In 1982, during an intelligence mission over Lebanese airspace, an SR71 Blackbird started receiving signals that it was being tracked by a Syrian SA5 surfacetoair missile system. They received a warning of active guidance signals from the SA5 site only 15 seconds later. They wasted no time, completed their task, accelerated, and turned toward Malta while yelling, "HAIL KELLY." They suddenly saw a low oil pressure warning light on their right engine. Despite the engine being in perfect working order, the pilot made a direct course towards England while slowing down and lowering the altitude. They decided to fly across France without permission rather than follow the roundabout path to England. They had almost completed their journey across the country, when the pilot gazed out and noticed a French Mirage 3 sitting ten feet off his left wing. On Blackbird's frequency, he appeared and requested their diplomatic clearance number. The pilot had no idea of it, and his backseat pilot instead showed Mirage a middle finger! The SR71 then ignited the afterburners and left the Mirage 3 standing still there. The Blackbird crossed the English Channel two minutes later.

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