Hello, I am an Air Force veteran and have been working as a contractor for over 20 years. The biggest hurdle for a SR-71 Reactivation is spares. No responsible high ranking Gov. official would green light a aircraft test program with no spare parts. It would make no sense to spend multi-millions of dollars to get a plane flying, only to have it grounded by an obsolete / unavailable part. Tinker Aircraft Depot could identify and reproduce high wear / high failure parts, but at what cost. Don't want to be a Dream Crusher, but there's REAL Dollars & Cents involved.

New NASA flex—bringing back the SR-71 because it’s the only aircraft that can fly chase for the new X-plane.

61-7975 at March Air Museum had almost nothing removed other than fluids when it was retired. It is the closest to being airworthy, as it was also stored indoors. It also had DAFICS. Unfortunately, $600 million in remaining SR-71-specific spare parts stored at USMC Logistics Base Barstow were destroyed in 2007.

The myth that "SR-71 tooling was destroyed per orders from SECDEF McNamara..." was also debunked. In 2007, they tried cutting up the tooling with a torch, but had difficulty. It was all subsequently shipped to Tinker AFB for disposal, and possibly on to AMARG.

Kelly's Johnson masterpiece still rules the sky .

The reason alone to even consider to return a HABU to airworthy status is mind boggling!😮

It makes me extremely happy to imagine that maybe, just maybe in some place in Earth, there is an SR71 still flying around.

All I can say is that at NO point did I have “F-14s and (MAYBE) SR-71s to return to the skies” even remotely close to even the slightest hint of being anywhere on my 2026 BINGO card.

I cannot tell a lie… The thought that, you know… MAYBE… really is enough to help me roll my shoulda-been-retired-by-now backside out of bed every morning to face another day in the salt mines.

A fella should have SOME dreams. Doesn’t matter if they revolve around airplanes, does it?

A great listen! Thanks guys. So great hearing you all again!

One could imagine that a "Return To Flight" program would have investigated the histories of any available air frame(s) to determine the best of the available suitable for the program.

I have one question... Who is left that could fly one, let alone maintain one? Even the last pilots aren't kids anymore. But, I bet all of them would like one more ride in that saddle!

I'm guessing either a proven test bed for a new engine technology or a proven chase vehicle for something new.

The SR71 didn't need to refuel immediately after takeoff. It also didn't leak like a sieve, especially after it came out of the deep maintenance .  They took off with light fuel for safety reasons.  There was a mission flown out of Kadena through the Demilitarized zone in Korea, that was known as "the rocket ride" They would take off full load, fly the mission and land in about an hour.  NASA also flew most of the missions without a KC135Q because they didn't have one.   Yes, they did leak, and some leaked more than others, however when the 3M sealants in the tanks were fresh, they were pretty tight.

Thanks guys 😊

The fuel didn't leak out. They launched it with 1/2 fuel load because the main gear could not support the weight of a full load of full on rotation.

Gotta chase the new SR72!!!!!❤

I have personally seen boxes- crates of SR-71 instruments, discarded at El Dorado scrapyard in Lancaster, CA. There were many triple gauges. I suspect the USAF has discarded all its Blackbird spares.

im surprised that you guys dont understand the reason for a reduced fuel take off.  A delta wing during rotation has a downward moment and the main gear tires aren't rated for the weight if the jet was topped off.   If that jet leaked so much that it needed to be re-fueled then that would mean a massive mess each and every time the jet was readied for flight.  Ive cleaned up many fuel spills and a slight dripping from the SR isn't any significant fuel loss.

Try looking at the Kalamazoo Air Zoo for your missing Blackbird.  I saw it Saturday.  Good luck getting it out the door.

Also, little known fact, the J58 used an unusual engine oil. It wasnt 7808 or 23699 like every other jet powered military aircraft. Similar issue to the fuel.

It is being prepped for a photo shoot and to be alongside the SR72 when it is revealed.