Blackbird Rising: Birth of an Aviation Legend

I had the privilege recently of meeting the author, Donn Byrnes, at an SR-71 forum at the Virginia Aviation Museum, which has one of the magnificient "Birds" on display. I second everything the previous reviewer said about the book. Mr. Byrnes makes everything understandable to the layperson (non-pilots) without oversimplifying to the extent that a knowledgeable reader would be bored. If you're an SR-71 fan, be on the lookout for one of Mr. Byrnes's frequent appearances at the various museums that have Blackbirds on display. He couldn't be more gracious about answering questions and signing autographs.

I bought this book a while ago, and once I started reading I just couldn't stop! Mr. Byrnes gives the reader a unique "inside-the-Black-World-programs" perspective, while giving absolutely amazing explanations on some of the most outstanding engineering feats achieved by those involved with the Blackbird family - the author somehow manages to make complex systems such as the side-looking radar, the optical correlator, the astro-inertial navigation system and so on easy (if I can put it that way...) to understand. It also has the author's own impressions on the program. Simply a must-have!!!! And I have copy signed by the author, who happens to be a real nice man!!!! ;o)