European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - December 21, 1989, Darmstadt, Hesse Thursday december 21, 1989 the stars and stripes Page 9 Over Here 5s5 out 5chuel�f a Workman is Busy performing maintenance on an sr-71 Long Range reconnaissance aircraft in a hangar 11 Raf Mildenhall England. The photo was taken last april. Pilots recall the thrill of spy plane flights by Amy Geiszler Jones . Bureau Raf Mildenhall England they were among the chosen few allowed to Fly the super secret air plane. And now their association with the super sonic super sleek sr-71 spy plane is drawing to a close. We be seen some interesting places and experienced some interesting phenomenon said . Col. Stan Gudmundson. Reconnaissance systems officer. The satisfaction for me was knowing that we were being tasked by the highest authority in the United states at said maj. Tom Mccleary who spent More than 300 hours in the Pilot s scat of the 107-foot-Longplanc. The two. Assigned to 1st strategic recon so. Flew missions from their Home base at Beale fab calif., and out of the two sr-71 overseas detachments at Raf Mildenhall and Kadena a Japan. They flew the air Force s last operational Mission of the spy plane in november before Congress and the presi Dent Cut All funding for the program. This week during which the plane Marks its 25th anniversary the two Are leaving the aircraft behind in England while the air Force decides what it will do with the planes. Gudmundson and Mccleary Are returning to scale and eventually to new jobs hut they la always remember into the sr-71 cockpit while dressed in pack suits. Flying almost 16 Miles above the Earth All Over the world. Sr-71 Crews were privy to unique sights. To see Earth s curvature during their High soaring missions on the Edge of space was common. To wit Ness multiple sunrises and sunsets was not unusual. Gudmundson. Who logged 450 hours in the plane saw the Sun Rise and set five times during one mis Sion. During night missions Moonlight would some times Glare onto the instrument panels in the cock pit. The Only other Light in the Jel Black atmosphere came from the stars. And they Don t twinkle up there Gudmundson said. They re Bright very precise pieces of Light. 1 thought they d be smaller but they re the panoramic views of the planet below them were extraordinary As Well. Who else could say that while they were approaching Northern California they could see the Canadian Border stretching put to their right and the mexican Border out their left window or behold the Liny twinkling City lights of Albuquerque . Denver Las vegas and los an Geles at one time at speeds exceeding 2.200 Mph those views were gone in a Flash however. There s no sensation of Speed said Gudmund son. A 20-year Veteran. But you do know you re whipping along when you look at the mileage ticker and a mile Clicks by in less than two a poster of the plane boasted thai if a Rifle Bullet and an sr-71 raced Between san Francisco and new York inc plane would beat the Bullpl by three min utes. The Blaek bid was the creation of Lockheed s engineering master Clarence Kelly Johnson. After world War ii the California based Lockheed began working on advanced aircraft design projects that came to be known As Skunk works. Johnson who i be never been in an air plane that kicks you Back into the seat like this thing it. Col. Stan Gudmundson headed the operation turned out several reconnaissance aircraft designs including the sr-71, u-2 and to i. The sr-71 version was derived from the yf-i2a, the original reconnaissance aircraft. Lockheed pro posed the sr-71 idea to inc air Force in 1961. And year later it received a contract for six sr-71 air frames. The first sr-71 prototype soared off a run Way on dec. 22, 1964. In january 1966. The strategic air come look Possession of the plane. The looting or Mold of the sr-71 Airframe was destroyed in inc late 1960s under the order of Rob Ert Mcnamara Sec relay of defense Briw can 1961 and 1968. The number of sr-7ls in the air Force inventory is classified but defense experts say 17 of the 34 or 71s produced still exist with nine being operational. Since 1982, two of the blackbirds have been stationed at Mildenhall permanently. Everything on the plane was invented from scratch even the paint because of its High flying Mission. The plane which is actually painted a dark indigo Blue is crafted primarily of titanium which can expand and contract with intense temperatures. The plane has unique requirements. To photograph targets using cameras or radar equipment fitted into its nose and belly in Al times carried As much As two Miles of Kodak film. It could Survey 100,000 Square Miles a min ulc. Its Jp-7 fuel had to have virtually Zero ignition qualities because the plane would become intensely hot during supersonic flight. When the aircraft was parked the fuel leaked from the belly of the plane whose titanium skin would contract when Cool. It was a very wet air plane to work under said Jim Musgrave who headed up Lockheed s maintenance group Al Mildenhall. The fuel tanks would fully Seal when the titanium expanded during the heat of inc night. A 40-foot. 250-Pound Orange Chute was specifically designed to Aid the plane s braking. All maintenance on the plane was performed by civilians with the Lockheed company. Other con tractors Many of whom remained classified provided personnel for the various by slams on the plane. It the hardest plane to maintain in the air Force because of the technology and the paces it was put through said Roger Spaulding a maintenance Crew Chi Fand former p-3 Orion Mechanic. The plane s flying time is Over though. The air Force said it had become an unnecessary Drain on funds because the intelligence it gathered could be obtained through other Means mainly satellites. As the plane s final Day Al the base approaches one airman who had been with the Mildenhall pro Gram since 1982 said i was Here to help take the lock off the door. Now i la be Here to help put the lock Back
