On 3/10/03, [EMAIL PROTECTED] disgorged: >>I once heard that SR-71s actually leak gas on the tarmac before takeoff due >>to the seals being designed for flight temperature (over 550c degrees I >>think) and they had to develop new low flashpoint fuel for it. >> >>Anyone know if that's true or an urban legend? > >I have heard the same thing.
...and I remember where - there was a series of TV programmes on the BBC a while back. Something like 'Design Icons' or something. The SR-71 featured in one of the shows. The closest I've been is stood just next to a grunt with very large gun, about 30 feet away, getting some shots. We had no restrictions other than no closer than 30 feet. This was at Fairford. The Stealth fighter only rated a 20 foot zone ;-) It was pretty awesome, but for me doesn't have the fearsome appearance of the B-1. The Vulcan is astonishing, graceful. Seen it fly a few times. I think there is one flying example left? Actually, it may have been grounded now. You guys would love it where I live - on one of the outer turns for RAF Brize Norton finals. Tanker squadron based there, VC-10s and Tristars. But they have recently taken delivery of four Boeing C-17s which are pretty cool ships. The cockpit displays are straight out of star Trek TNG. I've seen C-5 Galaxy's coming in, very big Antanovs, sometimes Virgin use Brize for training pilots. They do bumps in Airbuses. In the summer we get a lot of traffic crossing the Brize Norton area and that's great. The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight can be heard whizzing to and fro (Spitfire, Hurricane, Lancaster). Last week I saw a B-17 trundling past. of course we here them first :-) One of our cameramen also flies PPL and in the mid 90's was called to do some air-to-air filming from a Hawk. After they had finished, the pilot let him fly for a while - including turns. I think it took about 6 weeks for the grin to disappear of his face. I was not envious - I'm terrible with motion sickness. Steve (the flying cameraman) took me up in a single-prop low-wing plane (forget which) and I managed 2 G before chickening out. I would be useless in a fast jet. Hot air balloon, that's more my cup of tea. We use a Squirrel for filming big fires, major road accidents etc which means sitting in the cold with the door off. I don't mind that but I avoid anything else where I can. The one nice thing is the RAF are always very accommodating, unlike the Army who are a major PITA, and give us tea and biscuits. That's what I call civilised. Rambling, Cotty ___/\__ || (O) | People, Places, Pastiche ||=====| www.macads.co.uk/snaps _____________________________ Free UK Mac Ads www.macads.co.uk
