USEFUL FLIGHT INFORMATION :

BEALE AFB (KBAB): Runway 12009 ft, Height 113 ft
NDB none - ILS (15) 109.50 >145 - DME 108.6
Runway 33 has no ILS heading is 325.
Beale AFB Tower at: N39:08.2 W121:26.2

WARNING: There are several versions of FS2004 third party Beale AFB scenery. All are different and at least one has hidden buildings. The aircraft is parked in a position that allows you to get to runway 15 for take off in any of them including the default scenery. If you change the wind direction requiring a takeoff from R33 you may hit a building before you get there. If using R15 to land DO NOT TRY TO PARK HERE ON YOUR RETURN. Park as soon as possible after landing at the other end of the concourse. If landing on R33: just taxi to this position but do not try to turn the aircraft around.

Most VOR2 beacons are only DME active and will not provide direction on the VOR2 gauge in these flights.

Have you read the Checklist Notes?

FLIGHT PLAN 71_01 - TRAINING MISSION
FROM BEALE AFB (KBAB) IN CALIFORNIA.
A SR71 Blackbird flight in 61-7978 "Rapid Rabbit"
Substitute 61-7955 if you wish.

Before this training mission you may like to do a touch and go first so as to familiarize yourself with the aircraft at low speeds. You will need to reset the autopilot if you choose to do a AP assisted turn after take off. Altitude 3000feet, hold airspeed 320kts, heading 285, fuel 30% in each tank. Request from ground control "remain in pattern". takeoff, turn 180 degrees to 3000 feet and 320 kts, reduce speed to 220 kts, turn 180 degrees reduce speed to 170 kts and land. Raise the hoods when clear of the runway [shift+E] and taxi to parking. Please note the warning above and Runway 33 has no ILS. Shut down and close the hoods.

Full details for the training flight are:
(a) The first leg of this mission is to be flown at 40000 ft and at subsonic speeds. Start engines, check panel settings and ensure 40000 feet with 4000 ft/m vertical speed is set in the autopilot. Ensure the speed hold setting is mach 0.85 to 18000 feet and then increase this to register 0.98 on the mach gauge. Do not use afterburn.

(b) The aircraft should be refueled just prior to the ASIPY intersection. It is near Las Vegas.

(c) At the intersection make the turn to HDG 68, then deselect hold speed, activate afterburn and accelerate to at least 520 KIAS. Because of the compremise to fly safely at 80000+ feet, with a full load of fuel, the aircraft will take some distance to achieve that speed.
(d) Set 81000ft in the auto pilot and climb at 4000ft/m. Control the aircraft speed to a GS of 1845 kts for cruising. A KIAS of xxx appears to give this speed. Take particular notice that the throttle is almost closed off. Do not allow the engines to "run-away" and induce aircraft speeds above the overspeed setting.

(e) Once you arrive at UT09 you should be at 81000 feet and will be required to do a supersonic 180 degree turn. The flight plan is designed to do this under autopilot control. Set a heading of 215 and follow the aircraft's progress. She will bank to approx 35 degrees. Remember you must pass close to all intersections so as to activate the next part of the flight plan route.

(f) You may have to correct the path taken to the UNLAP intersection. Deselect the AP hold heading setting and fly the aircraft using a manual turn. IT IS RISKY TO BANK THE AIRCRAFT MORE THAN 50 DEGREES.

(g) Re-align the aircraft direction as you travel towards Buckeye BXK in Arizona. Increase your ground speed to 1980 kts for this leg. Then on to the Pacific coast at VBG reducing your speed back to 1825 kts. Make the supersonic turn northwards.

(h) You have an option at VBG: continue northwards missing any landfall and at the appropriate time descend to 40000 feet at mach 0.98 max for the turn via HQM (117.70) towards Seattle. Follow the route back to the Beale AFB and land.

(j) OR if you miss the waypoint VBG or wish to accept a challenge, make a landing at the Vandenberg AFB (EVBG). We will assume they have a Buick Cart for a restart. You will need to reduce speed and altitude in a turn over the Pacific Ocean. Follow ATC instructions and try for a full ILS landing but do not expect much help from local navigation beacons. For guidance enter Vandenberg's approach co-ordinates into the GPS. You may need to use the standard sim GPS. Airfield details below:

VANDENBERG AFB EVBG: Runway 15005ft, Ht 367ft
ILS (30) 110.10 >303 - DME 112.25 - No NDB
ILS (12) 110.10 >123 (a from the sea approach)
Seaward approach from: N34:53.8 W120:46.2

FLIGHT PLAN 71_04 - SR71 FAMILIARISATION
RAF MILDENHALL (EGUN) IN THE UK.
A SR71 Blackbird flight in 61-7955

Airfield details:
RAF MILDENHALL EGUN: Runway 9227ft, Ht 33ft
ILS (29) 110.15 >286 - DME 115.90 - No NDB
ILS (11) 110.15 >106

The aircraft is parked assuming that third party scenery of RAF Mindenhall is installed otherwise you will be on the grass just off the taxiway if using the default scenery.

In this flight you can do a "touch and go" so as to familiarize yourself with the aircraft at low speeds. Request from ground control "remain in pattern". Takeoff, turn 180 degrees to 3000 feet and 320 kts, reduce speed to 220 kts, turn 180 degrees reduce speed to 170 kts and land. Use ILS for the landing.

If using FS2004 scenery for Mindenhall, request "Parking South East". Raise the hoods [shift+E] and taxi. Park the aircraft (you may find the taxi into the parking area difficult, next time take the easy access). Shut down and close the hoods.

FLIGHT PLAN 71_05 - RECON MISSION - LIBYA
FROM RAF MILDENHALL (EGUN) IN THE UK.
A SR71 Blackbird flight in 61-7955

Airfield details:
RAF MILDENHALL EGUN: Runway 9227ft, Ht 33ft
ILS (29) 110.15 >286 - DME 115.90 - No NDB
ILS (11) 110.15 >106
Tower is at: N52:21.6 E0:29.3

Full details for the flight are: this flight is to be flown at 84000 feet cruising at GS 1850 kts.

The mission begins in the air at 40000feet near Genoa in Northern Italy on the Mediterranean Coast. Your task is to photograph the Beni Walid Airfield 68 Nm south of Tripoli. It is not part of the flight plan so you will have to navigate to it using the co-ordinate GPS which does work well in eastern latitudes.

BENI WALID AIRFIELD at N31:44.3 E13:57.2
Nearby VOR 115.9, NDB 265 (does transmit)

Fly the aircraft manually from Tripoli and take your photograph of the airfield. It was here in 1983 that during this mission missiles were launched at the aircraft. So in such circumstances increase your ground speed to 2000 kts and outrun them. You must pass over the coast at the MIS intersection (Misurati). Fly at a GS of 2000 kts until 250Nm from Beni Walid reducing your speed to 1850 kts for the turn south of Sicily.

You are to refuel over Gibraltar at 40000 feet and mach 0.80 before flying back to RAF Mildenhall. OR you can test your skills by landing on a very short runway at Gibraltar. Unless you get the descent right you may be close to running out of fuel. You must also get your approach and landing speed correct or you will end up in the "drink". ATC will make it difficult for you by not allowing the direct flight in on R27. However it is a nice view if you have the third party Gibraltar scenery installed. You will find the ground radar gauge very handy here.

You can of course save these flights at any convient point for your own use.