Subject: Re: In Your Face John Kerry
I would have to dig more deeply into it. But I am familiar with the SR-71, and it's major problems weren't with the size of the sonic boom. The principal problem is heat from friction. That causes the fuselage plates to expand. They solved that at Skunk Works by making the plates loose-fitting, but then the craft leaked fuel like a sieve. But at supersonic speeds, the plates expanded and it sealed right up.

It will be interesting if they have solved that problem in a way that doesn't require refueling immediately after take-off.