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IowaZR-1
03-01-2010, 05:28 PM
The manual was declassified several years ago and has now been made free to the public. Very interesting site...check all the tabs!
http://www.sr-71.org/blackbird/manual/

As with any project......be sure to "read the manual FIRST"
Z Factor
03-01-2010, 07:32 PM
Very nice, I have always been a fan on this magnificent aeronautical engineering.
flyin ryan
03-02-2010, 12:52 PM
Thanks. Love that bird :wink:. Kelly Johnson was & still is a person I hold in high regard.
zr1mom
03-07-2010, 05:40 PM
I had the pleasure of refueling one over Vietnam. :razz:
IowaZR-1
03-07-2010, 05:55 PM
I had the pleasure of refueling one over Vietnam. :razz:
They would fly slow enuff for a refuel?....lol
zr1mom
03-07-2010, 06:06 PM
We just had to speed up. :pray
flyin ryan
03-08-2010, 12:40 AM
I had the pleasure of refueling one over Vietnam. :razz:That's awesome...You guys know what they originally used to fire those things up on the ground? Should be an easy one...
zr1mom
03-08-2010, 05:09 PM
Originally, the Blackbird's engines started up with the assistance of an external "start cart", a cart containing two Buick (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buick) Wildcat (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buick_Wildcat) V8 engines positioned underneath the aircraft. The two engines powered a single, vertical driveshaft connecting to a single J58 engine. Once one engine was started, the cart was wheeled to the other side of the aircraft to start the other engine. The operation was deafening. Later big block Chevrolet engines were used. Eventually, a quieter, pneumatic start system was developed for use at Blackbird main operating bases, but the start carts remained in the inventory to support recovery team Blackbird starts at diversion landing sites not equipped to start J-58 engines.

We used a big blower more or less called an MA-1A to get the engines to start spinning. Sometimes they used a cartridge that more or less just exploded to sort of jump start it.

http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=6923
flyin ryan
03-09-2010, 01:20 AM
Right on! You got er', Buick 455's at first then later a pair of 454 Big Block Chevy's, the whole while fuel dripping on them from above. Pretty neat.