Posted on 05/12/2010 6:18:28 AM PDT by EnjoyingLife
No. 1 via http://www.flickr.com/photos/lockheedmartin/1417846404/
No. 2 via http://www.flickr.com/photos/lockheedmartin/1038817987/
No. 3 via http://www.flickr.com/photos/lockheedmartin/1416958223/
No. 4 via http://www.flickr.com/photos/lockheedmartin/1038817887/
No. 5 via http://www.flickr.com/photos/lockheedmartin/4256659363/
USAF SKUNK WORKS BUMP!
A thing of awe
I did not know the CIA had their own version
“Fasting than a speeding bullet, able to leap tall buildings in a single bound, more powerful than a locomotive...”
Well, you get the picture.
Do we have anything in the works to replace this fantastic aircraft?
Those are awesome! In the last picture....does anyone know the reason for the ‘red line’ on each of the planes?
/johnny
Satellites
Lamh Foistenach Abu!
BAMF’s!
"The red stripes on some SR-71s are to prevent maintenance workers from damaging the skin. The curved skin near the center of the fuselage is thin and delicate. There is no support underneath with exception of the structural ribs, which are spaced several feet apart."
an awesome bird....1st one i ever saw was anderson afb guam...
It’s certainly no F-35.
I drove by one of those just a couple of days ago. It is sitting in an overgrown field of weeds behind a chain link fence near the Birmingham Airport. It is on loan to the Southern Museum of Flight.
Originally designated as the RS-71 but later changed to comport with Kennedy’s flub of the designation in a public announcement “SR-71”.
Actually, I believe it was 4 years......still a Herculean feat, especially since A) they had to invent virtually everything about it from scratch (materials, engines, paint, etc., etc.), and B) they only had slide rules. Still makes me shake my head in amazement.
The military channel just had a great planes episode on the
SR-71. Simply,amazing!
Thanks!
Yes, thanks.
One of the coolest and most amazing things America has ever done.
We were great at one time.
God help us now with Obambi, the Kenyan and the Dim Dhims trying their best to totally destroy us.
I saw this on Jalopnik.com the other day. I'm surprised no one has posted it on FR yet.
We've read what it feels like to fly the SR-71 Blackbird. Now learn how to do it yourself. Here's the Air Force's official, and recently declassified, operations manual for the gorgeous, evil-looking spy plane. Who wants to go 2112 mph?A few quick tips: Stalls, spins, and inverted flight are strictly prohibited. Maximum Mach is Mach 3.2, or 2112 mph at 40,000 feet. The cockpit sunshades are officially known as "bat wings." Detailed cold and hot weather procedures have not been established, and Survival Quick Launch should only be used to avoid destruction of the aircraft. You have been warned.
Note: This is the manual's first section, entitled "The Aircraft." We've also included excerpts from sections dealing with supersonic acceleration, extreme conditions, bailout, and maximum Mach. See it all in one horrific-to-load page here.
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