None were put back into service with the exception of NASA.
There is no need since it has been replaced with a third and fourth
generation spy plane.
--------------------------------------
Steven St.Laurent
C4i System Engineer
C4i Engineering Branch, PSD, MCTSSA
MARCORSYSCOM, U.S. Marine Corps
Office (760) 725-2506 (DSN Prefix: 365)
"Never be content with somebody else's definition
of you. Instead, define yourself by your own beliefs,
your own truths, your own understanding of who
you are. Never be content until you are happy with
the unique person GOD has created you to be."
-----Original Message-----
From: Jon N. Benignus [mailto:blkwidow1@primary.net]
Sent: Sunday, June 09, 2002 9:03 PM
To: dakota-truck@dakota-truck.net
Subject: Re: DML: SR-71 Aircraft
> Side # is 606968
OH NO!!
NEVER, EVER, call it a side #. It's a TAIL #.
That # says the airframe was made in 1966, if I recall my nomencature
correctly.
Actually, all of the "retired" SR-71's were put back into service a few
years ago
That is incorrect. Only three were called back by NASA, supposedly to do
some "flight testing" and to "test new sensor arrays" (aka digital cameras).
Actually, it was a back door way to fund SR flight ops.
Most of the nose of the plane was basically a camera. They had forward and
side looking cameras. Believe it or not, their "sensors" back then were
digital. From 80k ft they could photo 100k+ sq. miles in one hour.
I wish I could talk to my SR mechanic friend and get more neat info, but
ironically, he's in CA right now visiting with his old 9th Strat Recon Wing
(SR and U-2) friends near Beale AFB at the moment.
Bill, (Semihemi) nice pics of the Dak!
What a great place to have the meet! I've been there twice, and it never
fails to impress. I still didn't get in the sub-too much to see!
And, IIRC, isn't the "SR" in Mobile actually an A-12?
Jon
STL MO
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Fri Jun 20 2003 - 12:04:44 EDT