The SR-71 Blackbird program had a peculiar footnote
A major bottleneck for the program was the loss of an airframe in 1968
Skunk Works could not create a new replacement, leading to the use of mothballed parts
The resulting plane, 'The Bastard', suffered from aerodynamic and mechanical issues
It's surprising that such a complex aircraft experienced problems with its construction
The persistent issues resulted in a very short service life
The SR-71C primarily served as a training aircraft at Beale Air Force Base
It logged 556 flight hours before its final flight on April 11, 1976
The unusual jet now resides at the Hill Aerospace Museum
EazyInWay Expert Take
The SR-71C's unique construction led to mechanical and aerodynamic challenges that affected its performance.
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Source: Simple Flying
