Moving the Blackbirds

[Capt Worley PE]

Photos from back in the day.

http://www.roadrunnersinternationale.com/transporting_the_a-12.html

It was amazing what this ountry could do fifty years ago.

 

[Sapper PE LS]

That's pretty cool. Most people don't consider how difficult of a task that really was (and would still be for us today).

 

[Road Guy]

If I end up staying out west a goal of mine is to drive to the first Area 51 warning sign and get my picture taken, and I defin wont go past the sign that says "go past here you will be arrested"

I wonder if our country can pull of secrets today like they used to? 60 years ago not everyone walking around town had a phone on them like today..

 

[Capt Worley PE]

I saw them move a blackbird from the de-mil hangar down GA 247 to the Robins AFB museum. Impressive sight.

It was more impressive watching it fly in. It had just set the W-->E cross country speed record.

 

[Master slacker]

The dad of an acquaintance of mine (not really a friend because he's a complete douche) was a test pilot for the Blackbirds. If you ever saw published photos or videos many years ago, it was most likely him. Yeah, I know, CSB.

 

[engineergurl]

I wonder if our country can pull of secrets today like they used to? 60 years ago not everyone walking around town had a phone on them like today..

Too many amateur investigative reporters... besides, if the government is keeping a secret, then I have to find out so I can file a law suit.

 

[Dleg]

Cool pictures, but where are the aliens?

As far as what we could do 50 years ago, who's to say we're not doing something more impressive right now? No one knew about the SR-71s at that time, either.

But yeah, probably not....

 

[knight1fox3]

Ever see the transport of a turbine generator or a nuclear pressure vessel? That is pretty impressive.

Or perhaps the construction of nuclear powered submarines and aircraft carriers. I would say we still do some pretty impressive things. It's just where to look to find out about them.

 

[Capt Worley PE]

Ever see the transport of a turbine generator or a nuclear pressure vessel? That is pretty impressive.

Dad traveled fifty miles to take pics of some giant powerplant part being moved. Articulated trailer with 18 steerable axles. Auxiliary pusher truck (with Rocky Mountain gearing, as the guy told Dad, who's been a big OTR tractor fan since childhood). Pretty impressive.

 

[engineergurl]

the construction of nuclear powered submarines

I know a group of old men that would love to see this... my dad meets with his 'sub-vets' guys for coffee every week

 

[Capt Worley PE]

the construction of nuclear powered submarines

I know a group of old men that would love to see this... my dad meets with his 'sub-vets' guys for coffee every week

Navy nukes, especially the bubblehead variety, are an interesting lot. We had a TON of them in engineering school in the mid eighties.

 

[Capt Worley PE]

eg, I highly recommend this book for your Dad.

http://www.amazon.com/Cold-War-Submarines-Construction-1945-2001/dp/1574885308/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1391698934&sr=1-1&keywords=cold+war+submarines

 

[engineergurl]

hmmm... his birthday is in a few weeks...

Dad got out in the 70's and became an accountant after he had a really bad car wreck and would have ended up with a desk job in a yard. Those old guys are hilarious though...

 

[Capt Worley PE]

I also worked with a guy who was a cook on the last of the pig boats. He did some training on the Chopper after she performed breachus maximus (I'm sure your dad remembers this one...)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Chopper_(SS-342)