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  • Flying the SR-71 Blackbird

  • In the Cockpit on a Secret Operational Mission
  • By: Richard H. Graham
  • Narrated by: Shawn Compton
  • Length: 9 hrs and 21 mins
  • 4.2 out of 5 stars (40 ratings)
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Flying the SR-71 Blackbird cover art

Flying the SR-71 Blackbird

By: Richard H. Graham
Narrated by: Shawn Compton
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Summary

For anyone who has ever wondered what it's like to fly the SR-71 on a secret Mach 3 reconnaissance mission, this book has the answer. Completely redesigned and updated with photos from author Colonel Richard H. Graham's personal archive, as well as a new introduction, Flying the SR-71 Blackbird details what an SR-71 mission entailed, from planning to donning a pressure suit to returning to base.

The Lockheed SR-71, unofficially known as the Blackbird, was an advanced, long-range, Mach 3 strategic reconnaissance aircraft developed by Lockheed Skunk Works. The aircraft flew so fast and high that not one was ever shot down, even by a missile. SR-71 pilot and instructor Colonel Richard Graham offers a rare cockpit perspective on how regular Air Force pilots and navigators transformed themselves into SR-71 Blackbird crews, turning their unique aviation talents to account in an unprecedented way.

Arguably the world's foremost expert on piloting the Blackbird, Graham takes listeners along on an operational mission that only a few Air Force pilots have ever experienced.

©2008, 2010, 2019 Richard H. Graham (P)2021 Tantor

What listeners say about Flying the SR-71 Blackbird

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  • 02-10-23

Incredible detail

If your into aircraft or in the UK heading to Duxford IWM in Cambridge to see the static Blackbird display then this book is for you. Excellently narrated with so much detail it will captivate you. Outstanding.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

3x the speed

Flying the SR-71 Blackbird by #RichardHGraham. So if you want to know what it's like 🚀 flying at 3x the speed of sound, this #book takes you there. The writing about the @LockheedMartin & #skunkworks supersonic jet was detailed and accurate throughout. 📚 4/5🌟 #bookreview

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Bit nerdy but some good stuff in there

Sometimes a bit dry and specific but it's what is say on the tin. It's a full cockpit seat experience on what it was like to train, fly and be in the SR71 programme. Missss the paperwork with the hard copy a bit but a good listen all the same. Especially as it's so laden with facts and figures on the Blackbird story.

Really pleased I got this myself, but I think you need to be a pretty hardcore aviation enthusiast to appreciate it.

Now, if only "Sled Driver" was on Audible :-(.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Wonderful

If you are interested in these planes, you'll be interested in this book. It is a superb insight into the Blackbird and it's variants.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Fascinateing Insight

Will really appeal to anyone with a knowledge already of the SR71. This really tells the inside story of the pilot and the planes every day operation.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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A brilliant read for the aviation enthusiast.

This book is of real interest for pilots & aviation fanatics. If you have a interest in all things SR-71 you will love it. The audio version does not come with the SR-71 cockpit schematic, it would benefit the book if these were available as PDF however a search will show you plenty of other SR-71 cockpit layouts. All in all I thoroughly enjoyed this book but it helped that I have read and watched loads of stuff on YouTube and visited the one at Duxford UK where they have a brilliant display.

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Overly detailed and monotonous

Overly detailed droning descriptions of the inner complexity of the workings and anachronisms of such a complex machine that left me knowing less than before. Shame

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    2 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Very dry.

I feel like if I read the SR-71 POH I'd have the same outcome. Some great anecdotal stories buried in a list like format.

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