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I have been crossing paths for about 30 years with a guy who I first met 
when he was a SR71 (Blackbird pilot). He was one of the best and flew 
the "difficult (which translates most dangerous) missions."  He retired 
and ended up working for Aerospace Corp and we have been working the 
same projects for years.

We have become pretty good friends and have shared quite a bit of beer 
together. He mentioned one time that "everything that happens is pilot 
error."  The program office would never admit to a design flaw (although 
as Dave pointed out there were a lot of fixes and retrofits during the 
life of the aircraft) and the mechanics would never admit to overlooking 
something.

The SR71 has the aerodynamics of a flying brick. It was basically flown 
by computer. Sticking it in for a landing is extremely difficult (why 
only the best of the best flew the beast) and is considered an emergency 
landing. One day he looks down and his primary flight computer is out. 
He switched to the back up and it is flaky.  He decides and told his 
second seat to hang on - he is going to have to stick it in. He calls 
for a refuel so he could get to Denver (Buckley AFB) where there is an 
strip that was designed for emergency landings of an SR71 (extremely 
long runway).  He sticks it in. He sticked it in to a near perfect 
landing (a tire blew out bringing it to a stop on landing.)

The report read "pilot error."  It didn't seem to hurt his career though.

From my understanding a helicopter is pretty unstable on takeoff and 
landing. In fact I think any vertical takeoff/landing craft is pretty 
unstable. The Marines had one heck of a time in the V-22 Osprey 
development. It's better than a chopper - but not by much.

Truman
> David LeBlanc said:
>
>   
> > That's what they always chalk them up to,
> > unless there's a clear mechanical failure.
> >     
>
>   


--

"Life is about obstacles. Endeavors in life are not to be overlooked. 
Our lives are not determined by what happens to us, but how we react to 
what happens. Not by what life brings us, but the attitude we bring to 
life." Wade Boggs, on his induction to the baseball hall of fame. 


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