Abstract: The world’s fastest and highest flying aircraft was conceived by the renowned aircraft engineer, Kelly Johnson. The gigantic leap in technology the engineers had to overcome at the Lockheed Skunk Works was phenomenal. Built in total secrecy, the first Blackbird flew on April 26, 1962. The Blackbird’s only purpose was to gather highly classified intelligence on hostile countries around the world. Flying at Mach 3+ speeds and cruising at over 85,000 feet, the SR‐71 could survey over 100,000 square miles an hour, gathering millions of bits of intelligence. When cruising at over 2,100 mph, with skin friction temperatures reaching 600ºF, the SR‐71 performed at its very best. From 1967 to 1990, the SR‐71 served seven U.S. Presidents, the Central Intelligence Agency, the National Security Agency, the Defense Intelligence Agency, the Pentagon and other government agencies. It provided them with the necessary intelligence to make crucial political and military decisions during the Cold War era. This presentation includes two short, narrated videos’ one on the SR‐71, and another honoring the legendary Lockheed “Skunk Works” aircraft engineer, Kelly Johnson.

Biography: Colonel (ret) Richard Graham received a Master’s from Pepperdine University, Los Angeles. In 1964 he graduated from pilot training at Craig AFB where he was the T‐37 instructor pilot and flight examiner. In 1970 he was assigned to Davis‐Monthan AFB to begin F‐4 training. Col Graham entered the SR‐71 Blackbird strategic reconnaissance program in 1974 at Beale AFB. In 1978 he was selected as the Chief, Standardization/Evaluation Division, which included the SR‐71, U‐2 and T‐38 aircraft. In 1980 Col Graham was selected to be the SR‐71 Squadron Commander, 1st Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron, where he served until 1981. Upon retirement from the Air Force, he joined American Airlines, where he was a Captain on the MD‐80 aircraft. A veteran of 15 years of assignments within the SR‐71 community, Col Graham is uniquely qualified to tell the Blackbird story. He is the 1999 recipient of the University of Nebraska William F. Shea Award for Distinguished Contribution to Aviation. His wife’s name is Pat and they have five children and four grandchildren.

Reservations:
Contact Ellis Hitt
AIAA Treasurer
1001 Eastwind Drive, Suite 401
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(614) 882‐7499

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by 5th of February.

All reservations are due for payment after February 7th, 2009.