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A buddy and I took an F-4 from the Texas ANG in Houston to Randolph AFB in early '80s. It was for their open house so lots of different aircraft on the ramp for the tax payers to see and ask questions. At one time the SR-71 was very secret. I believe the flew out of Beale and Kadena. If they had to divert on an emergency to any other base, it was immediately whisked into a hanger. By the time of this airshow/open house, they were now sending it out for the public to view. They did have cones and a rope to prevent people from getting too close. I got to talking to the back seater comparing some of the funny questions we'd get. (Are those bombs? No, fuel tanks. Is that a gun? No, pilot tube.)

He said he had a guy who wanted to know how fast and how high. The RSO kept telling him Mach 3+, 80M+. They guy wouldn't take that for an answer and persisted. Finally the RSO asked, "do you know the poem High Flight" (Look it up if you don't). You know at the end when it talks about reaching out your hand and touching the face of God? Well, we have to slow down and descend".