The Nav panel on the lower left is a Litton Nav System panel. I used to fix Litton, Singer Kearfott, and Northrop stuff (to name a few).

The SR-71 is my own photo. I couldn’t fit all the other planes I worked on in the graphic. And, she is the most distinct aircraft.

The remove before flight flag is VERY important. The plane goes nowhere unless I pulled the last pin in the wheel-well. Engines are running while we were executing final OpsChecks and systems checks. The last thing to happen was Thumbs-Up from the RSO, we’d shut down our systems, I’d run under the bird, pop up in the wheel-well (you can stand up in there - lots a room), disconnect our canon plug and cable, close the port with the cover, and pull my RBF pin.

Then, it’s final checks for the two man crew, and off she went. We stood at attention and saluted as she rolled out of the hangar. Man, goose bumps again … my favorite time! We always got a wave from the RSO. I knew that he was smiling, you just know …

I, personally, never ever preflighted and launched anywhere but in the hangar. There are some other folks that have launched outside, but at Beale AFB I’d say 95% of the launches were from the hangar. Someone with more time in the 9th can correct me, or augment my statement. I had only about 1.5 - 2 years at Beale AFB.

Hangar? Giant wind tunnel, more like!

The RSO, in an SR-71 (pictured in my header graphic above) is the Reconnaissance (Systems, Security, or Staff) Officer. Security is an older term, and has some meaning in other branches. I believe that “Staff” is used in the Navy. When I worked on the SR-71 and U-2, it was ’systems’.

The RSO is the “eyes” as well as the navigator for the mission. He is in complete control of cameras, jamming, targeting, and navigation. The pilot has one primary mission - fly the plane. And that is NOT a slam. The pilot is constantly trying to keep the aircraft from disintegrating - she is at MACH3 and with her profile, that is not very safe if she exhibits +-11 degrees in pitch during her profile. Very bad things happen.

The pilot MUST do one thing - predominantly. And his backseater relies on his supreme control of the bird. They both rely heavily on one another, as many two-seater aircraft crews do all the time. But, at MACH3, flying a rocket, and FLT LVL 700+ … hmmm … you can say I was always in awe on the flightline when around the crews. The entire mission relied on everyone to be at the top of their game.

And, everyone was, and I loved that duty station and mission.

My job, as a Nav and Steering Command Systems Repair Guy was to “fix” the systems for the RSO. (Fix 4 RSO)

I am using a double entendre here. I consider my readers to be RSOs, and I am providing a “fix” on their course to the truth. In Nav terms, when I have a “fix” on the target, my waypoints are set for my course/flight plan, or for this blog a clear path to the truth. (Fix 4 RSO)

Subtle, and very, very, nerdy. And, I am VERY glad you asked. I think I’ll post this … people are probably all scratching their heads too …

This should make you mad, really mad: As the narrow debate about federal immigration policy continues among politicians, the racist vigilantes of the Minuteman Project have become accepted as a legitimate voice in mainstream politics. These bigots and …

p.p.s. I never wanted to show my ignorance and ask what is the meaning of Fix 4 RSO. LOL!