SR-71 'Blackbird' by junge1
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Description
The SR-71 'Blackbird' is the fastest and most advanced manned operational aircraft ever built. Is was designed by the legendary Clarence L. 'Kelly' Johnson and the Lockheed 'Skunk Works'. It still holds the absolute world speed record and the record of highest sustained flight at altitude.
All information quoted here is from a declassified article published in 1979 unless otherwise stated.
The 'Blackbird' first flew in 1962 and made the XB-70 'Valkyrie' instantly obsolete. The XB-70, longer in development, used honey-combed stainless steel in its construction, the only material available at the time that could withstand the temperatures generated at Mach 3 flight. The 'Blackbird' is 95% titanium. The 'Blackbird' started as the YF-12, a long-range interceptor and was modified to the SR-71, a long-range reconnaisance aircraft.
The aircraft has a two-men crew, a pilot and a reconnaisance systems operator (RSO). It became operational on 7 January 1966 at the 9th Strategic Recon Wing at Beale AFB, California.
Once the aircraft was designed the Skunk Works set out to find or develop material for its construction. Much of the material used on the Blackbird is still classified.
The SR-71 is powered by two engines, also developed in secrecy. They are Pratt & Whitney J-58 (JT11D-20)single-spool afterburning turbo-ram jet with a fourth stage bleed bypass which ducts air into the afterburner. They are designed to operate in continuous afterburner at altitudes above 80,000-ft. and are the only engines tested for 150 hrs. in continuous afterburner. The engines are officially rated 30,000-lbs. sea-level static thrust in maximum afterburner (other publications have estimated it as high as 34,500-lbs.), the horse power equivalent of the Queen Mary for each engine.
93% of the skin and structure are titaninium, exhaust ejectors are of Hastelloy, and the ejector throat ring is of Rene 41. Airconditioning and plumbing is aluminum, the hydraulics are steel.
The engines consist of three propulsion system components,the inlet, the engine, and the ejector.
Here are some figures that indicate how much these components contribute to the thrust generated at speeds indicated:
Mach 2.2: Inlet-13%; engine-73%, ejector-14%.
Mach 3.0+: Inlet-54%; engine-17.6%, ejector-28.4%
At cruise speed the fuselage skin reaches steady state temperature in 11 minutes and the rest of the structure in 35 minutes. The aircraft length increases by one foot during cruise speed.
Here are surface temperatures of various parts of the fuselage during flight:
Middle of the wing, close to 500F
Leading edges and the inside of the inlet 800F
Wing and fuselage temperatures are between 450F to 500F
External skin temperatures in the afterburner and ejector section are 900F to 1,200F
Speed and altitude:
2092-mph; set over a closed 1,000km course on July 27, 1976.
World Absolute and World Class Altitude for Horizontal Flight - 85,069-ft.
Dimensions:
Lenght: 107.4-ft.
Width: 55.6-ft.
Ground height: 18.5-ft.
Take-off Weight: 172,000-lbs (Jane's Aircraft Recognition Guide).
Wing Area: 1,800-sq. ft.
It carries 80,000-lbs of fuel (12,300 gal).
The picture was taken at Nellis AFB, Las Vegas, Nevada during the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the U.S. Air Force becoming a separate branch of the Services and was later scanned.
Thank you for viewing and commenting on my recent uploads,
Sig...
Comments (42)
lizzibell
great capture...
fredster66
Very powerful image with the light as it is. Great photo!
leanndra
Sig, This is so amazing! Thanks for sharing this amazing information with us as well as this super photo of this amazing flying wonder! Lea
tetsu-pino
So cool!!!
ledwolorz
Fantastic photo.
tallpindo
There are always compromises. Isn't rene 41 a GE designation? I was looking for Waspalloy or at least Gatorizing of the turbine discs as a hint at the powerplant manufacturer. I guess it depends on who is in the doghouse when the publicity is written and who is being boomed. Did one ever fly over Libya when they were rumored to have SA-5 "Ganef?" You can tell I'm not an intellectual by the naievete of my questions.
junge1
@tallpindo. Sorry I neglected to mention that they were Pratt & Whitney engines. I have no idea what missions the Blackbirds flew, or if they ever flew over Libya.
GBCalls
Interesting information, when I was at SAC headquarters in 79 they still gave orders to shoot to kill anyone unauthorized that approached the plane. During the summer when they ran an airshow it was roped and heavily guarded...somewhere I have photos.
timtripp
SUPERB! an amazing image of the (IMO) most gorgeous airplane ever built. i saw one in the air when they 'didn't exist'. i was on a commercial flight into washington, d.c. in the 80's. poof! thanks for sharing sig. SUPERB!!!
eryt
thank you for sharing this wonderful photo and fabulous info with us!
frankie96
Amazing aircraft and a tribute to all the designers and engineers that built it...I believe they used to be at Moffett Air Field in Mtn View Ca. as I worked across the freeway from the base and these things would go almost straight up after they were off the runway..
MrsLubner
This looks like an alien space craft. Sleek, something almost sensual about those smooth, graceful lines... amazing shot.
debbielove
Hi. Great image. Supurbly detailed info..... Well done, as always. Rob.
YARDOBE
A misnomer,as it is actually a very deep blue....probably the fastest man will ever fly while still in atmosphere....thanks for posting.
JeffG7BRJ
Some fantastic stats to go with a fantastic image Sig, a very interesting read although half of it went over my head. That is some altitude and speed, what must it have been like for the pilot that made the record attempt. I can imagine he was nearly as high as his aircraft and the adrenalin must have been pumping like crazy. Superb capture, excellent information. Bravo!!!!!
Janiss
Fantastic POV Sig!
thevolunteer
What a fantastic piece of machinery. It must be awesome to fly one. Great shot Sig. And very informative. Aloha
delaorden_ojeda
tremendoes, Sig ! impressive capture and atmosphere.thanks for the info !
annie5
An other amazing capture Sig! Thanks for the info :)
junge1
@YARDOBE.You are correct. The paint was an energy absorbing, heat dissipating deep blue that appeared to be black.
junge1
@JeffG7BRJ, don't feel bad Jeff, most of the article's information was over my head. The stats I am quoting are the easiest part, but there were so many problems to be addressed for flying at that speed and at that altitude, it is just amazing that this thing is flying at all and was operational for three decades. And interestingly, despite the fact that this aircraft's primary role was reconnaisance, nothing at all is mentioned about the sensors. Still highly classified. In 1997 the SR-71s had been taken out of service as a cost-cutting mesasure, but the aircraft shown was one of three operational operated by NASA, Sig...
moochagoo
Always impressive plane and very interesting comment !
flora-crassella
...ein "heißes" Eisen! Interessantes und gutes Foto!
virginiese
well, I prefers the birds :-) Great shot : an impressive plane !
as400boy
Great bird,, I worked on F-111's in my heyday,, a fast fighter/bomber herself,,, and could kick ass too in speed !!! and like the SR-71,, leaded like a SIVE on the ground, as the body expands in the air at speed, she leaks badly on the ground..LOL
jocko500
super looking and the photo is top. i know nothing of planes but just a little. Have not flown in many.
Meowgli
imposing machine, great pov and shot!
Osper
Not bad for an aircraft designed with slide rules. (I bet Tallpindo knew this) AT altitude and speed it kind of sucked its way along. The fuel was exotic, they had a special squadrion of KC 135s at Beal AFB to fuel this puppy. I remember reading an accident summary of one in the early 70's. It read "Altitude 50,000 feet+ (exact altitude classidied) speed Mach 2+ (exact speed classified), tumbling about three (try and visualize this) axis. If I remember correctly the guy(s) got out. The last time I saw one it had silver tires (early 70's). Neat shot!
tizjezzme
Great shot Sig! :)
Cosine
Excellent photo and story, Sig. It was fun reading the comments, too.