SR-71 Blackbird - Believe it or not!! 3 things you may not know about the giant black bird

Before the advent of aircraft that focused on stealth and camouflage
The US military's concept of aircraft development and selection
I've always been focused on one direction.

That is, the limit of destructive power or high firepower.

Legendary designer Kelly Johnson
Which is affiliated with Lockheed Martin.
Leading aerospace and defense industry company in the United States
The designer behind everything from the C-130 to the U-2 spy plane.

His U-2 spy plane passed the line.
Exactly as per the Pentagon's requirements

But the Pentagon itself still wants aircraft with any features.
That can handle and fight against Russian technology that is beyond recognition.

The result was the Blackbird family of jet-powered aircraft.
Including the SR-71 Blackbird, which was developed to the point where it caught the eye of the Pentagon.
It is an aircraft that still holds the record for the fastest military aircraft in the sky.

We will not discuss the various highlights of this aircraft model that can be found everywhere.
But we have picked only 3 facts that we think all readers probably don't know.

- Outstanding features that can be called incomparable -

SR-71 Blackbird
It is an aircraft that is capable of flying at high altitudes and at high speeds.
It is often tasked with conducting surveillance missions above the atmosphere.
To collect ground data on the enemy's side.

The SR-71 Blackbird's maximum operational capability is at a speed of Mach 3.
or up to 3675.13 kilometers/hour and a flight ceiling of up to 80,000 feet.
When both are combined
No anti-aircraft missiles could catch up to the Blackbird.

Even though the Blackbird was able to detect its presence in the sky,
But even so, it is still impossible to resist or destroy it.

According to the US Air Force's records, over the 34 years of the SR-71 Blackbird,
Aircraft in service and with the highest total flight hours
It has been targeted by 4,000 anti-aircraft missiles during flight.
But no rocket has ever tasted the Blackbird.

- Strong cockpit windshield -

The SR-71 Blackbird flew at high speed.
and the flight ceiling above the atmosphere
The temperature generated on the surface of the body is as high as
600 degrees Fahrenheit or 315 degrees Celsius

Lockheed needs to squeeze ideas
Find the right material to use for the cockpit windshield.

Until deciding to choose Quartz, a natural mineral that comes in many colors.
But if it is transparent, it will help reduce image distortion when looking through.
Does not cause reflection if the angle of impact is made to the light.
Importantly, it can withstand very high heat.
And there is no distortion of the glass when having to resist strong winds at high speed.

And the installation method must be strong and seamless.
Where there is a risk to the pilot if there is a joint between the fuselage and the glass.
So they used ultrasonic welding.
Bonding quartz glass to titanium alloy body

- The SR-71 was the last aircraft of its era -

It doesn't mean that it's so great that it doesn't need to be further developed.
But it means that later aircraft are calculated together.
With computer-aided design

The term “last of the generation” refers to Callie Johnson.
And the Lockheed engineers used a slide rule.
In design calculations

That means the results are outstanding and unmatched.
It is created by hand drawing and calculating lines using traditional formulas.
Only through the human brain.

And what's even more amazing is that later the model was brought in for inspection and calculation.
For improvement through computer programs and they found that
The results the program produces are exactly the same as Callie's calculations.
And no further customization recommendations will be provided.





Source: https://sofrep.com/news/still-the-champ-3-things-you-didnt-know-about-the-sr-71-blackbird/

Article: THREE THINGS YOU DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THE SR-71 BLACKBIRD

Translated by: Thithat Rinchai on March 8, 2021