Did I Have To See Them Today?

[The Rat]

Experimenting with the new scanner, HP Scanjet G4010.

Taken at Pearson International in '82 when the SR-71 came in for the airshow.

See that supernumerary spike on the pitot? I'll bet a good few modelers get that wrong:


And here's why - it isn't supposed to be level! I would guess that many try to even it up.  ^_^  That pink material on the ground soaks up fuel that leaks out, it's notorious for that due to the loose arrangement of the skin panels to allow for expansion during high-speed flight.


A shot from on top. Notice the masking tape over the canopy seams to keep rain from leaking in.

[The Rat]

The crew walks out, pilot LCol Maury Rosenberg on the left, and his RSO Col Don Bulloch on the right. They are accompanied by the Physiological Support Detachment, who make sure they're strapped in properly and all pertinent hoses are attached from suit to aircraft.


Final chat with another pilot and a PSD member.


And a close-up.