#SR-71

[responsivethoughts]

The SR-71 Blackbird.

A spy plane that flew at approximately 70 to 85 thousand (21,000 to 25,000 meters) above Earth's sea level and cruised at speeds of 2,500 miles per hour ( 4,000 km per hour) is one man's most most amazing creation in its class for the purposes of intelligence gathering.

When the enemy fired missiles and other rockets at the Blackbird, the evasive maneuver was simply, acceleration and climbing.

Nothing could reach this machine that practically flew at the edge of Earth's atmosphere and beginning of solar system space.

Enemy aircraft would run out of fuel before they could even attempt to get close to the Blackbird.

Missiles would burn out of rocket fuel. On some instances, the SR-71 outsped missiles and bullets fired at it.

Architecture, engineering and operation of this machine is phenomenal. Even though we outlived its usefulness, it would be awesome to keep this aircraft functional for demonstration purposes.

[coolthingsguyslike]

[nocternalrandomness]

SR-71 on display at Flight Test Nation 2009, October 17, 2009, Edwards AFB

[a-4skyhawk]

Lockheed YF-12 Blackbird

[bigglesworld]

Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird. Full frontal. Super sonic, long-range, high-altitude, strategic reconnaissance aircraft. First flew in 1964

[lonestarflight]

A Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird, 9th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, in flight.

Date: February 1982

Photographed by Ken Hackman.

NARA: 6366138

[wheelsgoroundincircles]

SR-71 Blackbird

The coolest plane ever.

[official-lockheed-martin]

We had to discontinue the SR-71 because it was too beautiful and we felt the world didn't deserve it.

[fuckablerobotbracket]

[coolthingsguyslike]

[nocternalrandomness]

NASA SR-71 photographed over the Southern Sierra Nevada Mountains February, 1997

[a-4skyhawk]

[safety-pin-punk]

[planeyboys]

rollin around at the speed of ???????????? got places to go gotta outrun the radome

Part of a limited run of stickers, all sold out now!!!

Check out the other designs while they last https://www.onehellofatown.com/category/planeyboys-x-ohoat

[floridaboiler]

The first flight of the SR 71 was on December 22, 1964. Robert J. "Bob" Gilliland - Bob flew  the first flight of the SR-71 taking the aircraft to Mach 1.5 and 50,000 feet altitude. He was the principal test pilot for the SR-71's development program. Bob Gilliland was the brave test pilot. 

This marvelous miracle of modern aircraft was first formulated in 1959,  The CIA Central intelligent agency, which was sure that eventually, the U-2 would be shot down.  It was on May 1, 1960. The SR 71 was invented from scratch to be so fast and to climb so high in altitude that the Russian missiles would not be able to hit it. It was also the first stealth airplane. The shape is not random the paint in the early days had tiny iron balls in it to deflect radar.

Further deflection was the composite plastic materials in certain areas of the airplane to reduce the cross-section. The SR 71 was canceled in 1990. It was reinstated in 1996 the last flight of the SR 71 was in 1999. The SR 71 remains the fastest air breathing airplane in the world.

[lonestarflight]

Posted on the Phoenix Aviation Research Facebook page: link