Posted: Sunday, May 4, 2003 12:00 am
Brad Schmidt
Staff writer
HALSEY -- At an altitude of more than 85,000 feet, the United States' fastest, highest-flying, most well-known spy plane is virtually undetectable.
Cruising down Interstate 5 in the middle of the night, however, is a different story. The SR-71 Blackbird that stopped in Halsey on Saturday made several citizens question its presence earlier in the trip to McMinnville, particularly in Westley, Calif.
"People came running over," said Ryan Lillie, director of education for the Evergreen Aviation Museum, where the plane will be housed. "Is that a UFO?"
Only the Blackbird's nose cone and fuselage made the 926-mile, five-day trip from California's Edwards Air Force Base to McMinnville. The 107-foot, 20,000-pound load -- which can only be transported at night due to traffic regulations -- will be reunited today with the remainder of the plane.
The Blackbird will now reside in Evergreen, along with more than 45 other aircraft, including the "Spruce Goose."
"We're going to have the fastest and the largest planes," said Nicole Wahlberg, director of marketing and public relations. "It's going to make us unique."
Evergreen was selected by the U.S. Air Force to display the plane, Wahlberg said. The plane will arrive in McMinnville at 10 a.m. today and will be featured in a celebratory parade.
The plane will then be reassembled and won't be open for viewing until June 6, at the unveiling party. The general public will have access to the plane beginning June 7.
Roger Steiner of Albany traveled to the Pioneer Villa Truck Plaza near Halsey with his brother-in-law to catch a rare glimpse of the spy plane -- one of only 32 Blackbirds ever built. Steiner, who saw a Blackbird in 1991 in Portland, said he came out Saturday, like many others, simply out of curiosity.
"I think we'll make a trip to McMinnville when they get it all put together," he added.
Admission to Evergreen, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, is $9.50 for adults and $8.50 for seniors. Students with identification can visit Evergreen for $5.50 while children under 5 are admitted at no cost.