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SR-71 Blackbird Prints by Stan Stokes and Philip West.
PCK2017. SR-71 Blackbird Prints by Stan Stokes and Philip West. Aviation Print Pack.
Items in this pack :
Item #1 - Click to view individual item
DHM2230. The Untouchable by Philip West. The SR-71 Blackbird is the world's fastest and highest flying jet aircraft. For over 23 years, the SR-71s gathered highly classified intelligence around the world for the President of the United States, the Central Intelligence Agency, the National Security Agency, the Pentagon and other governmental agencies, allowing them to make crucial political and military decisions during the Cold War. At Mach 3+ cruising speed, the SR-71's leading edges heat up to over 600 degrees F, where the outside air temperature is already at a -60 degree F. In September 1975 the SR-71 set a world speed record from New York City to London in one hour, 55 minutes. When the SR-71 was delivered to the National Air & Space Museum in 1990, it set a Coast-to-Coast record, flying from Los Angeles, California to Washington, D.C., in 64 minutes, 20 seconds. Signed by Col Richard Graham. Signed limited edition of 350 prints. Paper size 28 inches x 20 inches (71cm x 51cm)
Item #2 - Click to view individual item
STK0151. Way Ahead of its Time by Stan Stokes. Aviation artist Stan Stokes has appropriately entitled his outstanding painting of an SR-71 Blackbird as, Way Ahead of its Time. The Blackbirds origins, amazingly, date back to the 1950s. At that time the U.S. government was very concerned about nuclear developments in the Soviet Union, and a high altitude reconnaissance aircraft was needed to overfly the Soviet Union. The Lockheed Corporation responded by developing the U-2, which was akin to a high powered glider. The U-2 was based on cost effective adaptations of currently available technologies, and was very effective initially, but as surface-to-air missile capability improved, the U-2 became vulnerable. What was needed was a long-range, very fast, very high altitude aircraft, capable of outrunning Soviet surface-to-air missiles. Mr. Kelly Johnson, Lockheeds project engineer who oversaw the famous skunkworks, presented a proposal to the U.S. government in 1959 regarding the development of a state-of-the-art ultra high speed and ultra high altitude aircraft. The plane, initially designated the A-12, first appeared as the YF-12 interceptor, but the government decided not to fund the YF-12. The design, however, became the SR-71, and the first production Blackbird took to the skies in 1964. The aircraft incorporated many design features never utilized on any aircraft up to that time. For example, at cruising speed the Blackbirds skin would reach nearly 1000 degrees, so the aircraft had to be constructed primarily from a titanium alloy. The SR-71 gets so hot, in fact, that the plane is one foot longer at cruising speed than it is on the ground. For twenty-six years this secretive aircraft held many of the worlds records for both speed and altitude. It is believed that about thirty two Blackbirds were produced, and about twenty of these were still in service with the Air Force in 1990. With the development of more capable satellites, and the high cost of maintaining the Blackbird fleet, the Air Force suspended Blackbird operations in 1990. On the final Air Force flight of a Blackbird, from California to Washington, D.C., this incredible aircraft once again set a speed record in making the trip in only sixty-eight minutes. Mr. Stokes has depicted in his painting a SR-71 Blackbird flying at 80,000 feet and at Mach 3.1 over the west coast of the United States. The plane as depicted is piloted by Col. Robert Powell, who is believed to have logged over 1.0 million miles in his 1,020 hours of flight time. Becoming a Blackbird pilot was about as difficult as becoming an astronaut, and Col. Powell personifies the talented and dedicated pioneers, who much like the Blackbird, were way ahead of their time. Supplied with signed and numbered certificate of authenticity. Signed limited edition of 4750 prints. Print size 16 inches x 11.5 inches (41cm x 30cm)
Website Price: £ 120.00
To purchase these prints individually at their normal retail price would cost £140.00 . By buying them together in this special pack, you save £20
All prices are displayed in British Pounds Sterling
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| Signatures on this item | | *The value given for each signature has been calculated by us based on the historical significance and rarity of the signature. Values of many pilot signatures have risen in recent years and will likely continue to rise as they become more and more rare. | | Name | Info | 
Col Richard Graham
*Signature Value : £15 (matted)
| Colonel (Rtd.) Richard Graham was born August 19, 1942 in New Castle, Pa. He graduated from the University of Akron, Akron, Ohio, in 1964 and received a masters degree in sociology in 1977 and in Public Administration in 1979 from Pepperdine University, Los Angeles, California. He graduated from Air War College in residence in 1982. After receiving his commission from AFROTC he entered pilot training at Craig AFB, Alabama. In 1965 he graduated from pilot training and remained at Craig AFB as a T-37 instructor pilot and flight examiner. In August 1970 he was assigned to Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona, to begin F-4 training. Upon completion of his training he was assigned to the 555th Tactical Fighter Squadron (Triple Nickel) at Udorn RTAFB, Thailand from March 1971 to March 1972. During that time he flew 145 combat missions over North Vietnam and Laos in the F-4C/D aircraft. In April 1972 he was assigned to the 44th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Kadena AFB, Okinawa, Japan, flying F-4D aircraft. Four months later he volunteered for, and joined, the 67th Tactical Fighter Squadron as an F-4C Wild Weasel pilot. In September 1972, until February 1973, Colonel Graham was deployed with his squadron to Korat RTAFB, Thailand, to augment F-105 Wild Weasel aircraft. At Korat he flew 60 combat missions, suppressing enemy surface-to-air missile sites in North Vietnam. During Christmas 1972 he participated in six Linebacker II sorties over Hanoi. In March 1973 his squadron joined the 17th Tactical Fighter Wing deployed to CCK Air Base, Taiwan. He departed Kadena as the F-4 Standardization/Evaluation Branch Chief. Colonel Graham was selected to enter the SR-71 strategic reconnaissance program in 1974 at Beale AFB, California. After several years as a crew member, he was further selected to become an instructor pilot, and in 1978 was selected as the Chief, Standardization/Evaluation Division, which included the SR-71, U-2 and T-38 aircraft. In January 1980 he was selected to be the SR-71 Squadron Commander, 1st Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron, where he served until his assignment to Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Alabama in 1981. Following Air War College in June of 1982, he was assigned to the Headquarters USAF (Pentagon) to work in Programs and Resources as a strategic force programmer. In April 1984, he was selected to work in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Manpower, Reserve Affairs and Installations. As the Director of Program Integration, he worked Air Force budgetary matters closely with the Office of the Secretary of Defence, the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Air Staff. In June of 1986 Colonel Graham was selected to be the Vice Wing Commander, 9th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing (SRW), Beale AFB, California. In that capacity, he was able to fly all of the wing's aircraft: the U-2, T-38, KC-135Q, and SR-71. In June of 1987 he was selected to become the Wing Commander of the 9th SRW, where he remained until November 1988. As the Wing Commander, he was responsible for 10,000 personnel and their dependents on base, over 85 Air Force aircraft deployed around the globe, and a base of 22,000 acres in northern California. He was assigned to the 14th Air Division, Beale AFB, until he retired on 30 September 1989. Colonel Graham was a command pilot with more than 4,600 military flying hours. His military decorations and awards include the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross with three oak leaf clusters, Air Medal with 18 oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with V device and one oak leaf cluster, Air Force Organizational Excellence Award, Combat Readiness Medal with one oak leaf cluster, National Defence Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with four service stars, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with palm, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal. Upon retirement from the Air Force he joined American Airlines in Dallas, Texas. He flew with them for 13 years, and in August 2002 he retired as a Captain on the MD-80 aircraft amassing 7,500 hours. Col. Graham has published a second volume on the SR-71, entitled SR-71 Blackbird: Stories, Tales and Legends. His first book, SR-71 Revealed: The Inside Story tells the crew's story of how they lived and flew the world's fastest and highest flying aircraft, the SR-71 Blackbird. A veteran of 15 years of assignments within the SR-71 community, he is uniquely qualified to tell their story. Col. Graham frequently speaks about the SR-71 program at aviation events across the United States. |
| Artist Details : Stan Stokes | | Click here for a full list of all artwork by Stan Stokes |
Stan Stokes
Stan Stokes is a California native with more than 37 years as a full time professional artist, who developed a passion for vintage cars, trains and airplanes at an early age. Model building and RC planes filled the many hours of the young enthusiasts free time. However, unlike most other young aviation enthusiasts Stokes also displayed a great gift for artistic talent. After studying art in College, Stan decided to pursue a career as a professional artist. Stokes initially focused his great talents on depicting uniquely realistic landscapes of the western desert and mountain scenes. More than thirty years ago a good friend suggested that Stan combine his passion for aviation history and flying with his artistic talents, and render an aircraft or two. The rest is history. Stan has won many prestigious awards including the Benedictine Art Award in 1975 and the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museums Golden Age of Flight award in 1985. In May of 2000, Stan was honored with the National Museum of Naval Aviations R. G. Smith Award for Excellence in Naval Aviation Art. Commissioned by the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California, Stans 12 x 120 foot mural of the History of the Flying White House is on permanent display in the Air Force One Pavilion. In addition Stans painting of the USS Ronald Reagan is hanging in the Legacy Room of the library. In 2005 Stan also completed a painting of our nations next aircraft carrier, the USS George H. W. Bush, which is on permanent display at the George H. W. Bush Presidential Library in College Station, Texas. Stan has also completed several impressive murals for the Palm Springs Air Museum including: The Tuskegee Airmen at 12 x 60 feet and contains 51 portraits of the original Tuskegee Airmen. Dauntless at Midway at 12 x 34 feet and Corsair on Approach at 19 x 55 feet. Stans work also hangs in the Air Force art collection, the Pentagon, San Diego Aerospace Museum, and the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington DC. Stan has had the pleasure of meeting and working with many of his boyhood aviation heroes, including the late General Jimmy Doolittle, the late Pappy Boyington, Chuck Yeager, and many many others. A true aviation history buff, Stan often spends more time pouring over research materials for his paintings to assure their accuracy to the smallest detail than he does behind the canvas. Noted for his incredible detail and strikingly realistic illustration, Stans canvases have a life-like three-dimensional effect that often leaves viewers spellbound. Today his work encompasses not only aviation and space but also portraits, landscapes, ships, classic cars and his new collection of cat-related fine art paintings. Stan particularly enjoys the tough assignment. During his 37 years as a professional artist, he has been asked to produce literally hundreds of paintings documenting historical events, people and places. Although Stan has logged many hours flying his own airplanes, in recent years pleasure flying has had to take a backseat to the artistic demands of his backlog. Stan was commissioned to paint more than twenty original paintings for an aviation museum being in the Philippines. Since the mid-1980s NASA has also tapped Stans talents from time to time and he has completed more than fifteen paintings ranging from the space shuttles to the SR 71 Blackbird. Stan has also painted numerous works for the cutting edge genius in aviation and space design, Burt Rutan.
More about Stan Stokes
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