SR-71 Blackbird

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SR-71 Blackbird – The Fastest Spy Plane ever Revealed

SR-71 Blackbird

SR-71B _Blackbird, December 1994, crossing southern Sierra Nevada Mountains of California

The SR-71B was the trainer version of the SR-71 Blackbird. Notice the dual cockpit to allow the instructor to fly the airplane. The SR-71 spy plane served with the U.S. Air Force from 1964 to 1998. Lockheed built 32 of the aircraft. Twelve of the planes were lost in accidents, but not because of enemy action.

The SR-71 has been given several nicknames, including “Blackbird” and “Habu”. It has held the world record since 1976 for the fastest air-breathing manned aircraft. That record was previously held by the related Lockheed YF-12.

 


SR-71 Blackbird – Top 10 awesome facts about the world’s fastest jet airplane

by Factswiz
Published on Youtube on Aug 4, 2016

The SR-71 Blackbird is one of the most spectacular aircraft ever built. The aircraft that was way ahead of its time.

1. The Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird made its first flight on December 22, 1964 and till this date is the official speed record holder for fastest manned jet-powered aircraft. It set this speed record in 1976 at a whopping 3530 km/h or 2,193.2 mph (Mach 3.3). Fun fact: This record was set with just one engine!

2. Titanium was any extremely difficult metal to work with and the Lockheed company’s skunk works division building the aircraft had to invent numerous new tools and innovative techniques which are used even till this day to work with this corrosion resistant and extremely high strength metal which had the tendency to shatter if handled improperly. In 1968, Lockheed was ordered to destroy all tooling used to create the SR-71 and its similar looking predecessor the A-12.

3. The SR-71 was constructed mainly out of titanium (Approx. 85%). At the time the Soviet Union was the biggest producer of titanium in the world. The CIA had to create several cover-up companies in order to acquire the required amounts of titanium from the Soviet Union without arousing any suspicion. Fun fact: The Soviet Union was the main target of the spy plane’s missions.

4. SR-71 Blackbird was designed to leak fuel while it was on ground due to the lack of materials at the time capable of withstanding the extreme temperature differences. The fuel tank was designed with gaps which would expand when in flight, sealing the leaking fuel tanks. Therefore, the SR-71 had to be refueled after takeoff run and the initial warming up flight.

5. The SR-71 Blackbird had a service ceiling of 85,000 feet (26 km or 16 miles). However, many sources claim that it could fly as high as 100,000 feet and higher in case of emergency. The jet could comfortably cruise at 80,000 feet.

See the video for all 10 awesome facts about the fastest manned jet-powered aircraft.


 

SR-71 Blackbird|Documentary|Video

by Aeroplane XRTC
Published on Youtube on Apr 20, 2019

The Lockheed SR-71 “Blackbird” is a long-range, Mach 3+ strategic reconnaissance aircraft that was operated by the United States Air Force. It was developed as a black project from the Lockheed A-12 reconnaissance aircraft in the 1960s by Lockheed and its Skunk Works division. American aerospace engineer Clarence “Kelly” Johnson was responsible for many of the design’s innovative concepts.

During aerial reconnaissance missions, the SR-71 operated at high speeds and altitudes to allow it to outrace threats. If a surface-to-air missile launch were detected, the standard evasive action was simply to accelerate and outfly the missile. The shape of the SR-71 was based on the A-12 which was one of the first aircraft to be designed with a reduced radar cross-section.

The SR-71 served with the U.S. Air Force from 1964 to 1998. A total of 32 aircraft were built; 12 were lost in accidents but none lost to enemy action. The SR-71 has been given several nicknames, including “Blackbird” and “Habu”. Since 1976, it has held the world record for the fastest air-breathing manned aircraft, a record previously held by the related Lockheed YF-12.

During aerial reconnaissance missions, the SR-71 Blackbird operated at high speeds and altitudes to allow it to outrace threats. If a surface-to-air missile launch was detected, the standard evasive action was to simply accelerate and out fly the missile. The SR-71 was designed with a reduced radar cross-section.


A look at the SR-71

by Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
Published on Youtube on Mar 21, 2016

SR-71 pilot and National Air and Space Museum docent Buz Carpenter gives STEM in 30 host Marty a tour of his favorite plane, the SR-71 Blackbird. NOTE: There is no inside of the Plane. The fuselage is all fuel tanks. This is a tour of the outside of the Aircraft.




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SR-71 Blackbird

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