Every once in a while, friends of Avgeekery send us a treat. Earlier today, we were sent a video by our friend Jim Mumaw. Jim is a long-time aviation photographer and certified avgeek. Jim lives near Edwards AFB. For many years, he’s graced us with amazing images. Over the years, Jim has built up relationships with the local community. He’s leveraged those relationships to get thousands of unique photos and videos. This latest video is essentially one from Jim’s vault. It’s a long-lost VHS tape of SR-71 operations at Edwards AFB.
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When Jim first shared the video, he said, “It was on VHS, shot by myself and sat on a shelf for 27 years. Didn’t hold up too well but hopefully you’ll get an idea about the Blackbird from this never before seen in public video.” Jim’s too humble. This video is amazing!
Details of the Video: SR-71s At Edward AFB
Jim shared the background of these series of videos that he uploaded to YouTube. He said it was a combination of videos filmed between 1990 and 1995. He said,” [the video] was many years ago at the Edwards Open House. They towed the plane over from the museum. By my not narrating it the sounds of the operations come through. The monitor I zoomed in on was at NASA Dryden. The pools of JP-7 can be seen under the jet as well as the green TEB flame igniting the fuel. As it passes while I was beside the runway at Plant 42, you can pick up a glitch in the recording heads as the camcorder vibrates with the resonance put out by the twin J-58 engines. This was truly power that was felt throughout a person’s body! “
The video features multiple takeoffs and landings of the SR-71 at Edwards AFB. It even features a closeup of the drogue chute deployment. That’s something we’ve never seen before close up!
Other Awesome NASA Planes In The Video
The NASA F-16XL Cranked Arrow Jet is in this video too! Jim said, “We were racing it back after landing with me hanging onto the back of the cart with one hand while filming with the other. Last thing of note just near the end is the crew taking off their spurs.”
SR-71 Was An Amazing Aircraft
The SR-71 was the world’s first and only production Mach 3+ jet. The Lockeed team designed the jet on a slide rule. Jim Kelly and team designed this jet with limited technology but maximum ingenuity. The jet was well ahead of its time. The SR-71 was able to outrun SAMs (surface to air missiles) and conduct reconnaissance over hostile territory.
The jet set a number of speed records included the fastest coast to coast flight. That flight occurred on the SR-71’s final flight. In that flight, Col Yieldling flew serial number 61-17972 from Los Angeles to Washington DC. He and a crew member landed just one hour, four minutes, and 20 seconds later at Dulles International Airport outside Washington DC. The last operational flight of the SR-71 set a new Los Angeles to Washington speed record averaging a scorching 2,124 miles per hour! The jet was donated to the Smithsonian at Dulles International Airport. You can view it today at the museum at the Steven F Udvar-Hazy Center at Dulles.