> So that’s a minimum of 4 airliner sized support aircraft, including all of their parts, fuel use, and crew, flying out of a minimum of 2 different bases just to make a single SR-71 operational mission happen.
Why can't it be 2 support aircraft? Is the SR-71 mission too long for the tanker to stay in the air? The tankers can also service other aircraft so they aren't necessarily put in the air exclusively for the SR-71.
Why can't it be 2 support aircraft? Is the SR-71 mission too long for the tanker to stay in the air? The tankers can also service other aircraft so they aren't necessarily put in the air exclusively for the SR-71.
It's still an expensive plane though.