Marta Bohn-Meyer
Marta Bohn-Meyer was the operations engineer for the F-104 and F-14, and was the first female crewmember assigned to the SR-71 aircraft. Marta considered her crew member status a great honor, explaining that the opportunity was brought about because of what she called her “four rights: right time, right place, right enthusiasm, and right qualifications”. The SR-71 was the world’s fastest jet-propelled aircraft and its performance placed it at the pinnacle of aviation technology developments during the Cold War.
Additional information
Location in the Museum
The Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird is in the Boeing Aviation Hangar. More details about the aircraft are located on its label which is located at its nose.
Additional aircraft information: Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird
What were Marta Bohn-Meyer’s “four rights”?
Her “four rights” were the right time, right place, right enthusiasm, and right qualifications.
What operational significance does the Blackbird’s paint have?
The paint served as new stealth technology designed to absorb radar signals, radiate some of the airframe heat generated by air friction, and to camouflage the aircraft.
The Sr-71 was a vital tool for global intelligence gathering and provided information needed in formulating successful foreign policy. What are some key examples of Blackbird crews providing important intelligence?
Blackbird crews provided important intelligence about the 1973 Yom Kippur War, the Israeli invasion of Lebanon, and revealed Iranian Silkworm missile batteries that threatened commercial shipping.
SR-71 Blackbird Skunk Works Logo
Lockheed’s clandestine “Skunk Works” division designed the A-12, the first proposal for a new high speed, high altitude, reconnaissance aircraft to be capable of avoiding interceptors and missiles. Experience gained from the A-12 program led to Lockheed constructing the SR-71.
Blackbird body
After the Air Force began to operate the SR-71, it acquired the name Blackbird for its color. The black paint was formulated to absorb radar signals, to radiate some of the airframe heat generated by air friction, and to camouflage the aircraft.
SR-71 Blackbird Engine
To climb and cruise at supersonic speeds, the Blackbird’s engines were designed to operate continuously in afterburner. The Blackbird achieved its best “gas mileage” in terms of air nautical miles per pound of fuel burned during the Mach 3+ cruise.