[demlosers]

It can be refuel in air. that's a given.

[Schwaeky]

The SR-71 takes off w/ 8% of total fuel capacity, fueled in air about 150 miles out, then goes into supersonic flight mode, capable of flying at up to 200k feet and to deeply penetrating airspace of a nation w/ a vast frontier such as the Soviet Union, more than twice as high as the U-2 spy plane, once and again the premier reconnnassiance aircraft for the U.S.

There was also research in applying the design to a supersonic strategic bomber, but that never materialized.