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SR-71 Blackbird America's Super Spy Plane Price includes free standard shipping.  Politics and budget costs ultimately forced the fastest and highest flying manned aircraft ever built into retirement after its enemies tried unsuccessfully over 4,000 times to shoot it down with missiles. First flown in 1962 the plane's existence was revealed by President Johnson to counter claims that the US was not doing enough to confront military threats. In announcing the existance of the super-secret program Johnson named it the SR-71 to stress the plane's ability to do surveilance and reconnaissance.  Painted black to hide it in the dark of the high sky, the SR-71 was still easy to spot on radar because of the huge plume of smoke and heat the plane generated as it zoomed across the political hot spots and war zones of the world. From 80,000 feet up, it took pictures so detailed that the license plate numbers on cars on the ground could be read. Created after America suffered the humiliation of having one of it's slower U-2 spy planes downed, the Lockheed built SR-71 was a mechanical marvel. Made out of titanium purchased from Russia the SR-71 routinely flew at three times the speed of sound. Only 32 Blackbirds were built. Concerned over the high cost of operating the program the Air Force retired the planes in 1987 on the theory that spy satellites could take their place. In 1994 Congress appropriated funds to put three of the planes back into service but in 1997 President Clinton vetoed the program bringing the SR-71 to an end. The last flight took place in October of 1999. This impressive version of the SR-71 is not a kit. It is completely finished. Remove it from its packing and place it on the wooden stand which is included and it is ready for display. Price $49.95 | | |
| | Materials - Hand carved mahogany with a high gloss, clear finish that emphasizes the rich, warm, reddish brown color of the wood. | | Length - 17.75 Inches | | Width - 9 Inches | | Weight - 1 Pound 8 Ounces | Included in the price is free standard shipping delivery to any street address in the lower 48 states served by DHL Ground Shipping | For overnight delivery, alternate delivery services or shipping to locations outside of the lower 48 states contact us for a price quote in advance of placing your order. | If you e-mail us a daytime phone number we will include it on the shipping label so that DHL can call you if necessary to make final delivery | | Your purchase will be sent double boxed and insured to protect it in transit, and; | If you send us an e-mail address we will send you the tracking number |
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