"Big John" wrote in message
...

We lost three out of 50 due to accidents.

I heard 12, including the one that's on display at the Boeing Museum of
Flight. This very fascinating site seems to indicate 20:
http://www.wvi.com/~sr71webmaster/srloss~1.htm

Still....

If they recommissioned the remaining birds tomorrow I'd call it tax money
well-spent, if nothing but on the very principle of flying it over people's
heads for the simple psychological value. "We built this in the '60s and
you still can't do anything about it...look, it ****s pure money. We can
afford it..."

-c