SR-71 Revealed: The Inside Story

Written by an ex SR-71 pilot, this book keeps the reader engaged with specific details of the plane and what it takes to fly one. I'm about 90% of the way through it and will be looking for other books by this author. The kinds of details about the operation of the plane may not appeal to everyone, but if you are a tech nerd like I am, you will love it. In addition to the plane, detailed discussions about the life of a pilot and the camaraderie of the SR-71 family is quite illuminating. I highly recommend it!

Wow! Now this is what I'm talking about! You don't know anything about the SR-71 program unless you flew the plane, served in the units, or read this book! OK, you may not be as knowledgable as the people who walked the walk, but at least this is the closest you'll ever come to it! This book is full of details about the plane, its technical details (almost 50 packed pages!), the missions, the life in the Squadron or at the Detachments, the people who flew it, you name it, you'll learn it from this book. Nowhere else you can learn the intricate details about the unstart/restart cycle, spike and inlet management, IGV shifts, manipulating the forward and aft bypass doors, ADS failure, DAFICS, bank angle management, etc. I'm telling you, this book is full of riveting information! I particularily liked the short stories contributed by other Habus, sharing their experiences, excitements, ups and downs, etc. Good job Colonel! The author skillfully conveys the shear professionalism of the SR-71 crews and support personnel, and shares many stories that will take you back to the haydays of the Blackbird. He shares the good, the bad, and the fantastic! I agree, it was a loss to lose the program in 1990, but time had changed and maybe the Cold War justified it but by the fall of the CCCP it became impossible to need 25 tankers for one SR-71 mission. The changing times passed by a Cold War giant, even if it could fly M3+ and equipped with SENIOR KING. Thanks for sharing the memories, I think I'll go back to page one and start reading again!

In this case I have to side with the (currently) most helpful critical review by Mr. Aa Whatley, in that this is a potentially excellent story that put simply wasn't told in an engaging way. Col. Graham evidently is well suited to know all that is to know about the Blackbird (or Habu as he would probably prefer) and its operational career, but his writing skills are unfortunately at a very different level. The use of an aviation-versed co-author probably would have helped significantly in order to turn this collection of very interesting facts and stories into an engaging book.Simply flying the Habu clearly was a skill owned by very few highly gifted aviators, and even fewer were able to successfully fly the demanding operations very close to (and probably more than a few times inside) enemy territory in this unarmed aircraft. The technical challenges and solutions developed in the late 50s and early 60s are staggering and clearly pushed the very edge of the envelop at that time for flying operations. The capabilities that the Blackbird was able to consistently reproduce on every flight are still unmatched today, in the era of UAVs and much improved satellites. And let's face it, this aircraft has like few others a special charm and flair!With this highly interesting material, the reader should expect a lot of technical content, coupled with some gripping flying stories. While they are there in this book, they get lost among the rather awkward structure of the book and the extremely dry narrative. A much better example (and with much more technical information) is  Lockheed Blackbird: Beyond the Secret Missions (General Aviation) , if you can get a copy. Hopefully some farseeing editor in the future will undertake the task of finding a suitable co-author and get Col. Graham to rewrite this book.

This first-person account of being an SR-71 pilot and then running the group is an interesting read, but the author could REALLY have used a good editor, which would have made this interesting book outstanding. Way too many exclamation points...

My favorite air plane in the world.....I regret, greatly, and personally that the plane was taken out of service, and the actual air frames were mounted for display, the oil and fuel, very special products, ceased to be produced, and there were no mechanics who knew enough about this amazing craft, so they could remain flyable....if the US government says something is too expensive to continue, it must be REALLY expensive, so taking the plane out of service was a money saving device, considering we now have satellites that can do the same mission as the SR71, but I want to see it fly again, as it was such a special airplane.

I have read many books on the Blackbird and this is "hands down" the best one I've read. Much detail is put into all stages of flying the BB from beginning to end. This was a special group of individuals that participated in this program...the best of the best! The program sadly ended with the Air Force bickering about funding while the CIA used the jet in their operations on a regular basis. The Air Force won the battle and the jet was retired shortly thereafter. Probably the the most elite and fascinating program the Air Force has ever had and will probably ever have. I thouroughly enjoyed reading this book, thank you!

I thoroughly enjoyed the book. As a former Skunk Works employee (1962-1967) who worked on both the A-12 and SR-71 flight test programs, I was refreshed on much of the technical and operating modes, and learned the pilot's viewpoint of operating the aircraft. I never realized how sensitive the SR-71 was to control inputs! I found the technical information very informative and stimulating, but the flight crew's parties and pranks left me a little cold.

All of Richard H. Graham’s books on the SR-71 were a delight for me. I have been fascinated with this program since I was a child and reading the books have brought some understanding into the knowledge of flying it, the know how of the crew and all the support around it.

`SR-71 Revealed' is an in-depth and fascinating look at this incredible aircraft, written by one of the pilots who was fortunate enough to actually fly it. This looks at the development of the aircraft, the selection process to fly it, the tankers needed to refuel it, the technical specifications, a selection of missions it flew on, the retirement or the aircraft, as well as it redeployment and a whole host of other bits of information besides. The chapter on technical specifications was the driest to read and only of real interest to huge aviation fans, but the remainder of the book was gripping and had me fascinated throughout. There is a middle section with various photos which illustrate the various points raised perfectly and you really get a sense of how impressive this plane was. As this was written by a former pilot you get a real inside view of the aircraft and how it feels to fly one and this aspect elevates this book from a dry account of stats and technical specifications to an exhilarating read about what this awesome piece of technology could achieve. If you have only a passing interest in this plane (as I do) then this is a engaging book about it's history and if you are a hardened fan of aviation then I'm guessing this would be required reading. Well worth checking out.Feel free to check out my blog which can be found on my profile page.

Fascinating stuff. Oodles of technical detail but also lots of 'back story' about the lifestyle of the Habus (SR-71 crews), some of the missions they flew and some of the things that didn't go to plan.With contributions from many of his colleagues, it's a great varied read.Some crazy stuff they got up to is now coming out - how about two SR-71 crossing paths at a closing speed of Mach 6 right over Vladivostock?!Read it and marvel at the brilliance of the plane and the guys who flew it.

Another of those excellent reads by former pilot and Squadron Commander, Richard H.Graham, who tells of the secret missions flown by the pilots in the SR71 spyplane based in Kadena, Japan and at Mildenhall, England.

Lots of information about the purpose,design and operation of an iconic aircraft.If you weren't aware that the crew were known as Habus you certainly will be as the description is thoroughly used.

Very detailled, but readable story of this aspect of the intelligence war. The pilots' personal reports of their experiences are revealing, especially the dificulties with such new technology.