[stboz]

When they retired the SR-71 many years ago, I figured they had something much better or they wouldn't have retired it.

Yup. My wife's brother-in-law's Dad worked for Pratt-Whitney and was in on the development of the J-58 engine. The Blackbird was/is capable of much, much higher speed than is mentioned. Only problem was/is friction and keeping the crew from becoming Crispy-Critters. SCRAM jet stuff has got to be the cat's meow.

[stboz]

If they could do THIS in the '60s, what can they do now? Credit to Master Sergeant Leland Hayes (USAF ret.) for the picture.