does any one remember when the SR71 flew under the shuttle?

Question

does any one remember when the SR71 flew under the shuttle as it re entered as a wind brake as the heat tiles had fallen off it
??
was the first shuttle launch how fast was it going thain ??

ok so it was they flew it up there to get a close up or the tiles missing i do remember watching it

Answer 1

I was at the controls of the Blackbird that day. You people who say it didn't happen are wrong. The shuttle was in bad shape. Russian interceptors had fired on the craft. Nearly 70 percent of the tiles had fallen off, and the crew was in grave danger. By the time NASA called me to intercept the shuttle, the temperature inside the spacecraft was nearly 140 degrees and the spacecraft was still at nearly 85,000 feet. I pulled up along side the shuttle, and I could see the astronauts sweating and waving for help. I dropped back, slid in about 50 feet under and just ahead of the shuttle, and flared my aircraft until I could see over my shoulder that the red glow of the catastrophically-overheated spacecraft had abated. I stayed in that position until I was 10 feet off the deck, with the spacecraft still above and behind me, then I broke left, rolled out, and climbed to about 1,500 feet. I then circled over the LZ at Edwards and provided cover fire for the PJs that were dropped in to rescue the downed crew. Once I could see the crew waving at me from a safe position, I broke off and returned to base. Because this was considered black ops, Yahoo! answers is the only place you will ever read about it.

Answer 2

Brian:

I am a retired Air Force Master Sergeant with 22 years of active duty. I have years and years of aircraft experience in both the Air Force and Civil Service. Trust me, this never happened.

I do faintly recall a movie with a plot line that approximates your scenario. An ultra high altitude passenger aircraft is forced to fly into space due to some sort of accident. People on the ground were desperate to save those passengers. They finally decided to try a reentry by flying in the shadow of the Shuttle as it reentered the atmosphere. It was all great fun, even if it was completely implausible.

Again, I can tell you from my experience that a previous answerer is absolutely correct. The SR71 was and is a fine tool and it is fast. But on it's best day, in a power dive it couldn't catch the Shuttle during the high temperature portion of it's reentry.

Answer 3

I recall a movie where an F-117 flew under a hijacked aircraft to transfer several people to the aircraft. Pure fantasy especially considering that the F-117 is a single-seat fighter.

But the SR71 never flew "escort" for a Space Shuttle mission.

Answer 4

I didn"t see this.I know with some new air craft, chase planes are used to confirm no visable problems.In the case of B1 ,A F 106
was used.The 106 would get airborne,When B1 lined up and took off.The F 106 would follow and check flt controls and any
leaks.He would stay with B 1 fo1/2 hr or more. as to position,over,under by side.To your question,there in all probability was a fast Jet in air somewhere around the shuttle,they take real good pictures.If any plane was used,logical Lockheed S.R. 71 would be the one for short distance.

Answer 5

The SR-71 never flew under any of the space shuttles for any reason.

You either watched a goofy movie or you had a strange dream.

Answer 6

the 747 that occasionlly been seen underneath the Shuttle is parked on the east side of Ellington AFB, Houston

Answer 7

Great story....but completely implausible.
The shuttle enters the atmosphere at better than Mach14.....well above Habu's top speed...and the max dynamic pressure and heat occur well above it's max ceiling as well...

Answer 8

that didnt happen you must be thinking of the plane that the shuttle "piggybacked" for transport-- that one has since retired I believe

Answer 9

Sorry ,but that never happened.Urban Legend.