Nailhead Start Cart for SR-71 Blackbird

[SBRMD]

Hey Everybody,

 

It's been mentioned more than once on this board that the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird was routinely started with a start cart powered by Buick Nailheads.  Recently made a trip to NYC and was able to visit the USS Intrepid, which has an SR-71 on the flight deck.  Lo and behold, nestled right up next to it was the fabled start cart, Nailheads intact (see pics)!  I couldn't capture it too well, but Nailhead #2 is behind the one you see.

 

 

 

 

Edited July 3, 2022 by SBRMD (see edit history)

[Machine Gun]

Does anyone here know what the pulley-driven device is that looks similar to a power steering pump?

[EmTee]

Definitely looks like a hydraulic pump.  My guess is it generates pressure for some hydraulically controlled function on the cart itself.

[EmTee]

Here's a link to an article describing the start cart(s).  Sounds like there was a hydraulic ram that raised the probe from the cart that engaged the J-58 to spin it up for starting.

 

https://www.thesr71blackbird.com/Aircraft/Engines/starting-the-sr-71-blackbirds-j58-engines-ag330-start-cart

 

[EmTee]

I just watched the launch video on the site above.

 

https://youtu.be/nFO--wzFfUs

 

Starting at about 2:20 you can hear the nailheads beginning to wind-up.  By about 2:30 they're really singing!

Edited July 4, 2022 by EmTee (see edit history)