Awesome selfies how did you take them? Cell phone? thanks for sharing!

 

Wow, some of the best Omega photos I've seen. Can you tell us the altitude? Also, was that a TR-1, not a U-2? Outstanding.

 

Amazing post, thanks

 

Go for an F16. They're smaller so they might even fit in your driveway, and have MUCH better firepower. For some reason my wife refuses to buy me one for Christmas. Go figure!

 

I think somebody in the forum should give Jfingers an Ed White for pretty much being one.

 

The U2 flies high but not Ed White high. Now if Jfingers can post a pic of himself flying in the cockpit of a SR71 Blackbird, that would a different story.

 

Great pics , I enjoy your at work photos.

 

@tyrantlizardrex : a mission day is about 2 hours of pre-mission planning, medical screening, and an hour of pre-breathing 100% oxygen to get the nitrogen out of my blood, followed by 8-10 hours of sitting, admiring the view.

@jminchoi : yep, standard cell phone selfie

@Richie : U-2S, and the altitude then was quickly approaching 70,000'

@ulackfocus : A T-38A would be substantially cheaper than an F-16, and you get the benefit of a second motor!

@tomchi : I wouldn't go that far... but if someone wants to donate a speedyorite to the cause, I'd gladly do that for you

@gemini4 : what I wouldn't give to fly an SR-71, just once! Since that probably won't ever happen, I'll be happy just chillin', putzin' along at a little over 100 knots

 

We call them "pogos" and the guys riding the wings part of the Pogo Crew. The pogos drop out on takeoff. Unfortunately, this time, one of the pogos lost the rubber on its wheels and had to be removed before making it to the runway. Because there was so much fuel in the wings, the pogo crew couldn't get another pogo in there, so they had to ride the opposite wing to keep the wing tip from scraping the ground. It doesn't happen often, but often enough that it's not a big deal.

 

An interesting suggestion @JFingers. I like the idea of dual engines and the improved thrust-to-weight ratio. However, the T-38A is a two seater and I don't need my wife backseat driving.

 

Roger...so no booger picking (or flicking).

So...what about the almighty #1 and the even more almighty #2?

How does that work?

 

Google says it was a catheter until 1955, and after that "an external bladder system"... No mention of deploying number 2...

 

So much envy right now @JFingers... If only I worked harder at... Anything!

Are the SR-71s still around? Is there anything we can do to get you in one and live vicariously through you a little more?

https://www.thrillist.com/cars/fact...onic-lockheed-martin-sr71-blackbird-spy-plane

 

"Center I see us closer to 2000 knots" - LOL... what a great story

 

You, sir, win at jobs.

 

They still exist physically (we have one here in New York at the Intrepid Museum) but are no longer operational. I think NASA still has one that they can make operational for atmospheric research, but they don't fly anymore.

 

Roger...regarding #2...I wouldn't be surprised if they avoided Hooters wings as part of their preflight prep...but then again I could be way off on that.

 

There seem to be an awful lot of Metallica t-shirts present in your pictures? Were you a roadie for them at one time?