L.A. Speed Check

[fat rat]

Great video of a SR-71 routine mission.

 

[TITTIES AND BEER]

Lol very kool

 

[rivrrts429]

That’s awesome. Post it here...

https://www.riverdavesplace.com/forums/threads/tales-of-the-blackbird-sr-71.121525/

 

[fat rat]

I was temporarily assigned to a base in England back in the early 80's, every morning at 0900 you heard the rumble of the Big. Block Chevy starting up. We new it was launch time for the Black Bird.

 

[TITTIES AND BEER]

Is that a gen set ? What’s it for ?

 

[fat rat]

I was an aircraft mechanic , but judging by its designation AG-330, I would guess Gen 5 which was rated at 330 hp.

 

[fat rat]

Is that a gen set ? What’s it for ?

It was used for starting/turning the J58 to RPM til ignition.

 

[mothershipper]

It was used for starting/turning the J58 to RPM til ignition.

In the Navy we called it the Huffer. Newer jets have an APU to start up the main engines. Older jets ( 1970's jets & before ) needed an outside source to start up. Jets such as A-3, A-4, A-6, A-7, F-4, F-8 etc needed a huffer. Not sure about the air force stuff so much. But I know for sure that F/A-18's had an APU because I started up quite a few of them.

 

[coolchange]

I was temporarily assigned to a base in England back in the early 80's, every morning at 0900 you heard the rumble of the Big. Block Chevy starting up. We new it was launch time for the Black Bird.

And what does it have to do with boating you might ask?
Kurtis craft used to build those.

 

[highvoltagehands]

Kurtis Craft built the SR-71?

 

[rivrrts429]

Kurtis Craft built the SR-71?

No, the big block to fire up the main engines.

 

[mjc]

The Apu at the March AFB museum has 2 Buicks in it.

 

[wsuwrhr]

Yep, before the Buicks went out of production.

The Apu at the March AFB museum has 2 Buicks in it.

 

[fat rat]

In the Navy we called it the Huffer. Newer jets have an APU to start up the main engines. Older jets ( 1970's jets & before ) needed an outside source to start up. Jets such as A-3, A-4, A-6, A-7, F-4, F-8 etc needed a huffer. Not sure about the air force stuff so much. But I know for sure that F/A-18's had an APU because I started up quite a few of them.

I do remember recovering /launching several USMC A-4M's back in the late 70's and they were self contained. You are correct on all other models. I was qualified on most services aircraft, to include post/preflight inspection,servicing and launch/recovery.

Our external air source was called a MA-1A, Which became our code name when out on the town for "Blowjob"!

 

[fat rat]

The Apu at the March AFB museum has 2 Buicks in it.

Yes Buick Nail Heads!

 

[highvoltagehands]

No, the big block to fire up the main engines.

Thanks. I was teasing. My best friends dad is retired crane operator 40+years with Lockheed Skunk Works. He's shared alot of really incredible stories with me over the years about a couple Blackbirds…..