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The USAF's SR-71A two-seat strategic-reconnaissance aircraft originates from the remarkable Lockheed A-11, detail design of which began in 1959. Almost certainly intended to follow into service the Lockheed U-2, the A-11 derived from the design team led by C. L. 'Kelly' Johnson. Four A-11 were ordered, the first being flown on 26 April 1962.
Three were later modified into YF-12A interceptors, entering service for evaluation in 1964. They were capable of speeds in excess of Mach 3 and of sustained supersonic flight at heights of up to 24,385m. Consequently construction was largely of titanium to maintain structural integrity, for as a result of kinetic heating, localised skin temperatures of up to about 427°C could be reached. To retard as much as possible the effects of such heating, these aircraft were finished in a high-heat-emissive black paint, leading to the name Blackbird.
The fourth A-11 (ordered on the original contract) was subsequently redesignated YF-12C. From it was developed the SR-71A reconnaissance aircraft, the first of which flew on 22 December 1964. The readily recognisable configuration of this aircraft results from extensive wind-tunnel testing to evolve a minimum-drag fuselage providing maximum speed while keeping kinetic heating to the minimum; and to maintain the best possible handling characteristics at supersonic, take-off (about 370km/h) and landing (about 278km/h) speeds.
Power plant comprises two 144.6kN Pratt & Whitney turbojets. The 36,287kg of special fuel for these engines - which is contained within upper-fuselage and inner-wing tanks - acts as a heat sink for the entire aircraft, fuel temperature being raised to 320°C before being injected into the engines. Highly complex air intakes with computer-controlled fail-safe systems are essential to ensure that smooth airflow to the engines is maintained over the enormous forward speed range of 0-3,200km/h, at the upper limit of which the engines are virtually operating as turbo-ramjets. SR-71A began to enter USAF service in January 1966 and it is believed that as many as 31 may have been built. They have the capability to survey an area of 155,400km2 within an hour and in 1976 established a closed-circuit speed record of 3,367.221km/h; a world absolute speed record of 3,529.56km/h; and a sustained-altitude record of 25,929.031m.
| CREW | 2 |
| ENGINE | 2 x P+W J-58-JT-11(N), 151.1kN |
| WEIGHTS |
| Take-off weight | 77110 kg | 169999 lb |
| Empty weight | 36290 kg | 80006 lb |
| DIMENSIONS |
| Wingspan | 17.0 m | 55 ft 9 in |
| Length | 32.7 m | 107 ft 3 in |
| Height | 5.6 m | 18 ft 4 in |
| Wing area | 167.2 m2 | 1799.72 sq ft |
| PERFORMANCE |
| Max. speed | 3380 km/h | 2100 mph |
| Cruise speed | 2125 km/h | 1320 mph |
| Ceiling | 24500 m | 80400 ft |
| Range w/max.fuel | 6000 km | 3728 miles |
| Range w/max.payload | 4800 km | 2983 miles |
| Pete, plabels466(@)aol.com, 26.12.2008 "HABU" - never before & never again will anything fly like the Blackbird. It gave me the chills & proud to be an American everytime I saw this great bird. Pete (labels) | | Ross Riddell, Peco3rs(@)yahoo.ca, 21.09.2008 I have always had a real interest in this plane and cannot seem to get enough to read on th is magnificent piece of work by Kelly Johnson and his crew. It is simply a beautiful piece of work. | | Bob Mason, P40Bob(@)aol.com, 01.07.2008 The engines were a bear to work on, had to be especially careful with the chemical ignition system, never believe the purge tag on it, use the longest wrenches and open the b nuts slowly if smoke appeared back off.. | | David, tenehc(@)frys.com, 17.06.2008 They wore astronaut suits. | | I.Kemp, iankempviet(@)gmail.com, 10.06.2008 Can anyone tell me how the pilot plus 1 protected themselves against the high radiation exposure wheh flying the SR 71 ? | | Jim Nowlin, flyersnest(@)yahoo.com, 19.05.2008 The observed altitudes are significantly higher than the maximum quoted! | | Charles Webber, charleswebber(@)sbcglobal.net, 04.05.2008 Flabob is building a wind tee that duplicates the Sr-71 exactly as seen from the air, but from the ground looks like a real prehistoric Black Bird of some sort. Take a look in several weeks. Don't let it scare you. | | ronald bankert, captbunky(@)verizon.net, 26.04.2008 one of the sweetest aircraft ever made.i worked on the black bird for two years.it was a jewel to watch fly. | | jeelocked, white-mailbox(@)netzero.com, 01.04.2008 Re Mig-25. Can't recall (cite) sources but the Mig-25 tried on numerous occasions to catch the Blackbird. NADA. | | Craig, flycraig1(@)aol.com, 29.02.2008 The pictures you have are both YF-12's and SR-71. The main external difference is the YF-12 Chine only goes up to the nose cone just ahead of the pilot. The SR the Chine goes all the way up. The top picture also show the downward middle vertical stabilizer which was a YF-12 giveaway - the SR-71 did not have that downward stabilizer. Also on the top picture you can see the the serial number 934 that was one of the 12's. The 3 that I worked on were 934, 935, 936. The other part of the Chine and the nose was that you had two different types of radar. The YF-12 had a normal radar dish that was about 5 foot in height. The pilots liked the fact that they could get the radar lock at "extream" distances. | | oliver, olivert(@)ptt.yu, 31.01.2008 I am interested who else (company) submit proposals, and how these planes lookes alike for the contest in which Lockheed wins with YF-12! Help me someone | | Dr. Inkfish, inkfish1(@)gmail.com, 20.11.2007 Guys, have you ever heard about Mig 25?!
A Russian mass production Mach3 interceptor ?!
SR-71 is a great plane - the fastest!!! But it is a recon plane = no weapons !!! Check this out !!! http://www.aviastar.org/air/russia/mig-25.php | | Shantanu Choudhari, choudhari.shantanu(@)gmail.com, 03.04.2007 Blackbird was one of the factor that ended the cold war between United States and Soviet Union. Even Soviet Union disagreed existance of such a plane for long time, but their assumptions were proved wrong and US Air Force had gone far off them in the race of Fighter Aircraft. The plane still remains an engineering Marval and still a dream for many strong militarised countries. I pay complete tribute to the United States to aimed and achived this Engineering Success !!
Thanks
Shantanu | | AMIT KAUSHIK, KAUSHIK2AMIT(@)GMAIL.COM, 05.12.2006 Blackbird is still the best plane ever built. It has improved a lot and the technology used to build such a plane is extraordinary. Most of the country can"t even think of making such a plane that Lockheed built in 1961. I would love to be part of it.
Can anyone help me? I will be waiting for reply.
thanks
AMIT |
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Do you have any comments about this aircraft ?
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