Neptune48 Posted April 6, 2019 Share Posted April 6, 2019 Does anyone know about this piece of ground support equipment used with the Blackbirds? A model number, drawings, its function, and any other information would be greatly appreciated. I've been told it's an "air/water separator," which makes sense as all the pictures I have seen show it operating in damp or humid weather. Air from an air conditioning cart or hangar installation entered the tapered end via a large hose and exited out the other end through a smaller hose that connected to the air receptacle in the SR-71 nose gear well. Here it is being used to prepare the jet to leave Bodø, Norway after an emergency landing. The A/C cooled the cockpit and avionics bays. This photo shows the A/C cart feeding the unit, which is partially out of the frame at right. I would like to scratch build a unit for a diorama, but I cannot find any information beyond what I have stated here. An equipment designator, dimensions, drawings and/or more photos would be welcome. I have collected every photo and video screen capture I could find, which aren't much, but I did find the end of the Internet in the process. I also tried to contact the Air Force Historical Research Agency online, but the form failed to transmit. Then I tried doing the same with the Beale AFB Public Affairs office, with the same results. I was able to find an email address and send a message, but I doubt they will reply. Any Habus out there who can help? Thanks much. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
X-Plane Fan Posted April 10, 2019 Share Posted April 10, 2019 (edited) Does this help? Edited April 11, 2019 by X-Plane Fan Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rocketdrvr Posted April 11, 2019 Share Posted April 11, 2019 Attachment unavailable ☹️ Quote Link to post Share on other sites
habu2 Posted April 11, 2019 Share Posted April 11, 2019 Try here: https://www.sr-71.org/blackbird/manual/ although it doesn't look like it covers ground equipment Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Neptune48 Posted April 11, 2019 Author Share Posted April 11, 2019 (edited) 7 hours ago, X-Plane Fan said: Does this help? X-Plane, One must admire your gift for understatement. "Does this help?" you ask, to which I must reply... Wow! Does it ever! I now know many times as much as I did before you posted this! Seriously, this fills in information I've been seeking on and off for at least a couple of decades. You have my gratitude, sir. I also contacted Mr Jeff Houlihan, Director of collections at the March Field Museum. He responded at almost the same time as your post. He confirmed the unit's purpose and sent this photo: If the unit is still on display, and if I could be allowed to take measurements, I'm considering making the drive from Phoenix to Riverside, CA to get a better look. But in the meantime, I might be able to scratch build a reasonable representation, thanks to you and Mr. Houlihan. Some years ago I was able to take detailed measurements of an AG330 start cart in order to scratch-build a pair. I posted my drawings online (thanks Photobucket for killing that), and have heard from two manufacturers who have or will soon release kits. If I have the opportunity to do the same with this gizmo, I intend to pay it forward by working up a set of drawings and posting them online. Stay tuned And X-Plane, thanks again. Regards, Bruce Edited April 11, 2019 by Neptune48 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Neptune48 Posted April 11, 2019 Author Share Posted April 11, 2019 2 hours ago, habu2 said: Try here: https://www.sr-71.org/blackbird/manual/ although it doesn't look like it covers ground equipment Habu2, I appreciate your effort, but unfortunately, you are correct. The site does not cover ground equipment except for the starter cart, which I am also scratch building. Every other Blackbird site I have found online does much the same. And for a chuckle, I thought I'd list the references in my library which also do not address the subject: CIA A-12 Manual-A-12 Ground Crew Manual 1966 CIA A-12 Manual-Photographic Equipment Manual CIA A-12 Manual- A-12 Flight Manual with Technical Data Change 1968 CIA A-12 Manual- Support Manual Grand Handling and Emergency Operations CIA A-12 Manual-Pilot Photographic Equipment Manual CIA A-12 Manual-Pilot’s Abbreviated Checklist - Modified Aircraft Crickmore, Paul F. Combat Legend SR-71 Blackbird Shrewsbury, UK Arlife Publishing, Ltd. 2002 Crickmore, Paul F. Lockheed Blackbird: Beyond the Secret Missions Wellingborough, Northants UK Osprey Publishing 1993 Crickmore, Paul F. Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird London, UK Osprey Publishing Limited 1986 Crickmore, Paul F. Lockheed SR-71 Operations in Europe and the Middle East Botley, Oxford, UK Osprey Publishing, Ltd. 2008 Crickmore, Paul F. Lockheed SR-71 Opetations in the Far East Botley, Oxford, UK Osprey Publishing, Ltd. 2009 Crickmore, Paul F. SR-71 Blackbird Oxford, UK Osprey Publishing Ltd. 2015 Crickmore, Paul F. SR-71 Blackbird: Lockheed’s Mach 3 Hot Shot London Osprey Publishing, Ltd. 1987 Davies, Steve & Crickmore, Paul Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird Owners’ Workshop Manual Newbury Park, CA Haynes North America Inc. 2012 Drendel, Lou SR-71 Blackbird in Action Carrollton, TX Squadron/Signal Publications, Inc. 1982 Goodall, James C & Miller, Jay Lockheed’s SR-71 ‘Blackbird’ Family: A-12, F-12, M-21, D-21, SR-71 Hinckley, UK Aerofax 2002 Goodall, James C. SR-71 Blackbird Carrollton, TX Squadron/Signal Publications, Inc. 1995 Goodall, James C. SR-71A Flight Manual Osceola, WI Motorbooks International 1992 Goodall, James C. Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird: The Illustrated History of America’s Legendary Mach 3 Spy Plane Atglen, PA Schiffer Publishing 2019 Goodall, James C. SR-71 Blackbird Walk Around Carrollton, TX Squadron/Signal Publications, Inc. 2003 Graham, Richard H USAF (RET) SR-71: The Complete Illustrated History of the Blackbird, The world’s Highest, Fastest Plane , Minneapolis MI Zenith Press Graham, Richard H. USAF (RET) SR-71 Revealed: The Inside Story St. Paul, MN Zenith Press 1996 Graham, Richard H. USAF (RET) The Complete Book of the SR-71 Blackbird Minneapolis, MI Quarto Publishing Group USA Inc. Jenkins, Dennis R. Lockheed SR-71/YF12 Blakbirds Warbird Tech Series North BranchMN Specialty Press 1997 Landis, Tony R. Lockheed Blackbird Family A-12, YF-12, D-21/M-21 & SR-71 Photo Scrapbook North Branch, MN Specialty Press 2010 Merlin, Peter W. From Archangel to Senior Crown: Design and Development of the Blackbird Reston, VA American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Inc. 2008 Merlin, Peter W. Mach 3+: NASA/USAF YF-12 Flight Research, 1969-1979 Washington, D.C. NASA History Division 2002 Remak, Jeannette & Ventolo Jr,, Joseph The Archangel and the OXCART Victoria BC, Canada Trafford Publishing 2008 Shul, Brian Sled Driver: Flying the Word’s Fastest Jet Chico, CA Mach 1, Inc. 1991 Shul, Brian The Untouchables: Mission Accomplished Chico, CA Mach 1, Inc. 1993 Thornborough, Anthony M. & Davies, Peter E. Lockheed Blackbirds Shepperton, Surrey UK Motorbooks International 1988 Regards, Bruce Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cubs2jets Posted April 11, 2019 Share Posted April 11, 2019 18 hours ago, Neptune48 said: . And for a chuckle, I thought I'd list the references in my library which also do not address the subject: Regards, Bruce But of course. It's TOP SECRETE !! C2j Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.