taken...as you very well know, and as the article demonstrates, things can go wrong "up there"...the pilot, his superiors, the French military...all should have done the "right thing" and nixed the flight...this incident was a failure beyond comprehension...no way this would have ever come to pass in the U.S..
I've seen videos of reporters going up in F-18s for Blue Angels Shows, or 'Fleet Week' in SF...they typically show the reporters (who clearly 'volunteered' for this opportunity) getting a comprehensive, and serious "Briefing" beforehand, and I'm also guessing that they needed medical clearance just to be considered for such an exciting experience...
btw, over 140 VIPs and Staff members have been flown in the SR-71...each of them needed to complete the regimen that Fr. Ted did...that's how to run a professional operation...without incident.
All that being said...thanks again for your exemplary service...your pride is well deserved.