If anyone has access to Aviation Week & ST should run to grab the last issue (Aug.8) and read amazing story (page 60) of a guy who survived a total breakup of his SR-71 at speed Mach 3.2. His buddy was killed. The breakup occured as a result of chain of events that started with so called "inlet unstart" - sudden disturbance of airflow coming into the engine due to a turn and bank. The guy never initiated ejection - he blacked out while tremendous positive and negative forces ripped him out of the aircraft with seat belt and shoulder harness still fastened. When he regained consciousness he was already well into the fall from 70,000 ft.It happened on Jan 25.,1966 over New Mexico.Michael J.WinXP-Home SP2,AMD64 3500+,Abit AV8,Radeon X800Pro,36GB Raptor,1GB PC3200,Audigy 2http://www.precisionmanuals.com/images/forum/747400.jpghttp://www.hifisim.com/images/asv_beta_member.jpg

Is this the crash where the rancher picked up the crew in is own chopper?.Terry

Yup, that's the one.

I read about that in a book called "Dark Eagles" very VERY good read all about "black' projects in the AF. .... can't find it rightnow for the author but I got it at borders in paperback.

Here's a link to the story if anyone wants to read it. Very interesting.http://forums.ubi.com/groupee/forums/a/tpc...83/m/7941015643http://online.vatsimindicators.net/916312/3.png

Gavin,Incredible that you were able to find this article on line. Good catch!Dobre Piwo - TAK!Michael J.WinXP-Home SP2,AMD64 3500+,Abit AV8,Radeon X800Pro,36GB Raptor,1GB PC3200,Audigy 2http://www.precisionmanuals.com/images/forum/747400.jpghttp://www.hifisim.com/images/asv_beta_member.jpg

Feb 17th 1983 to Oct 31 1989 I was a Tower and RFC controler/supervisor stationed at Beale AFB, CA., home of the SR-71/U-2.From day one, until my last day when they handed me my obligatory service plaque, I observed SR-71's and U-2's on a daily basis. Probably saw 3000 SR-71 launch/recovery's and if you counted turns in the pattern...15,000 flights?From day one, until the day I left that base, that aircraft, the SR-71, gave me goosebumps, and made me insanely proud to be part of aviation!Thanks for the good "sled" tale.btPS...btw, does anyone realize that the U-2 was the only aircraft in USAF history to ever take a bird strike from the rear?