"Ragnar" wrote in message ...
"R420" wrote in message
om...
I for one think that the SR-71 has not only been replaced, but its
replacement has been replaced. in other words, there have probably
been two generations of ultra-fast spy planes beyond the SR-71.

The SR-71 was made in the 60s. probably by the late 70s or early
80s, a sucessor to SR-71 was flying.

and by now, the sucessor to the SR-71's sucessor has, at least been
tested, if not put into service.

OK, so now tell us what the successors were. You DO know that, right?

I find this topic fascinating; however, I don't believe that we have
yet fielded a second generation replacement for the old SR-71 bird.

My personal belief is that a number of technology demonstrators were
probably tested from the late 1970s forward and that all the Aurora
hype is probably unjustified as that program(s) was/were most likely
cancelled in transition from manned recon to unmanned systems like
high-res spy satellites and loitering UAVs.

However, maybe in the 1990s someone decided to play it safe with a
manned aircraft as well (keeping humans in the loop). The NRO must
have some form of aircraft operating under its agency and for argument
sake let's just say that it is probably the often talked about
GENERAL-DYNAMICS F-121 Sentinel, a.k.a "Centennial" now speculated as
LOCKHEED-MARTIN SR-100.

There are so many post SR-71 designations: SR-75, 84, 86, 89, and 100.
Who can tell which, if any, are true?

The multiple agencies involved should someday soon divulge this
information so we all can move on.

Ashton Archer III