[Atchafalaya]

The 25 is not manuverable; it is pretty hard to manuver at mach 2.5, and with it's weight it is an ultra lead sled at subsonic speed. It was designed to go fast at high altitude to intercept supersonic bombers. A recon dual use woud be feasable as straight line speed at altitude is desired (as in the Blackbird).

[CCCV]

The 25 is not manuverable
OK..OK! (Hanging my head in embarrassment). You guys are correct; it handled like a pig. It’s was 20 years ago when I got out and sometimes I memories of different things blend together. I did remember that there was quite a stir about its high speed run for a while. I worked in tactical missiles and weapon delivery systems for first the F4 then the F15. I didn’t have “inside info” so to speak, but was good friends with many pilots and got information from them at times.
Sometimes though, we (on the ground) have a habit of writing off some things that we are not on the business end of.