Great read from pilot who flew the SR-71. Amazing over 50 year old technology. Flying the world's fastest plane: Behind the stick of the SR-71 - SBNation.com
I saw one at the Virginia air museum recently; one bad ass machine.... Image Unavailable, Please Login
This is another interesting read for those not aware and/or refresh, it drills down into the weeds beginning with SR-71 inception and rollout. http://enu.kz/repository/2009/AIAA-2009-1522.pdf
No different than the at the Aberdeen proving grounds where they have priceless WW2 tanks rusting away out in the open. Or the Revolutionary battlefields that are overgrown and in disrepair or the amazingly historic mile markers on the Boston Post Road that George Washington rode by as President just wasting away like sitting ducks on highway on ramps. Yet we can waste billions picking up the tab for losers.
I've seen 11+ or so of these birds. Only two were indoors (Dulles annex and Warner Robins). The ones in LA, Palmdale (2 blackbirds), Huntsville, Birmingham, Richmond, NYC, San Diego, and Eglin were all outdoors. The one in the roughest shape by far was in Huntsville outside NASA's visitor center. Looked absolutely terrible. I posted pics of it in the SR71 thread a year or so ago. Between Dulles and Warner Robins, Warner's was in perfect shape. Looked brand new. At least that one among them all is kept in perfect shape given it is the one that set (and still holds) the record for fastest air-breathing powered plane. Ichiban.
