November 9, 2006; 6:15pm-9:00pm
Michaels at Shoreline, Mountain View
From 1967 to 1990, the
SR-71 served seven U.S. Presidents, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), the
National Security Agency (NSA), the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), 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.
Col. (Ret) Richard Graham flew the Blackbirds for over seven years on operational reconnaissance missions. He was selected to be the Squadron Commander of the SR-71 unit in 1980 and eventually became the Wing Commander at Beale AFB, which included both the SR-71 and U-2 aircraft. With over 15 years of experience with the SR-71 program, he is uniquely qualified to talk on the capabilities of the SR-71.
The world's fastest and highest flying aircraft was conceived as early as 1958 by the renowned aircraft engineer, Kelly Johnson. The gigantic leap in technology he and his 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 every hour, gathering in millions of bits of intelligence. When cruising at over 2,100 mph, with skin friction temperatures reaching 700 degrees Fahrenheit, the SR-71 performed at its very best!.
Colonel (ret) Richard Graham graduated from the University of Akron, Akron, Ohio in 1964. He received a master's degree in Sociology in 1977 and in Public Administration in 1979 from Pepperdine University, Los Angeles, California.
Colonel Graham entered Air Force pilot training, receiving his wings in 1965 at Craig AFB, Selma, Alabama. He remained at Craig as a T-37 Instructor Pilot and Flight Examiner until 1970. Upon completion of F-4 fighter training, he flew 210 combat missions over North Vietnam and Laos from 1971-1973.
He was selected to enter the SR-71 strategic reconnaissance program in 1974 at Beale AFB, California. He flew the SR-71 for the next seven years, amassing 756 hours in the worlds fastest and highest flying aircraft. In 1980, he was selected to be the squadron commander of the SR-71 unit at Beale, where he served until his assignment to the Air War College at Maxwell AFB, Montgomery, Alabama.
In June of 1982, he was assigned to the Pentagon to work in Programs and Resources as a strategic force programmer. In 1984 he was promoted to colonel and selected to work in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force, working closely on budgetary matters with the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Air Staff.
In June of 1987, Colonel Graham was selected to be the Wing Commander at Beale AFB. During his 25 years of service, he amassed 4,600 hours, retiring from the Air Force in 1989. His military decorations and awards include the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross with three oak leaf clusters, and the Air Medal with 18 oak leaf clusters.
Upon retirement from the Air Force, he joined American Airlines in Dallas, Texas. After flying 13 years at American, he retired in August 2002 as a Captain on the MD-80 aircraft, with over 7,500 hours. He now spends his time as an author, speaker, aviation consultant, and flight instructor.
He has written two books, "SR-71 Revealed, The Inside Story," and "SR-71 Blackbird: Stories, Tales, and Legends." A veteran of 15 years of assignments within the SR-71 community, he is uniquely qualified to tell the SR-71 story. Colonel Graham was the 1999 recipient of the University of Nebraska's William F. Shea Award for his distinguished contribution to aviation. He was selected to be a Distinguished Lecturer for the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) and the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA). In 2005, the Blackbird Association awarded him the Kelly Johnson trophy, a lifetime achievement award for his work to perpetuate, foster and improve the SR-71.
It both pleases and pains us to announce that this event is SOLD OUT. Thanks to you all for your terrific support of AIAA-SF events! For those on the outside looking in, we hope to see you at a future event. Reserve early!!
Registration and no-host cocktails at 6:15 pm; buffet dinner at 6:45 pm; program starts at 7:45 pm; program ends at 9:00 pm. This meeting is open to the general public.
For more information about this meeting, contact
Todd Farley at: chair(at)aiaa-sf.org.
(Replace "(at)" with commercial at-sign.)
Michael's at Shoreline
2960 N Shoreline Blvd
Mountain View, CA,94043
650-962-1014
Map: Google