The SR 71 increased about a foot in length at top speed, which created many problems.
That’s why it was skinned in titanium, too. At rest, on the runway, there were gaps in the skin. Some big enough you can put your fingers through.
“Sled Driver” from Brian Shul is an awesome look at what it takes to drive an SR-71.
I found it in PDF format, online, 2 years or so ago. Let me know if you want a link.
Sure, send it along. The SR 71 is one of the most fascinating planes of all time.
Of course, the most beautiful plane ever built is the Boeing 747.
There’s also a declassified Blackbird flight manual out there that makes for a very interesting read.