Beale Air Force Base is located in northern California, and is home to the 9th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing. For over a quarter century the SR-71 Blackbird gathered valuable intelligence information for the United States and it's allies during the Cold War. It is capable of reaching speeds over three times the speed of sound at altitudes over 85,000 feet. The U-2, still in operation today, also provides intelligence information. It also flies at very high altitudes, but at subsonic speeds. It is also capable of staying aloft for extremely long periods of time.

I had the distinct privilege of working on both of these aircraft, and their support aircraft, while I was stationed at Beale. These remarkable aircraft, along with their support aircraft, are pictured below.

In 1981, I took a ride in a KC-135 and watched an SR-71 being refueled. Here is a picture I took during the refueling. This was taken at an altitude of about 50,000 feet, and an air speed of around 550 nots.