Message posted by Peter Merlin on April 06, 2006 at 21:10:53 PST:
Congratulations! I first visited the SR-71A (61-7970/Article 2021) crash site on 27 March 1999. I found numerous interesting pieces including aircraft structural components and skin, a few cockpit items, and pieces of the inlet spike assemblies. There were numerous engine components including a turbine wheel with the blades sheared off. One structural piece from the right wing was marked with the Lockheed article number 2021. The silicone-asbestos composite material from the chines and wing edges was an early form of radar absorbent material. The nylon webbing is the remains of the drogue chute (used to slow the plane during landing). Blackbird parts have a variety of prefixes. The SR-71 will have A (common to all Blackbirds strating eith the A-12), 3A (originally from the YF-12A, but some parts in common), and 4A (for the SR-71). The second letter indicates the major subassembly (F for fuselage, Q for cockpit, etc.) Part number 4AF435 is a Support Fillet Panel Lock assembly. The inspection stamp you described is from the Lockheed Advanced Development Projects division (better known as the "Skunk Works"). For the story of the crash of 970 and other Blackbirds (A-12, YF-12A, SR-71A), check out http://thexhunters.com and don't forget to look elswhere on this site for OXCART DOWN! (http://www.dreamlandresort.com/pete/oxcart_down.html), the hunt for the A-12 crash site near Wendover, Nevada.
In Reply to: Trip Report -- El Paso SR-71 (970) crash site posted by JimK on April 06, 2006 at 16:14:32 PST:
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