Following his popular talks in 2009, Colonel Richard Graham (USAF Retired), former
SR-71 Blackbird pilot, will be returning to Imperial War Museum Duxford on Sunday 28
February 2010.
Colonel Graham will give a talk entitled "Flying the SR-71 Blackbird from RAF
Mildenhall" at 11.00am in the Marshall Auditorium in AirSpace.
From 2.00pm Colonel Graham will 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 tours, there will also be an
opportunity for book signing and for Colonel Graham to answer your questions.
The SR-71 Blackbird is regarded as one of the United States Air Force’s most
important Cold War-era aircraft. It was classified as top secret for most of its
operational life, flying covert reconnaissance missions from RAF Mildenhall from the
mid-1970s onwards. The aircraft played an important role in military conflicts for
nearly thirty years, being superceded only when spy satellites came into operation.
Richard Graham’s involvement with the Blackbird continued until his retirement from
the USAF, in 1989, as a highly-decorated pilot with more than 4000 hours of military
flying experience.
Colonel Graham's talks are always incredibly popular. Colonel Graham said "I always
enjoy my time speaking to aviation fans at Duxford and answering their questions
about the Blackbird.”
Both events on Sunday 28 February are included in the standard admission price to
IWM Duxford and all are welcome.
Imperial War Museum Duxford is just south of Cambridge at junction 10 of the M11.
Ample free parking is available. For a full list of Duxford’s air shows and other exciting
events in 2010, including half term activities for families, visit www.iwm.org.uk/duxford
or telephone 01223 835 000.
