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[QUOTE=J.Cabi;2971]Robin S. Did you read Lane's article on her normal column (Flying Lessons) in the March issue? She discussed how she actually tried to "work" an SR-71 ride. Regretfully, NASA only have two that are airworthy and she was unable to convince "God" to give her a ride in one. Especially if you consider the "Sled"(SR-71) used to cost $250K per hour to operate back in 1989 dollars - her chances are basically nil! At this point they rarely even fly the Sled anymore? There are civilian F-104s still airworthy and operational - so getting a ride in one would be easier in Starfighter than a Sled. Even still, the cost to operate a F-104 (in fuel alone) would be daunting unless you grow your own cash on trees. Incidentally, most people don't know that the U-2 has been in constant use since 1955, and Kelly Johnson used an F-104 to design/make the U-2; cousins! Cabi~[/QUOTE] Just came across this thread, so excuse the lateness. Another glorious article by Lane, she's by far one of the big reasons Flying's as good as it is... I do want to stick up a bit for the Blackbird. Back in the late '80s, USAF was looking for ways to get rid of the SR-71, so they "charged" it with costs not normally factored in to an aircraft's direct flying costs and that's how they came up with number quoted above. As we know from the figures released during the SR's revival in the mid nineties, the actual cost was about 1/10th of that. Unfortunately, in the only time in history when it's ever been used, Pres. Clinton line-item vetoed the revived program in 1997. It kept flying for NASA for a limited period of time, but its last flight was in October, 1999. So, had that veto not occurred Lane may have gotten her flight. I can't think of any journalist I'd rather see in that back seat!