![](\"https:\/\/www.armytimes.com\/resizer\/1y4LAXYLGHevFohlT9w0PZjMUs0=\/1200x0\/filters:quality(100)\/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-mco.s3.amazonaws.com\/public\/6X7F6YK6WNEYLNZWYZYNNI3ICI.jpg\")
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U-2 pilots and chase cars are going to Saudi Arabia.<\/p>\n
https:\/\/www.airforcetimes.com\/news\/your-air-force\/2019\/08\/24\/transporting-u-2-chase-cars-over-the-atlantic-presents-unique-challenges-for-mcguire-squadron\/<\/a><\/p>\n You can still be a U-2 pilot, too, if you want to. USAF is looking for young pilots who want to fly spy planes. Sign up now.\u00a0 https:\/\/www.airforcetimes.com\/news\/your-air-force\/2018\/10\/05\/dont-wait-six-years-apply-to-be-a-u-2-spy-pilot-out-the-gate\/<\/a><\/p>\n My question is: why was the Blackbird abandoned? Because it was too slow at Mach 3, satellite imaging and detection were improving by leaps and bounds, and the cost at $200,000\/hr to run that beautiful bird was a budget-eater.<\/p>\n Things have changed.<\/p>\n From 2017: the replacement for the SR-71 Blackbird is supposed to make its debut in 2020 as the SR-72.\u00a0 https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/the-sr-71-blackbirds-ultra-secret-successor-may-soon-hit-the-skies-2017-9<\/a><\/p>\n It has to be able to go as fast as MACH 5.2 and possibly MACH 6 \u2013 hypersonic speed.. The SR-71 could move at MACH 3 and avoid missiles. This one has to go\u00a0 faster. The SR-72 is not yet in production, but the Skunk Works is workin’ on it.<\/p>\n This is a 1962 test flight video of the A-12, later known as SR-71:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 https:\/\/www.lockheedmartin.com\/en-us\/news\/features\/history\/blackbird.html<\/a><\/p>\n They can fly over my house any time they want to. I’ll leave the light on for them.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"