3/21/2023 0 Comments Sr71 cockpitAmazing facts help understand the skills required to safely operate the craft: Did you know that the plane requires 100 miles to conduct a turn? Keeping the plane's center of gravity adjusted to get maximal performance requires shifting fuel from one fuel tank to another during flight. One has to admire the men and woman who flew these unique machines in a very unforgiving environment at 80,000 feet. Every minute detail is described about preparing for flight, takeoff, cruising at Mach 3, taking on fuel, landing and operating the sensors along with the various check lists. I would never think of flying the SR71 but the book gives all the details about flying this plane on missions. In 2005, the Blackbird Association awarded him the Kelly Johnson trophy, a lifetime achievement award for his work to perpetuate, foster and improve the SR-71. He is currently a Distinguished Lecturer for the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA). Shea Award for his distinguished contribution to aviation. Colonel Graham was the 1999 recipient of the University of Nebraska's William F. He has written three books, "SR-71 Revealed," "SR-71 Blackbird: Stories, Tales, and Legends," and "Flying the SR-71 Blackbird." A veteran of 15 years of assignments within the SR-71 community, he is uniquely qualified to tell the SR-71 story. Graham is a pilot with the Frisco Civil Air Patrol Squadron and volunteers as a FAA representative (FAAST) on their safety team in Dallas. He now spends his time as an author, speaker, aviation consultant, and flight instructor. After flying 13 years at American, he retired in August 2002 as a Captain on the MD-80 aircraft, with over 7,500 hours. Upon retirement from the Air Force, he joined American Airlines in Dallas, Texas. His military decorations include three Legion of Merit awards, four Distinguished Flying Cross medals and 19 Air Medals. During his 25 years of service, he amassed 4,600 hours, retiring from the Air Force in 1989. Graham was selected to be the 9th Wing Commander at Beale in 1987. In 1980, he was selected to be the squadron commander of the SR-71 unit at Beale.Īfter serving four years in the Pentagon, Col. Graham also flew the SR-71 as an Instructor Pilot and Stan/Eval Pilot. He flew the SR-71 for the next seven years, amassing 756 hours in the worlds fastest and highest flying aircraft. He was selected to enter the SR-71 strategic reconnaissance program in 1974 at Beale Air Force Base, California. From 1971-1973 he flew 210 combat missions over North Vietnam and Laos in the F-4 Phantom. Graham entered Air Force pilot training, receiving his wings in 1965 at Craig Air Force Base, Selma, Alabama. He received a master's degree in Sociology in 1977 and in Public Administration in 1979 from Pepperdine University, Los Angeles, California.Ĭol. Richard Graham graduated from the University of Akron, Akron, Ohio in 1964. He flew this aircraft for seven years and ended up with 756 hours in its cockpit, which makes him the perfect author to write about this Mach 3+ jet. Colonel (ret) Richard Graham is the author of three books on the SR-71 Blackbird.
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