Xref: utzoo rec.aviation:13176 sci.space.shuttle:2698
Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!csd4.milw.wisc.edu!leah!itsgw!brspyr1!miket
From: miket@brspyr1.BRS.Com (Mike Trout)
Newsgroups: rec.aviation,sci.space.shuttle
Subject: Re: SR71 to be retired October 1st, rumors regarding SR-71
Summary: Blackbird fly...
Message-ID: <5628@brspyr1.BRS.Com>
Date: 24 Mar 89 22:30:44 GMT
References: <524@gonzo.UUCP> <1475@petsd.UUCP> <13987@elroy.Jpl.Nasa.Gov> <18674@srcsip.UUCP>
Organization: BRS Info Technologies, Latham NY
Lines: 20

In article <18674@srcsip.UUCP>, rogers@falcon.SRC.Honeywell.COM (Brynn Rogers) writes:

> They plug the gaps in the skin with tar (or expensive equivalent) before 
> flight so it does not leak.  when the plane heats up it melts and  goes
> away (leaving trailing flames???)  It is when the plane lands  that
> fuel leaks out.  Every picture I have seen of the plane on the ground
> has a puddle under the plane.

Something I've noticed every time I've seen an SR-71 at an air show is the
large pile of kitty litter under the plane, presumably to sop up excess fuel.
I've heard tales that the fuel's so difficult to ignite that ground crews will
terrify neophytes by grinding out lit cigarettes in SR-71 fuel puddles.



-- 
NSA food:  Iran sells Nicaraguan drugs to White House through CIA, SOD & NRO.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Michael Trout (miket@brspyr1)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BRS Information Technologies, 1200 Rt. 7, Latham, N.Y. 12110  (518) 783-1161
"God forbid we should ever be 20 years without...a rebellion." Thomas Jefferson