Thursday, December 17, 2009

Cool. WAY-Frickin' Cool.

Sent along by a friend... Video of a German RC model SR-71, complete with jet engines, retractable landing gear and as pretty a sound from a model as you'll ever hear.


Anyone who has ever had the opportunity to watch a Blackbird take off will appreciate this video.  Hell, anyone and everyone who has even the slightest affinity for aircraft will appreciate it!  Amazing.

13 comments:

  1. That was simply amazing. Thanks Buck!

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  2. MissBirdlegs in AL17 December, 2009 16:12

    I loved this one. My fave plane, I think. Thanks!

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  3. Wow!! Being a survivor of an RC Modeler that is one cool model and that ole guy did a wonderful job flying it around!! I still have the remains of various aircraft around my basement HQ from SN1 who was an avid model flier.

    BT: Jimmy T sends.

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  4. Way cool! I guess the adage that "the difference between men and boys is the price of their toys" is true in Germany, also.

    Thanks for posting that.

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  5. Holy f***. Wow.

    Seriously -- what kind of engines are in there?

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  6. I never got to see a Blackbird fly, or even see one on the ramp. But I always wanted to!

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  7. That was most amazing. I want one.

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  8. I have been to Beale. Totally cool model. All he needs is a tanker orbiting above to make this like realtime!

    Great video!

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  9. Phil: I googled all over the 'net looking for info on this guy and his plane and couldn't find a thing.

    I'm glad all y'all thought this is as cool as I did. I've seen a Blackbird leaving RAF Mildenhall on a couple of occasions and the take-off is most impressive. Those guys don't waste ANY time getting out of Dodge.

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  10. And what a cryin' shame the real thing is no longer flying...

    There are STILL some mission profiles that we cannot fly with it gone....

    Want to know why it's no longer flying and the far less capable U-2 is? It's NOT because we have some secret, more capable replacement. It's mainly a matter of bean-counting. The SR-71 came out of the AFs' budget, the U-2 the CIA. When budget cuts came along the AF let it go.

    It also was a source of concern as far as promotion policy was concerned. The Blackbird program sucked in and stove-piped some of the AF's finest and most experienced pilots and kept them there for long periods. This meant they couldn't attend/get their tickets punched at the usual command and staff schools or get the breadth of experience of being Squadron XOs and Commanders--so promotion to 0-6 (Wing Commander) and above was almost impossible. This was an on-going dilemma for the AF that they no longer had with the ending of the SR-71 program.

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  11. Even in the RC world, it is more than kicking the tires and lighting the fires!
    Those little jet engines are what makes RC jets really high priced. Not to mention the electronic stuff.
    Price of the toys! Dead on!

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  12. VX sez: It's mainly a matter of bean-counting.

    I'm thinkin' things are gonna get worse... MUCH worse... in this space before they get better. How else is The One gonna pay for his healthcare boondoggle?

    Thanks for the insight on promotion policies and all that, too.

    Glenn: I'm thinkin' that Ol Boy has thousands of dollars tied up in that one model.

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Just be polite... that's all I ask.