Colonel Richard Graham discusses the
SR-71 Blackbird
Former SR-71 Blackbird pilot Colonel Richard Graham(USAF Retired) will bemaking a welcome return to
IWM Duxford on Sunday 11 March 2012.
Always a very popular speaker at IWM Duxford, Colonel Grahamwill be giving an overview of the SR-71
Blackbird programme at 11amin the Marshall Auditoriumin AirSpace.
This talk will be followed by an extended question and answer session, where Colonel Grahamwill chat
with his audience.
At 2pm, Colonel Grahamwill be hosting walk-around tours of the SR-71 Blackbird that he previously flew
at RAF Mildenhall, which now sits in pride of place on display in the American Air Museum.
Following the tour, there will be an opportunity for book signings and to askmore questions.
The SR-71 Blackbird is regarded as one of the United States Air Force’smost important Cold War-era
aircraft. It was classified as top secret formost of its operational life, flying covertmissions fromRAF
Mildenhall fromthemid-1970s onwards. The aircraft played an important role inmilitary conflicts for
nearly thirty years, being superceded only when spy satellites came into operation.
Colonel Richard Graham’s involvement with the Blackbird continued until his retirement fromthe United
States Air Force in 1989 as a highly-decorated pilot withmore than 4,000 hours ofmilitary flying
experience.
Colonel Graham’s talks are always incredibly popular. Both events on Sunday 11 March are included in
standard admission to themuseumand, as usual, children aged 15 and under go free.
The Marshall Auditoriumhas amaximumcapacity of 200. Entry to Colonel Graham’s talk is on a firstcome,
first-served basis.
The walk-around tour can also be joined on a first-come, first-served basis.
Join us to hear about the thrill and excitement of flying the SR-71 Blackbird as Colonel Richard Graham
enthralls his audience with tales about this iconic and enigmatic aircraft.
