and rotten cabbage at the other cars"
- a.s.r throws the Information Superhighway metaphor into reverse.

"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
newsGKqc.34420$6f5.3418116@attbi_s54...
After our last discussion about the SR-71 Blackbird, a debate ensued as to
whether the Blackbird actually overflew Soviet airspace, in direct
violation
of the agreement the U.S. signed with the U.S.S.R. after the Francis Gary
Powers incident. This agreement forbade overflights.

I was under the impression that the U.S. *had* flown the SR-71 over
Russia -- so I decided to check with a friend who worked closely with the
Blackbird for over three decades. It turns out we're all correct, sort
of...

Here's his response:

"Hi Jay, I am still out of town but will be home later this week. The
Blackbird was banned from crossing Russia by a law congress passed after
the
Gary Powers incident. We did however fly the D21 over there but it was not
a
complete crossing but an in and out mission. The SR71 did fly the
perimeters
and could obtain a lot of elint data that way around every edge of
Russia."

So there you have it. The Blackbird itself did not overfly Russia -- but
the D21 (that weird-looking probe that was mounted on top of the
Blackbird,
between the two tails) did. It was not, however, a complete crossing.

Or, at least, that's what the experts are willing to admit to us at this
point! :-)

So now he has to kill you?

Doesn't "overflight" mean within international airspace? Class-A goes upto
60,000 ft and the Blackbird could fly at 85,000. So it was possible for it
to overfly Russia above international airspace. But did the Agreement
write that out? If so, how was airspace and overflight defined? E.g., is
the moon overflying us?

"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
newsGKqc.34420$6f5.3418116@attbi_s54...
After our last discussion about the SR-71 Blackbird, a debate ensued as to
whether the Blackbird actually overflew Soviet airspace, in direct
violation
of the agreement the U.S. signed with the U.S.S.R. after the Francis Gary
Powers incident. This agreement forbade overflights.

I was under the impression that the U.S. *had* flown the SR-71 over
Russia -- so I decided to check with a friend who worked closely with the
Blackbird for over three decades. It turns out we're all correct, sort
of...

Here's his response:

"Hi Jay, I am still out of town but will be home later this week. The
Blackbird was banned from crossing Russia by a law congress passed after
the
Gary Powers incident. We did however fly the D21 over there but it was not
a
complete crossing but an in and out mission. The SR71 did fly the
perimeters
and could obtain a lot of elint data that way around every edge of
Russia."

So there you have it. The Blackbird itself did not overfly Russia -- but
the D21 (that weird-looking probe that was mounted on top of the
Blackbird,
between the two tails) did. It was not, however, a complete crossing.

Or, at least, that's what the experts are willing to admit to us at this
point! :-)
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Where did you come up with this definition or "international airspace" or
even the term?

Mike
MU-2

"William W. Plummer" wrote in message
news:dKLqc.77875$536.12815683@attbi_s03...
Doesn't "overflight" mean within international airspace? Class-A goes
upto
60,000 ft and the Blackbird could fly at 85,000. So it was possible for
it
to overfly Russia above international airspace. But did the Agreement
write that out? If so, how was airspace and overflight defined? E.g., is
the moon overflying us?

"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
newsGKqc.34420$6f5.3418116@attbi_s54...
After our last discussion about the SR-71 Blackbird, a debate ensued as
to
whether the Blackbird actually overflew Soviet airspace, in direct
violation
of the agreement the U.S. signed with the U.S.S.R. after the Francis
Gary
Powers incident. This agreement forbade overflights.

I was under the impression that the U.S. *had* flown the SR-71 over
Russia -- so I decided to check with a friend who worked closely with
the
Blackbird for over three decades. It turns out we're all correct, sort
of...

Here's his response:

"Hi Jay, I am still out of town but will be home later this week. The
Blackbird was banned from crossing Russia by a law congress passed after
the
Gary Powers incident. We did however fly the D21 over there but it was
not
a
complete crossing but an in and out mission. The SR71 did fly the
perimeters
and could obtain a lot of elint data that way around every edge of
Russia."

So there you have it. The Blackbird itself did not overfly Russia --
but
the D21 (that weird-looking probe that was mounted on top of the
Blackbird,
between the two tails) did. It was not, however, a complete crossing.

Or, at least, that's what the experts are willing to admit to us at this
point! :-)
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

ICAO -- something like "International Council on Aircraft Operations".
They define Class-A, class-B, etc. Not to mention METARs and the like.
USA adopted these in 1992 IIRC.

"Mike Rapoport" wrote in message
ink.net...
Where did you come up with this definition or "international airspace" or
even the term?

Mike
MU-2

"William W. Plummer" wrote in
message
news:dKLqc.77875$536.12815683@attbi_s03...
Doesn't "overflight" mean within international airspace? Class-A goes
upto
60,000 ft and the Blackbird could fly at 85,000. So it was possible
for
it
to overfly Russia above international airspace. But did the Agreement
write that out? If so, how was airspace and overflight defined? E.g.,
is
the moon overflying us?

"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
newsGKqc.34420$6f5.3418116@attbi_s54...
After our last discussion about the SR-71 Blackbird, a debate ensued
as
to
whether the Blackbird actually overflew Soviet airspace, in direct
violation
of the agreement the U.S. signed with the U.S.S.R. after the Francis
Gary
Powers incident. This agreement forbade overflights.

I was under the impression that the U.S. *had* flown the SR-71 over
Russia -- so I decided to check with a friend who worked closely with
the
Blackbird for over three decades. It turns out we're all correct,
sort
of...

Here's his response:

"Hi Jay, I am still out of town but will be home later this week. The
Blackbird was banned from crossing Russia by a law congress passed
after
the
Gary Powers incident. We did however fly the D21 over there but it was
not
a
complete crossing but an in and out mission. The SR71 did fly the
perimeters
and could obtain a lot of elint data that way around every edge of
Russia."

So there you have it. The Blackbird itself did not overfly Russia --
but
the D21 (that weird-looking probe that was mounted on top of the
Blackbird,
between the two tails) did. It was not, however, a complete crossing.

Or, at least, that's what the experts are willing to admit to us at
this
point! :-)
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

So where does it say that airspace above FL600 is "international airspace"?

Mike
MU-2


"William W. Plummer" wrote in message
news:aFMqc.78028$536.12851446@attbi_s03...
ICAO -- something like "International Council on Aircraft Operations".
They define Class-A, class-B, etc. Not to mention METARs and the like.
USA adopted these in 1992 IIRC.

"Mike Rapoport" wrote in message
ink.net...
Where did you come up with this definition or "international airspace"
or
even the term?

Mike
MU-2

"William W. Plummer" wrote in
message
news:dKLqc.77875$536.12815683@attbi_s03...
Doesn't "overflight" mean within international airspace? Class-A
goes
upto
60,000 ft and the Blackbird could fly at 85,000. So it was possible
for
it
to overfly Russia above international airspace. But did the
Agreement
write that out? If so, how was airspace and overflight defined?
E.g.,
is
the moon overflying us?

"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
newsGKqc.34420$6f5.3418116@attbi_s54...
After our last discussion about the SR-71 Blackbird, a debate ensued
as
to
whether the Blackbird actually overflew Soviet airspace, in direct
violation
of the agreement the U.S. signed with the U.S.S.R. after the Francis
Gary
Powers incident. This agreement forbade overflights.

I was under the impression that the U.S. *had* flown the SR-71 over
Russia -- so I decided to check with a friend who worked closely
with
the
Blackbird for over three decades. It turns out we're all correct,
sort
of...

Here's his response:

"Hi Jay, I am still out of town but will be home later this week.
The
Blackbird was banned from crossing Russia by a law congress passed
after
the
Gary Powers incident. We did however fly the D21 over there but it
was
not
a
complete crossing but an in and out mission. The SR71 did fly the
perimeters
and could obtain a lot of elint data that way around every edge of
Russia."

So there you have it. The Blackbird itself did not overfly
Russia --
but
the D21 (that weird-looking probe that was mounted on top of the
Blackbird,
between the two tails) did. It was not, however, a complete
crossing.

Or, at least, that's what the experts are willing to admit to us at
this
point! :-)
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Of course it over flew the USSR. Why to you thing they build it?

"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
newsGKqc.34420$6f5.3418116@attbi_s54...
After our last discussion about the SR-71 Blackbird, a debate ensued as to
whether the Blackbird actually overflew Soviet airspace, in direct
violation
of the agreement the U.S. signed with the U.S.S.R. after the Francis Gary
Powers incident. This agreement forbade overflights.

I was under the impression that the U.S. *had* flown the SR-71 over
Russia -- so I decided to check with a friend who worked closely with the
Blackbird for over three decades. It turns out we're all correct, sort
of...

Here's his response:

"Hi Jay, I am still out of town but will be home later this week. The
Blackbird was banned from crossing Russia by a law congress passed after
the
Gary Powers incident. We did however fly the D21 over there but it was not
a
complete crossing but an in and out mission. The SR71 did fly the
perimeters
and could obtain a lot of elint data that way around every edge of
Russia."

So there you have it. The Blackbird itself did not overfly Russia -- but
the D21 (that weird-looking probe that was mounted on top of the
Blackbird,
between the two tails) did. It was not, however, a complete crossing.

Or, at least, that's what the experts are willing to admit to us at this
point! :-)
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Want to see a SR71 Black Bird fly in to McMinnville OR you can also see the
Spruce Goose



"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
newsGKqc.34420$6f5.3418116@attbi_s54...
After our last discussion about the SR-71 Blackbird, a debate ensued as to
whether the Blackbird actually overflew Soviet airspace, in direct
violation
of the agreement the U.S. signed with the U.S.S.R. after the Francis Gary
Powers incident. This agreement forbade overflights.

I was under the impression that the U.S. *had* flown the SR-71 over
Russia -- so I decided to check with a friend who worked closely with the
Blackbird for over three decades. It turns out we're all correct, sort
of...

Here's his response:

"Hi Jay, I am still out of town but will be home later this week. The
Blackbird was banned from crossing Russia by a law congress passed after
the
Gary Powers incident. We did however fly the D21 over there but it was not
a
complete crossing but an in and out mission. The SR71 did fly the
perimeters
and could obtain a lot of elint data that way around every edge of
Russia."

So there you have it. The Blackbird itself did not overfly Russia -- but
the D21 (that weird-looking probe that was mounted on top of the
Blackbird,
between the two tails) did. It was not, however, a complete crossing.

Or, at least, that's what the experts are willing to admit to us at this
point! :-)
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

"lardsoup" wrote

Of course it over flew the USSR. Why to you thing they build it?

WARNING....time for another spelling lesson.

"Why *do* you *think* they *built* it?

Bob Moore