The coolest spy plane ever built, SR-71.

Various ^ | 2-5-05

[Indy Pendance]

The coolest spy plane ever built, SR-71. I was watching Modern Marvels on the History channel last night. This aircraft broke all kinds of international speed and altitude records which still have not been beaten today. It was nothing for them to fly at 80,000 feet and it was a piece of cake to fly at about mach 3, or about 2100 mph. For those of you old enough, remember the sonic boom days? About 750 miles would create a sonic boom, or a doppler effect.

Here's the question, this plane was so fast, it was faster than the earth's rotation. What would happen with time over a long sustainable period of flying time? If it goes faster than the earth's rotation long enough, will it be ahead of time when it lands, or likewise in the opposite direction, will it go back in time. Do you think Einstein has an answer? Saturday night ponderings.

[ruiner]

Although faster than the earth's rotation, it would have to be thousands of times faster to really exhibit time dialation for the pilot.

If he was in the air 23 hours and landed in the same spot he took off, it would still be 23 hours later :)

[steve86]

Speaking of Saturday night ponderings (for those near the Tri-Cities, WA). Einstein@TheMovies:

http://www.ligo-wa.caltech.edu/world_year/iyp_events05.html

[Flightdeck]

It was originally the RS-71 until LBJ screwed up the name in a speech. So instead of owning up to a silly mistake, they renamed the plane. How pathetic can a guy get?

[MadAnthony1776]

Generally when planes become operational they are already obsolete technologically. This is one of the few airplanes that was ahead of its time. It even had features that were stealthy and probably helped those understand some of the principles of stealth technology being used today. It was a sad day when the Air Force retired that airplane. Of all the airplanes I've seen or worked on in the Air Force that one is my favorite.

[Indy Pendance]

Well they said, the plane flew faster than the earth's rotation. Like I asked, over a sustainable period of time, say weeks or months, what would happen?

[Flightdeck]

Well they took an atomic clock on plane far slower than the blackbird and flew it around the world and it was off by a fraction of a second.

[SpyGuy]

Despite what Hollywood portrays in Superman movies, the Earth's rotation has no influence on the passage of time. It merely forms a convenient measure of the passage of time.

[MadAnthony1776]

The plane was originally designed to be a interceptor-fighter but it was so fast that it couldn't perform that mission. I believe the original designation when they looked at it as an interceptor was YF-14.

[Indy Pendance]

They never mentioned that. Thanks. I'm going back on my old college physic days, and the theory of relativity classes. I just thought it might make an interesting discussion.

[leadpenny]

Nothing! Astronauts fly faster (or slower, or whatever) than the Earth's rotation. I don't get what you're driving at? Have you started a Super Bowl party early?

[commish]

If you want to get really technical it was originally the A-12, and flown as a prototype for the AF as the YF-12. She was originally planned to be a fighter/interceptor.

I had the priviledge of working with the 9SRW at Beale afb for 4 years as a Mission Programmer for the Blackbird.

Spent many a night listening to the sound of freedom as an SR that had just returned from doing it's job of protecting this great nation sat in the burnoff area with her engines roaring.

There is no sight more beautiful than an SR-71 roaring down the runway with those twin Blue flames trailing behind her

[spower]

If you are a real fan of this bird, I've got a couple of good book recommendations: (1) Sled Driver, by Brian Shul. Stunning, awe-inspiring photographs. (2) SR-71 Revealed, by Richard Graham. Graham is a retired Air Force Col. who flew the sled and commanded a squadron. Lots of insider info on getting picked to fly the sled, training, and operations.

[Indy Pendance]

Let's say we develop an aircraft, say, star wars movie type stuff. What would be the outcome. Will we be able to go forward or backward in time? It's an intriguing topic.

[T. P. Pole]

Here's my 'pondering' - They retired this plane years ago. What did they replace it with?

Aurora, anyone?

BTW, saw one in the air museum last year on vacation in Utah. Earlier saw the minuteman missile display in South Dakota. Also Golden Spike and Thiakol(?) rocket display. Quite the trip.

[Indy Pendance]

Astronauts don't sustainably go forward or backward in time. They maintain the earth's rotation speed.

[bayourod]

"This aircraft broke all kinds of international speed and altitude records which still have not been beaten today. "

Cept for its replacement, satellites. And its predator, missiles.

[Indy Pendance]

Thanks, I was really fascinated by the presentation. I'll look up your recomendations.

[longshadow]

Like I asked, over a sustainable period of time, say weeks or months, what would happen?

Google "International Dateline" .....

[delacoert]

Here's the question, this plane was so fast, it was faster than the earth's rotation. What would happen with time over a long sustainable period of flying time? If it goes faster than the earth's rotation long enough, will it be ahead of time when it lands, or likewise in the opposite direction, will it go back in time. Do you think Einstein has an answer? Saturday night ponderings.

:rolleyes: