SR-71 Blackbird

the XR -15 something... achieved a speed of MACH 6

The X-15 is a rocket plane, powered by rocket engines, unlike the SR-71 which uses a turbine engine.

actuelly the blackbird uses a ram jet system with literaly rams the air into the combustion engine(bassically a spark plug)instead of a turbine with compresses the air further for better lift at low altitudes.

I hope their not playing that music in the pilots pit, he'll fall asleep at the wheel

of what?

speed?
performance?
durability?

The truth is, the best aircraft you are concerned with was absolete almost as soon as it was put in service. It's job was to take pictures and spy on the soviets from above. Once space exploration began, the need for aircrafts to take pictures was gone.

If the SR-71 Habu was obsolete when it was put into service, why did they fly it for 27 more years?? The Habu was not retired until 1991, when satellite recon was more efficient. The Habu's mission was not to penetrate foreign airspace to take pictures, but would fly along the border from such an extreme altitude that it could "look into" said country and take pictures with it's cameras and other equipment.

Everyone can argue with me, but I was the crew chief of a KC-135Q tanker assigned to refuel the Habu out of Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan from 1977-1980. The Q model tanker, was the only ones allowed to refuel the Habu with JP-7 fuel, a high grade kerosene.

-Sarge

Funny... considering they've pulled three or more of them out of retirement... guess they're just too darned useless to stay in mothballs, eh? :p :)

in the world is a Cessna Caravan, it's just the most reliable and almost as fast as the Blackbird

did have a computer in it to help with all of four functions. It helped with high speed stability and was the 1st so equipped

You do realise that most of it is british designed.

I was unaware of any other country's involvement in the design of the SR-71. All I do know is that it was built, flown, and tested by the SkunkWorks facility here in Southern California, USA. Testing the aircraft was probably more of a "global" effort, however.

Testing was not a global effort.

Former Habu Humper here... google Habu ...

It may or may not have had British designed parts but this was a black level (beyond top secret) project. the American engineers weren't even allowed to tell their wives about it during the design phase.

Uh yeah... if you say so LOL

to proof of what you are saying. I have a hard time believing uncle Sam would entrust a top secret project out of the country like that. At least at that time before all started sending jobs to India. Nothin' against ya'all but I caint understand yur english!

Just prior to being de-commisioned as an active US Air Force machine, an SR-71 broke the speed record for a trans-north american flight.

Going 'feet-dry' over the California coast the SR-71 was over the US capitol in Washington DC in just over 58 minutes. That's correct. Over 3000mph.

It used a fuel mixture that was so volitale that if the two chemicals touched, they ignited. Its skin was titanium with ribs in it in order to survive the extreme temperatures that friction with the air caused when you go that fast. This is also why all but the black ones have really cruddy paint. The black paint was a chemical breakthrough that could survive more than one mission.

The blackbird could not fly at 3000 mph. It's engines could not achieve that speed - they weren't designed for it.

"Speed Over a Straight Course (15-25km): 2,193.167 mph SR-71A. "

"SR-71 West Coast to East Coast of USA (National Record-Speed Over a Recognized Course): Coast to Coast Distance: 2,404.05 statute miles...Time: 1 hr 07 min 53.69 secs...Average Speed: 2,124.51 mph"

The fuel was modified JP-7, kerosene basically. It was not hypergolic.

The black paint was a special derivative designed to radiate heat away from the airframe.

the fuel info and the 58 minutes from the west coast to its position over the US capitol | obtained from a book. Once | find the info | will pass it on. | may have the fuel confused with another aircraft in the book.

the speed of the SR-71 Blackbird is classified.
I would venture to guess the original engineers do not know how fast the sled will go.

Without a doubt a fantastic aircraft! What seems to have been forgotten was not only the true capabilities of the aircraft, but the instruments within. Satellites might be able to read something 1 cm, but when SR-71 flew, they didn’t. Thanks to the fine people at Kodak and others for what you don’t know the plane was capable. If you knew what the SR-71 and the people behind her were really capable, you would be impressed with the next generation, and that isn’t a predictable satellite.

it can reach a speed of mach 3.3 ...from a japanese artist

at 72,000 ft it took the intire state of California to myake a "U" turn, no joke

is Rachels Song from the Bladerunner soundtrack. In regards to technical info, there are literally hundereds of interesting and unique facts about this bird, to list them here would be impracticle.

it explains everything how the plane was so great

Because the SR-71 is a more effective reconnaissance than for example the Mig 25(31). The Mig is a big lack in technology, and the SR-71 Blackbird’s stealth is a very good thing, which the mig doesn’t have. So, if you want to spezialize in only reconnaissance, the SR-71 Blackbird is best.

The SR-71 was stealthy in it's day, but it pales to today's technology. The U.S. now has vehicles that can stay over a target, photographing it undetected for days, if not weeks.

A cool plane, though. Turned me on to the properties of titanium, a 'super metal' if there ever was one.

they're called satellites...lol

The former Soviet Union was so tramatised by the fact that the SR-71 flew over it's airspace at will that they tried everything they could think of to shhot it down. They outfitted Mid Foxbats with the largest engines they had and the best air to air missles they had and stationed them at points all over the USSR. When they tried to intercept they did so at full afterburners and still never managed to hit an SR-71. The migs then had to glide back because they burned their engines up in the futile effort. All explained by the mig pilots themselves in the Discovery Channel's "Wings" episode about the SR-71 Blackbird.

still today holds world records and if not for the invention of this aircraft there would not be the advances we have today in stealth and technology

They say it is possible that the missing aircraft were flying so fast they went back in time.

a once experimental aircraft, it can go into the stratosphere, higher than any other plane in existence, except for space shuttles which are really a rocket with wings...

Although, Edwards and Groom lake had similar dry lake runways that were marked out in black similar to this one. My guess, Groom Lake, like you said. And yes, the SR-71 was tested extensivly at Groom Lake. In fact, I witnessed one of the Blue SR-71's fly out from Groom Lake early one morning while camping in the area many years ago. BTW, I don't buy into the conspiricy theory ideas.

is and always has been a Aerial design, research and test facility. or atleast, ill believe this until they find little green men and they better be DAMN convincing little green men

but russia is stuck in political anarchy and is unable to keep citizens loyal enough to be productive, this jet is old, and newer, faster, and better have been made, but this jet shattered the records at the time, it was the fastest, and most durable plane of its time.

if its top secret, how the hell do you know about it and survive?