This is a big photograph on hard stock paper. From years of poor storage, it is rough around the edges. You can see that the bottom portion of the photo has lots of damage like tears, large creases, and edge issues. The main body of the photo is decent/good. There is a fading area on the left side of the photo There are some light scratches & creases on the face of the photo. There is paper stuck to the face of the photo, most of it would come off with a little work. There is a few small pieces are missing from edges. This would absolutely need to be matted/framed to hide much of the little issues on edges, but it could be a nice piece if that’s done well. If you matted the bottom 4” out of this photo, most of the bad damage would be hidden. Bottom like, lots of restoration necessary here. I am not sure what airport is abeam the jet on the right. There are (12) skunk stickers on the fuselage behind the RSO cockpit.
Please review pictures provided for details of condition and please ask any questions before purchase
A story about this aircraft below:
‘The remains of SR-71 Ichi-Ban were buried at sea with full military honors. The occasion occurred at 1157 hours on Christmas Eve of 1989,’ Colonel (Ret) Don Emmons, former SR-71 RSO.
On Apr. 21, 1989, SR-71 #61-17974, better known as Ichi-Ban departed Kadena Air Base (AB) on a mission. At the controls were Pilot Lt. Col Dan House, and RSO Blair Bozek. As #974 accelerated through three times the speed of sound, the left compressor bearing froze, causing the immediate disintegration of the port engine, and resultant explosion from the catastrophic failure sending shrapnel through critical hydraulic lines.
Lt Col House managed to slow #974, and even descend below 10 thousand feet. Both crew ejected safely, and were quickly rescued by local fishermen in the waters below.