Message posted by Jeff on August 29, 2004 at 19:23:45 PST:
Andrew, I am not sure if it is still there but in the early 80's I visited the museum on the base. The SR71's were still operational. I am not sure how my Dad got us on the tour as he has never had anything to do with the military. He knew somebody or something, come to think of it I need to ask him now just to know. The tour of the base is one of the reasons I am still interested in flying and black projects. I remember we had to submit our names and social security numbers a few weeks in advance before going to the base. After arriving at the gate we were escorted the entire time by MP's with M16s. I was in the 8th grade and 14. Wow was I impressed! I remember boarding a truck that at the time I remember resembled the truck used in the TV show SWAT. There was an MP in the back with us and he had his M16. We got a long lecture about what not to do. Trust me at 14 I was not going to do anything or speak until told to do so. A few other things I remember is there were four or five SR71s at the base along with a couple U2s at the time. The hanger doors were open and we could see them. I remember MPs stationed at each hanger. We stopped at one of the hangers and went in. Inside were, I assume, the hanger's assigned MPs. There was a line drawn in the hanger we were told we could not cross. I remember the cockpit was covered and we were told we could not go up the ladder to see inside as it was top secret. The wings crossed the line and I remember reaching up and touching the wing of the SR71. The last memory is of being in the museum and a SR71 took off. I remember the building shaking for quite a while and at first we thought it was an earthquake. Upon being told though we learned one of the blackbirds was doing touch and gos and we were able to watch. The afterburners were the coolest thing. Still to this day, WOW! Continued.... Another base museum I am highly impressed with for those interested is the Naval flight museum at the Penscola Naval Air Station in Pensacola Florida. I stopped with my kids driving on our way to Disney. We stopped off the tip of a friend. Another Wow! Next to the Smithsonian this has to be the best museum I have been to (excluding the museum at Beale). A must for anyone with kids driving to Disney! Excellent and very large museum. I was blown away with everything they had in there. I am amazed it is not more publically advertised around the country.
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