Foreign SR-71 crews
 

All - I am aware that RAF pilots flew the U2 over the USSR.
Did any foreign pilots fly ever the Blackbird - or were there any foreign Habu WSOs?
I can't find any references on Google - crews all seem to be US born citizens.
My question is in context of the B-21 - and the ongoing debate as to whether:
a) Australia could afford to buy and operate it, and
b) whether the Yanks would actually agree to sell it to us - because of the airframe and systems innovations (the F-22 export saga).
There have been suggestions here that an interim step might be for RAAF crews to eventually be trained on, and operate USAF B-21s on some kind of exchange program.
Although technically possible, that'd surely present some problems with non-US citizens operating US strategic weapons platforms - that might in extreme cases be required to carry special weapons.
Noting the Blackbird operationally was of course purely reconnaissance in role.
That said - many foreigners have flown other USAF jets on exchange that were nuclear capable (Phantom, Skyhawk etc).
Would a RAAF - USAF B-21 exchange program be feasible?

No is the long answer, the book "Lockheed Blackbird Beyond the Secret Missions" by Paul Crickmore contains a list of everyone who ever flew in the aircraft as crew or joyrider.

Well every day is a school day:
https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Disp...in-b-2-spirit/
I am informed there has been an RAF B2 exchange program for years.
So - in principle - no barriers to Ocker pilots flying USAF Raiders.
Who knows - they may have already flown the B-2...

There is at least one other RAF pilot who has flown the B-2 apart from the person in the article.

I may well be wrong, but didn't Eric "Winkle" Brown fly the SR-71?

No, it's not listed among the 400+ aircraft that he flew. He may have been a passenger in one (I've no idea, it's not mentioned in his autobiography), but that wouldn't count anyway.

Only in his dreams, the only people to fly in the aircraft were crew or VIP US citizens.

Don’t see why not. The RAAF has had exchange officers flying F-22’s continuously since 2008/9.

Perhaps the type of mission. An Aussie/Brit shot down over Soviet/Chinese/NK territory, now it involves a third party…

It is many, many years since I read Chris Pocock's book about the Lockheed U2, titled 'Dragon Lady', but I have a distinct recollection that RAF pilots flew operational missions in the U2.

We should ever underestimate the "Powers" of the Advanced Search....:D

Jack

For many years the USAF exchange officers on 101 Sqn had been able to avoid being detached to MPA on the grounds that the US embassy had said that political implications had ruled it out and that an embargo was in place.

Just like the old Mini which they'd passed on every time a new pilot was posted to 101 before it finally passed away, so was the 'US embassy' rumour. Until one day when one of them asked the embassy for a letter on the topic - only to be told that there was no such embargo! From then on they could indeed spend time on 1312.

If ever there was a question to which you didn't want an answer............!

Salute!

We had a RAF exchange pilot with us in the 354th TFW at The Beach, but when USAF deployed us to Thailand for the first end of the war effort in 1972, we had to leave him behind and he flew with the training unit until we returned 6 monthes later. Strangely, our USN exchange pilot also had to remain behind despite the common enemy and such. We understood that this was not the Queen's war for the RAF fellow, so no problem.
One of my F-102 instructors was an RAF pilot, but our training unit was not "combat coded" like the 356th Squadron at The Beach in 1972.

I often wonder if all NATO air forces would have thrown the restrictions out the window during the Cold War if the balloon went up, and I suspect they would have.

RAF pilots flying operational missions was a big surprise when I first read books about the Black Lady. I think Dreanland Resort has excellent links to many U.S. black programs, so take a look.

Gums sends...

IIRC a US pilot had to be dragged off the UK ships going south to the Falklands War as he was on a Harrier cross posting

Salute!

Back in the day, the Aussies and U.S. flew with each other as FAC and attack folks to get oriented and perfect our procedures. And I thik we even had Canadian Carabou folks in the fray, but gotta check.

The Blackbird was a quantum leap ahead of the U-2, and I could understand more "special access". However, I thot I saw a referrence or two about some RAF invites to Have Blue results and initial 117's....Dreamland Resort could have some stuff.

Gums sends...

I believe Dave Southwood, a Boscombe Down test pilot along with his boss, were asked to assess and write a report on the F117.

Salute!

Thanks, Pig. Still can't find the reference, but our CINC at the time and the Iron Lady had a special relationship.

That Have Blue and Senior Trend program was black as can be at the time. All of us in the tac air bidness knew something special was going on in the Box in early 80's, but the Blackbird program in late 50's early 60's has to be the best, even better than the U2.

Gums sends...

Not quite true. Maj Mac was not allowed anywhere near Hermes but we left his name on the side of “his” jet until just before the first raid. He was v peed-off about it and queried how anyone could go to war without the Marines!

We managed.

Mog

Greetings,

Here is the link to an interview Dave Southwood gave about the F 117. This is the third of three parts.

https://forums.flyer.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=114697

parts one and two below.

https://forums.flyer.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=114697

https://forums.flyer.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=114697

Salute!

Thanks, Pig. will check those links.

Too bad about the football match, but sierra happens. Too much finesse by the Brits versus power down and keep ball in the box.

Gums sends..