SR71 Blackbird Lecture

Background

2018 witnessed the 100th anniversary of the Royal Air Force (RAF), celebrated with much pomp and ceremony at a host of events organised across the UK. It was also the year that the RAF took delivery of the service’s first Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning aircraft. Coincidentally, 2018 was also the 75th anniversary of the world-renowned Skunk Works, the research and experimental division of Lockheed Martin which not only gave birth to the F-35 but a whole host of cutting-edge aircraft. One of these aircraft was the Mach 3 capable SR-71 Blackbird.

Event Summary

To celebrate both milestones, a continuous professional development (CPD) lecture was organised at RAF Marham on the historical legacy of the SR71. Delivered by former Blackbird pilot, Col. Richard H. Graham (USAF Retired), the lecture delved into the capabilities of the aircraft, operational procedures and requirements as well as a selection of pilot-centric tales about the aircraft “affectionately” christened the ‘Habu’.

Colonel Graham entered Air Force pilot training, receiving his wings in 1965 at Craig AFB, Selma, Alabama. Upon completion of F-4 fighter training, he flew 210 combat missions over North Vietnam and Laos from 1971-1973. He was selected to enter the SR-71 strategic reconnaissance program in 1974 at Beale AFB, California and flew the SR-71 for the next seven years, amassing 756 hours in the world’s fastest and highest-flying aircraft. In 1980, he was selected to be the squadron commander of the SR-71 unit at Beale, where he served until his assignment to the Air War College at Maxwell AFB, Montgomery, Alabama.

SR-71 Blackbird

Col. Graham on the occasion of his visit to RAF Marham

In June of 1987 he was selected to be the 9th Wing Commander. During that time, he was privileged to be able to fly the SR-71, U-2, T-38 and KC-135Q concurrently, for over two years. During his 25 years of service, he amassed 4,600 hours, retiring from the Air Force in 1989. His military decorations include three Legion of Merit awards, four Distinguished Flying Cross medals and 19 Air Medals. Upon retirement from the Air Force, he joined American Airlines in Dallas, Texas. After flying 13 years at American, he retired in August 2002 as a Captain on the MD-80 aircraft, with over 7,500 hours.

Benefit

Attended by over 100 RAF personnel, the event allowed serving members and civilian personnel an opportunity to hear first-hand the capabilities of the aircraft. It the reconnaissance capabilities of aircraft during the cold war and the stealth capabilities of the F-35 providing a suitable contrast between capabilities of the past and those that will be brought to the RAF in the future.