<story><title>SR-71 Disintegrates Around Pilot During Flight Test (in 1966)</title><url>http://www.alexisparkinn.com/sr-71_break-up.htm</url></story><parent_chain></parent_chain><comment><author>ryanwaggoner</author><text>Amazing story.&lt;p&gt;Read the story carefully.  Note the incredible details of what that aircraft could do.  Now read this line again:&lt;p&gt;&lt;i&gt;By far, the most memorable flight occurred on Jan. 25, 1966.&lt;/i&gt;&lt;p&gt;This was more than four &lt;i&gt;decades&lt;/i&gt; ago.  Can you imagine what they&apos;re doing today?  In some ways, it makes me angry, because I suspect that the military solved some engineering challenges decades ago that scientists are still wrestling with today.</text></comment>
<story><title>SR-71 Disintegrates Around Pilot During Flight Test (in 1966)</title><url>http://www.alexisparkinn.com/sr-71_break-up.htm</url></story><parent_chain></parent_chain><comment><author>jwilliams</author><text>The SR-71 was an amazing piece of engineering.&lt;p&gt;The panels actually didn&apos;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).</text></comment>