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Three generations of Reconnaissance Aircraft

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The Museum of Aviation in Warner Robins GA recently built a new exhibit showcasing the RQ-4 Unmanned High Altitude Long Endurance Aircraft - more affectionately known as Global Hawk.

Being that I work in the field, I had to go and take a look. The lighting is very low in the hanger so it's hard to get great pictures but take a look.

First, the Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk from the ground. She is MUCH larger than I imagined. Tipping the scales at around 7 tons (empty) and a 130 foot wingspan.
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From the Top
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U-2 Dragon Lady in the foreground
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U-2 Dragon Lady in the foreground
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Lastly all 3 generations: SR-71 Blackbird in the foreground, U-2 Dragon Lady and RQ-4 Global Hawk in the background.
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As a point of interest, this particular Blackbird (tail #61-7958) set the world speed record of 2,193.2 mph (approximately Mach 3.3) in 1976. That record still stands today. Kelly Johnson was a true genius.

If you are ever close to the area, a side-trip is well worth the effort. Lot's of stuff to see from the early days of flight, WW I & II, Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm. I hope links are OK in this forum. No affiliation. More info here:

www.museumofaviation.org/
 
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Pretty familiar with the U2 and the SR-71 an derivatives thereof but I had no idea the RQ-4 was anywhere near that big. Obviously I haven't read much about it, but I was thinking closer to a 40 foot wingspan and maybe two tons.
 
Love this pic... one third of the entire production:

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That is cool. I did not know they put a museum there. I used to take many a dashboard lunch there back in '91-'93. There was an outdoor display with parking spaces near the main gate. I recall a B-25 and some early jets. The B-25 was a late model with the fixed .50 cal gun pods aiming forward. Oh yea, one was a MiG 15. Cool. The thing that astounded me was the SR-71 just sitting there. 1991. It technically has a chain rope-line around it, but you could crawl all over it if you wanted.

Damn, it gets hot there in the summer...

The base seemed to be 100% busy back then. Endless transport planes lined up on approach. 24-7.
 
cratz2 said:
Love this pic... one third of the entire production:
Click to expand...

1/3 of the production that we KNOW of ;)

That is an awesome picture though. Thanks for sharing. Was that taken at Beale?
 
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I visited The Museum of Aviation in Warner Robins, GA several years ago....tons of aircraft inside and outside the museum....then drove over to the National Museum of the Might Eighth Air Force in Pooler, GA.....I think I shot about 800 picture in those visits....great museums to visit....Highly recommend.
 
It would be interesting to see/read about what they have NOW that makes the other planes look like T models, as the SR-71 did when IT 1st flew... Kelly, man, what a TRIP it would have been to talk w/him...(Assuming you had high enuf Security Clearance to where he WOULD/COULD talk to you...)
 
My old boss made plenty of J58 parts back in the day (SR-71, YF-12, etc), and I've worked on more than a few AE-3007 engine parts (Global Hawk).

I haven't had the chance to see a Global Hawk up close, but I spent a whole day at the National Air and Space Museum in Dulles.
 
mech986 said:
I found my next wallpaper, thanks for sharing!! Someday when I'm visiting Augusta, I need to go the the air museums too!
Click to expand...

There's a cold-beer and a steak waiting on you when you hit Warner Robins mech986!

PM me if you are ever heading this way.
 
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