Lot 775 - SR-71 Blackbird Titanium and Engine Relics, from No. 61-7970

Description

T
he Black Bird relics were
recovered in 2013 from the crash site of SR-71A, No. 61-7970.
The item in the upper part of each  photo is an interesting piece of support Titanium. The item located in the left hand side of each photo is a turbine blade from one of the J-58 engines used to power the Black Bird. The item located in the bottom right of each photo is a portion of a hull panel. The rounded corner of the panel is obvious in photo 2. The items were shattered and twisted in the crash, bearing mute testimony of the destructive energy that was released when the spy plane smashed into the West Texas Desert! No. 970 crashed on June 17, 1970 after colliding with a KC-135Q tanker during refueling. The collision tore open the pilot's compartment and destroyed flight controls forcing the Black Bird crew to abandon their stricken aircraft. When the spy plane smashed into the desert in far West Texas, the engines were still set at cruising speed. The impact gouged out a two story deep crater in the desert floor and produced an explosion and mushroom cloud that could be seen over 20 miles away. A Letter of Provenance detailing the search for 970's crash site and the 2013 recovery of artifacts will be provided to the winning bidder.
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