Subcribe and stay connected

download-on-itunes

Today’s Flight Plan

What would it be like to strap into a top secret machine, fly at 80,000 feet and Mach 3+? Our guests today did just that as a crew, flying top secret missions. We catch up with Richard Graham and Don Emmons to hear a few stories of what it was like flying missions in one of the most iconic airplanes in history, the SR-71 Blackbird.

Don Emmons Richard Graham

Useful Links

SR-71 Blackbird
Richard’s Books

Credits

Crew

Major thanks to the amazing Angle of Attack Crew for all their hard work over the years. Our team works incredibly hard, and they’re very passionate about what they do.

Now What?

iTunes Subscribe

Want to get regular updates through iTunes? This is the easiest way to automatically download your podcast, and take it on the go. Make sure to SUBSCRIBE HERE.

Email Signup

Want us to let you know via email when episodes of AviatorCast are released? We can do that, too. SIGNUP ABOVE.

Get Started Today!

Want to get started with some of our video training? Go to our main page and signup for Aviator90 (our basic and free course) or other pay products we have.

Transcript

[transcript]

[/transcript]

AUTHOR

Chris Palmer

Chief Flight Instructor and President of Angle of Attack. Founded in 2006.

ON THE SAME TOPIC

What Is Detonation in Aircraft Engines? The Hidden Knock That Can Wreck a Piston Engine

What Is Detonation in Aircraft Engines? The Hidden Knock That Can Wreck a Piston Engine 16 min read Last updated June 2026 · Chris Palmer Detonation in an aircraft engine is the abnormal, near-instantaneous explosion of the fuel-air mixture inside a cylinder, instead of the smooth, controlled burn a normal spark produces. This uncontrolled combustion […]

Read more

What Is Density Altitude? The Performance Killer Explained

What Is Density Altitude? The Performance Killer Explained 16 min read Last updated June 2026 · Chris Palmer Density altitude is pressure altitude corrected for nonstandard temperature — in plain terms, the altitude your airplane “feels” it’s flying at based on how thin the air is. When it’s hot, high, or humid, the air thins […]

Read more

What Is Climb Rate in Aviation? A Student Pilot’s Guide to Feet Per Minute

What Is Climb Rate in Aviation? A Student Pilot’s Guide to Feet Per Minute 14 min read Last updated June 2026 · Chris Palmer Climb rate in aviation is how fast an airplane gains altitude, measured in feet per minute (fpm) and shown on the vertical speed indicator. It comes from excess power — the […]

Read more

What Is Class E Airspace? Rules, Limits & VFR Minimums

What Is Class E Airspace? Rules, Limits & VFR Minimums 13 min read Last updated June 2026 · Chris Palmer Class E airspace is controlled airspace that isn’t Class A, B, C, or D. It’s the catch-all that fills the gaps so air traffic control can serve instrument traffic almost everywhere. For a VFR student […]

Read more

Stay Connected

Be the very first to get notified when we publish new flying videos, free lessons, and special offers on our courses.

YOUR FLYING JOURNEY STARTS HERE

ENROLL IN YOUR PRIVATE PILOT COURSES NOW