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SR-71 Revealed: The Inside Story
Put your pressure suit on and strap yourself in for a Mach 3 ride! Former SR-71 Wing Commander Rich Graham tells the amazing inside story of the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird. Graham provides a detailed look at the entire SR-71 story beginning with his application to be an SR pilot through commanding an entire wing.
224 pages, Paperback
First published July 7, 1996
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About the author
Richard H. Graham
8 books21 followersColonel (ret) Richard Graham is the author of three books on the SR-71 Blackbird. He flew this aircraft for seven years and ended up with 756 hours in its cockpit, which makes him the perfect author to write about this Mach 3+ jet. Below is his biography.
Col. Richard Graham graduated from the University of Akron, Akron, Ohio in 1964. He received a master's degree in Sociology in 1977 and in Public Administration in 1979 from Pepperdine University, Los Angeles, California.
Col. Graham entered Air Force pilot training, receiving his wings in 1965 at Craig Air Force Base, Selma, Alabama. From 1971-1973 he flew 210 combat missions over North Vietnam and Laos in the F-4 Phantom.
He was selected to enter the SR-71 strategic reconnaissance program in 1974 at Beale Air Force Base, California. He flew the SR-71 for the next seven years, amassing 756 hours in the worlds fastest and highest flying aircraft. Col. Graham also flew the SR-71 as an Instructor Pilot and Stan/Eval Pilot. In 1980, he was selected to be the squadron commander of the SR-71 unit at Beale.
After serving four years in the Pentagon, Col. Graham was selected to be the 9th Wing Commander at Beale in 1987. 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. He now spends his time as an author, speaker, aviation consultant, and flight instructor. Col. Graham is a pilot with the Frisco Civil Air Patrol Squadron and volunteers as a FAA representative (FAAST) on their safety team in Dallas. He and his wife Pat live in Plano.
He has written three books, "SR-71 Revealed," "SR-71 Blackbird: Stories, Tales, and Legends," and "Flying the SR-71 Blackbird." A veteran of 15 years of assignments within the SR-71 community, he is uniquely qualified to tell the SR-71 story. Colonel Graham was the 1999 recipient of the University of Nebraska's William F. Shea Award for his distinguished contribution to aviation. He is currently a Distinguished Lecturer for the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA). In 2005, the Blackbird Association awarded him the Kelly Johnson trophy, a lifetime achievement award for his work to perpetuate, foster and improve the SR-71.
Col. Richard Graham graduated from the University of Akron, Akron, Ohio in 1964. He received a master's degree in Sociology in 1977 and in Public Administration in 1979 from Pepperdine University, Los Angeles, California.
Col. Graham entered Air Force pilot training, receiving his wings in 1965 at Craig Air Force Base, Selma, Alabama. From 1971-1973 he flew 210 combat missions over North Vietnam and Laos in the F-4 Phantom.
He was selected to enter the SR-71 strategic reconnaissance program in 1974 at Beale Air Force Base, California. He flew the SR-71 for the next seven years, amassing 756 hours in the worlds fastest and highest flying aircraft. Col. Graham also flew the SR-71 as an Instructor Pilot and Stan/Eval Pilot. In 1980, he was selected to be the squadron commander of the SR-71 unit at Beale.
After serving four years in the Pentagon, Col. Graham was selected to be the 9th Wing Commander at Beale in 1987. 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. He now spends his time as an author, speaker, aviation consultant, and flight instructor. Col. Graham is a pilot with the Frisco Civil Air Patrol Squadron and volunteers as a FAA representative (FAAST) on their safety team in Dallas. He and his wife Pat live in Plano.
He has written three books, "SR-71 Revealed," "SR-71 Blackbird: Stories, Tales, and Legends," and "Flying the SR-71 Blackbird." A veteran of 15 years of assignments within the SR-71 community, he is uniquely qualified to tell the SR-71 story. Colonel Graham was the 1999 recipient of the University of Nebraska's William F. Shea Award for his distinguished contribution to aviation. He is currently a Distinguished Lecturer for the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA). In 2005, the Blackbird Association awarded him the Kelly Johnson trophy, a lifetime achievement award for his work to perpetuate, foster and improve the SR-71.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
June 25, 2020
Very detailed insights into one the best aircraft ever to be designed and flown. It was written shortly after the Habu disappeared from the USAF inventory and is much more obtuse than it's successor books. I enjoyed the internal vignettes written by former Habu crew. It adds credibility to the story. A very technical book in places, personal stories in others. The book ends with the bureaucratic demise of "the program."
October 24, 2016
I enjoyed this book - some great anecdotes and stories. The author is obviously very passionate about this airplane and the men who flew and supported it.
I have read one other of Col. Graham's books, and I have another ready to go - I am looking forward to that one as well.
I have read one other of Col. Graham's books, and I have another ready to go - I am looking forward to that one as well.
November 8, 2020
Very interesting but too technical for me, i was expecting it to be more anecdotal. The demise of the Blackbird was incredibly politically motivated and in many ways the truth was twisted to those political ends
May 26, 2021
I'll say that yes, this book really does reveal the indie details of being an SR-71 pilot. Yet, the writing is very technical. So don't think Tom Clancy. Think a technical manual for your PS4. I fancy one would know about the exacting details, it would be this guy.
October 3, 2018
An amazing book filled with inside facts on the amazing aircraft.
August 16, 2019
Outstanding page turner, great story telling
February 6, 2015
An aircraft that flew faster then a rifle bullet!!!
Indeed a very detailed insights into one the best aircrafts ever to be designed and flown. In terms of uniqueness the aircrafts outperforms all be it the special titanium structure designed to withstand high temperatures of sustained supersonic flights to the very special JP-7 fuel. It was the worlds first stealth aircraft which still holds the all major speed and altitude records for air breathing aircrafts.
Must read for anyone interested in military aviation special built aircrafts or even someone who wants to know about an aircraft that still fill the imagination of the people with wonder.
Indeed a very detailed insights into one the best aircrafts ever to be designed and flown. In terms of uniqueness the aircrafts outperforms all be it the special titanium structure designed to withstand high temperatures of sustained supersonic flights to the very special JP-7 fuel. It was the worlds first stealth aircraft which still holds the all major speed and altitude records for air breathing aircrafts.
Must read for anyone interested in military aviation special built aircrafts or even someone who wants to know about an aircraft that still fill the imagination of the people with wonder.
December 5, 2010
(the english traslation of my review is below)
Le missioni dell'SR-71 viste da "dentro": la preparazione, i possibili problemi tecnici e molto altro.
Particolarmente interessante, secondo me, il capitolosulla decisione - puramente politica - di mettere a terra i Blackbird
The operations of the SR-71 seen "from the inside": planning, possible technical problems and the like.
I find expecially interesting the chapter about the political decision to ground the Blackbird fleet.
Le missioni dell'SR-71 viste da "dentro": la preparazione, i possibili problemi tecnici e molto altro.
Particolarmente interessante, secondo me, il capitolosulla decisione - puramente politica - di mettere a terra i Blackbird
The operations of the SR-71 seen "from the inside": planning, possible technical problems and the like.
I find expecially interesting the chapter about the political decision to ground the Blackbird fleet.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews