SR-71 Blackbird Book Review
By Rachel E. Veres
| Date of Review | June 2016 | Title | SR-71 Blackbird |
|---|---|---|---|
| Author | Paul E. Crickmore | Publisher | Osprey Publishing |
| Published | 2016 | ISBN | 9781472813152 |
| Format | 160 pages, hardbound | MSRP (USD) | $12.00 |
Review
Osprey’s SR-71 Blackbird highlights one of the most iconic and famous US long-range strategic reconnaissance aircraft.
Following a concise abbreviations list, introduction and chronology, author Paul E. Crickmore devotes the first half to the Blackbird’s “Skunk Works” design and development – beginning with its predecessor, Lockheed’s A-12.
The book’s remaining half recaps SR-71 operational history. From its debut reconning North Vietnamese locations to flying NASA missions, Blackbirds proved tremendous workhorses for the USAF and NASA.
And for those pondering over what flying an SR-71 is like, the author dedicates an entire section to Col Rich Graham’s detailed, first-hand account of typical reconnaissance missions.
Nearly eighty photographs – including imagery intelligence – and artwork by Adam Tooby supplement the narrative. Surviving aircraft histories, four appendices and an index conclude contents.
Take it with you. The compact, landscape-format hardback even fits in pockets!
Decidedly recommended!
My sincere thanks to Osprey Publishing for this review sample!