Lot 768 - SR-71 Blackbird Nickel Alloy J-58 Engine Relics, from No. 61-7970

Description

T
he Nickel Alloy
reli
cs were recovered in 2013 from the crash site of SR-71A, No. 61-7970. Offered are four interesting  J-58 engine relics. The top relics come from a destroyed turbine wheel while I believe the bottom two relics are from the after burner assembly.
These are excellent and unique artifacts from a historic Cold War aircraft. The items bear mute testimony of the destructive energy that was released when the spy plane smashed into the West Texas Desert! No. 970 crashed on June 17, 1970 after colliding with a KC-135Q tanker during refueling. The collision tore open the pilot's compartment and destroyed flight controls forcing the Black Bird crew to abandon their stricken aircraft. When the spy plane smashed into the desert in far West Texas, the engines were still set at cruising speed. The impact gouged out a two story deep crater in the desert floor and produced an explosion and mushroom cloud that could be seen over 20 miles away. A Letter of Provenance detailing the search for 970's crash site and the 2013 recovery of artifacts will be provided to the winning bidder.
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