Ed Yeilding, Blackbird Pilot, will hold a symposium in Andalusia this Thursday

Come meet the fastest pilot in history, Lt. Col Ed Yeilding, a Blackbird pilot that still holds the aircraft speed record, flying coast-to-coast in 67 minutes and 54 seconds in 1990.  Join Lt. Col Yeilding at a free symposium to be held:

Thursday, April 20th 

4:00 PM 

City Hall Auditorium

Ed Yeilding, Lt Col (ret), was born in 1949, raised in Florence Alabama, became an Eagle Scout, and earned a BS degree in electical engineering at Auburn University in 1972.  He was commissioned through ROTC.  As an Air Force pilot, he had assignments in the RF-4, F-4E, SR-71, and C-20.  While on active duty, he also earned a management MS degree through the Troy University extension at Moody Air Force Bas GA.  

His most unusual assignment was six years in the SR-71 Blackbird, whte world's fastest, highest flying jet.  He flew 93 overseas recconnaissance missions.  When the Blackbird was retired in 1990, Lt Col Yeilding was asked to pilot an SR-71 to the Smithsonian Institute and set an official coast-to-coast aircraft speed record to help draw the public's attention to the amazing Blackbirds which had performed such a vital service for our coutnry during 25 years of the Cold War.  On March 6. 1990, Lt Col Yeilding and RSO Lt Col JT Vida, flew coast to coast in 67 minutes 54 seconds, cruising at almost 2200 miles per hour and reaching an altitute of 83,000 feet.  The Blackbird's coast-to-coast aircraft speed record still stands after more than 27 years, and the aircraft is on display at the Smithsonian's Udvar-Hazy Center near Dulles Internation Airport west of Washington DC.