"John Szalay" wrote in message
42...

Hey! I resemble that remark! I was at Abbotsford in 1986 and got this
shot of the SR-71 on the ground. I also don't remember seeing any
indentations on the nose. The chines were smooth and uniform all the
way around the aircraft.

Here are two of my shots....

thanks for the photos.

IMHO:
Looked at the video of the 86 show and the color of the nose paint is
different from the rest of the aircraft. ( not as faded) since the nose of
the Blackbird is interchanegable, and the show was just up the coast from
Beale, I suspect they put a plain nose on for the show, no need for the
ECM
nose for what would be considered a training or domestic flight..
just my opinion , of course...

Glad you liked the shots. Thanks for explaining this. I know a bit about the
aircraft but have not read up on it as extensively as you have. I guess
having an interchangeable nose depending on the mission was a great asset to
have. It makes me wonder what there is flying around now since the SR-71 has
been retired. Satellites are not as flexible in giving you the information
you need at exactly the moment you need it. Some manner of surveillance
aircraft beyond the capabilities of the SR-71 must exist. I just wonder how
long it will be before we ever learn of it. I've heard and read the rumors
about the Aurora but so far no one has managed to bag the beast.

Nick