Author Topic: SR-71 Blackbird  (Read 3151 times)

Offline badhorse

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Re: SR-71 Blackbird
« Reply #15 on: May 23, 2011, 02:42:55 PM »
I've been in avaition for over 40 years now and I've seen a lot of things, some good, some bad and some tragic; it takes a bit to impress me. The SR-71 still does.
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Offline Tigger29

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Re: SR-71 Blackbird
« Reply #16 on: May 23, 2011, 02:58:40 PM »
refueling after only a few minutes in flight? nuts.


If you factor in the fuel leaks, the high power requirement for takeoff, and it being horribly inefficient during low speed and low altitude flights then this explains why it empties its tanks after takeoff.  Once up to speed (and altitude) it could fly for an extremely long distance without requiring another refueling as the fuel leaks would seal up and things become much more efficient at that point.

Offline curry1

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Re: SR-71 Blackbird
« Reply #17 on: May 23, 2011, 03:07:00 PM »

If you factor in the fuel leaks, the high power requirement for takeoff, and it being horribly inefficient during low speed and low altitude flights then this explains why it empties its tanks after takeoff.  Once up to speed (and altitude) it could fly for an extremely long distance without requiring another refueling as the fuel leaks would seal up and things become much more efficient at that point.

The faster it went less gas was burned.  Interesting fact.
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Offline F22RaptorDude

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Re: SR-71 Blackbird
« Reply #18 on: May 23, 2011, 03:09:24 PM »
The faster it went less gas was burned.  Interesting fact.
Once you punch the sound barrier you glide more smoothly through the air and efficiency goes up.
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Offline Devil 505

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Re: SR-71 Blackbird
« Reply #19 on: May 23, 2011, 06:32:04 PM »
JP-7 has a very HIGH flashpoint of about 60 °C (140 °F) and needs to be compressed to be ignited.
Compressing the fuel builds heat to produce vapor. Standing JP-7 will not ignite.

Gasoline on the other hand has a very LOW flashpoint, -43 °C (-45 °F) and will iginte in the presence of ignition source.

The flashpoint of a fuel is the temperature at which vapor is emmited, and can be burned. No vapor, no fire.
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Offline Jayhawk

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Re: SR-71 Blackbird
« Reply #20 on: May 23, 2011, 06:35:32 PM »
JP-7 has a very HIGH flashpoint of about 60 °C (140 °F) and needs to be compressed to be ignited.
Compressing the fuel builds heat to produce vapor. Standing JP-7 will not ignite.

Gasoline on the other hand has a very LOW flashpoint, -43 °C (-45 °F) and will iginte in the presence of ignition source.

The flashpoint of a fuel is the temperature at which vapor is emmited, and can be burned. No vapor, no fire.

Yes, I got that mixed up, thanks for clarifying.
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Offline fuzeman

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Re: SR-71 Blackbird
« Reply #21 on: May 23, 2011, 06:49:08 PM »
Still remember the baseball All-star game at Oakland Coliseum that had a SR-71 overflight. Loud as heck and I almost spilled the beers I was bringing back to the seats.
I know spilling beers is almost a crime but in this case it would have been justified.
Far too many, if not most, people on this Board post just to say something opposed to posting when they have something to say.

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Offline RTR

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Re: SR-71 Blackbird
« Reply #22 on: May 23, 2011, 06:54:30 PM »
I've been in avaition for over 40 years now and I've seen a lot of things, some good, some bad and some tragic; it takes a bit to impress me. The SR-71 still does.

RGR that.

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Offline fbEagle

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Re: SR-71 Blackbird
« Reply #23 on: May 24, 2011, 03:33:33 PM »
JP7 lights just about as easy as water... Not very  :rofl
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Offline YGSM

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Re: SR-71 Blackbird
« Reply #24 on: May 24, 2011, 04:41:02 PM »
I've been in avaition for over 40 years now and I've seen a lot of things, some good, some bad and some tragic; it takes a bit to impress me. The SR-71 still does.

The "Blackbird" is one of the planes built before its time.  It could still be operated as a top tier "Spy" bird creating intelligence on a moments notice.  It is still faster to launch a spy plane that is in the system than it is to re-task a satellite.  Satellites can be defeated if the other side has counter intelligence assets in place to locate tasked satellites.  It is hard to tell if a SR-71 is coming your way.  I have heard first hand stories from pilots involved with the projects how awesome and handy these planes were to the intelligence community.  The Drone community has taken some of the missions that the SR-71 maintained but the Drones are still not in the same league as the "Blackbird".  Salute the plane and the crews that were involved with the project.

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Offline Mustaine

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Re: SR-71 Blackbird
« Reply #25 on: May 24, 2011, 06:24:22 PM »
Anyone ever seen an RC Blackbird?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDbQ5xvsrIU

OMFG!
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Offline WYOKIDIII

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Re: SR-71 Blackbird
« Reply #26 on: May 25, 2011, 04:32:21 AM »
cool video.   I bet that toy would have made Kelly Johnson proud .
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Offline Nypsy

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Re: SR-71 Blackbird
« Reply #27 on: May 25, 2011, 06:06:35 AM »
At mach3 at 70K plus the pilots were always flying on the edge of stalling due to the scarcity of air at that altitude. A stall at that speed almost always meant destruction of the plane and death to the crew. The plane took constant attention. The crew were brave and skilled.  :salute

Offline F22RaptorDude

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Re: SR-71 Blackbird
« Reply #28 on: May 25, 2011, 11:41:30 AM »
Anyone ever seen an RC Blackbird?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDbQ5xvsrIU

OMFG!
Holy crap!  :O :O Thats freaking huge!
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Offline allaire

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Re: SR-71 Blackbird
« Reply #29 on: May 25, 2011, 04:35:26 PM »
Holy crap!  :O :O Thats freaking huge!
Direct your attention to these
C-17
http://youtu.be/c5FjTcctkC4

B-29 with X1
http://youtu.be/5x291HbsyDI

Even bigger B-29
http://youtu.be/KmKdA6L_MWk
« Last Edit: May 25, 2011, 04:38:28 PM by allaire »
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