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Re:SR-71 Disintegrates Around Pilot During Flight Test (in 1... by jwilliams on Tuesday March 17, 2009 @12:28AM (#519387)
The SR-71 was an amazing piece of engineering.

The panels actually didn't line up - as they expanded when it got warm. So basically at take off the aerodynamics of the plane were shot - you had to fly for a bit for it to hit normal performance (it also meant it literally leaked until it got hot enough and sealed).

Re:SR-71 Disintegrates Around Pilot During Flight Test (in 1... by g2petter on Tuesday March 17, 2009 @02:17PM (#520290)
Which is why they took off with a minimum of fuel, flew around to heat up, and then refueled in mid-air.