Charity auctions are never a bad thing, but when you've got a chance to walk away with a one-off joint-custom car from Mustang powerhouses Shelby and Roush, there's a little extra incentive to be generous. For the buyer of the SR-71 Mustang, sold at the EAA's AirVenture auction this week, that definitely held true, with the winning bid costing $375,000.
That's no small chunk of change, even if it does buy a warm fuzzy feeling and a 5.0-liter Whipple-supercharged Mustang with Ford Racing engine work, suspension, and exhaust, Roush intake, SVT track pack, Recaro seats embroidered with the signatures of both Jack Roush and Carroll Shelby, a custom racing-style steering wheel, modified nav package, roll cage, and some pretty ferocious exterior garb.
The Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) Young Eagles program offers an opportunity for kids aged 8-17 to take a free flight in an airplane courtesy of over 42,000 volunteer pilots. The program aims to boost aviation enthusiasm, as well as help kids that are interested in a career in aviation find their home.
After this week's crash-landing of his Beechcraft Premier jet at Wittman Regional Airport in Wisconsin, it's easy to see the value in starting education and instruction for those interested in flight from an early age.
For more on the SR-71 Mustang, check out this article by Anthony Alaniz at InsideMuscleCars.
