Gizmodo has made my morning by re-posting a piece from that recounts one appreciative pilot’s experiences flying my oh-so-favorite aircraft, the elegant SR-71 Blackbird. Even leaving aside my X-Men related love of the Blackbird, that 107 feet long speed demon has long lived in my skull as the pinnacle of aerodynamic achievement and design. I mean, c’mon…it just looks COOL.

Anyway, I heartily recommend taking a moment to read through the unnamed pilot’s recollections.