Great SR-71 Story - How slow could it fly?

[Paratus]

The YF 12 was the interceptor version. Idea was to arm it with nuclear AA missiles, it could reach out and touch sov bombers a very long way from target.

I love that YF-12 missile test. The YF-12 firing a missile at mach3 + at a target 80 miles away on the deck, the missile falling from 80,000+ft and accelerating all the way until it hit at over mach 6. Who needs a warhead.

 

[BUTCH1]

Interesting story of how (supposedly) the MiG-31 could intercept (and shoot down) the SR-71, have a look, I'm not vested enough technically to determine if it's true or just USSR puffing..http://in.rbth.com/articles/2012/09/03/foxhound_vs_blackbird_how_the_migs_reclaimed_the_skies_17363.html

 

[skyking]

It was a nice read, other than the obvious error in the first paragraph. It had the first flight at 1972, only a decade off.

 

[Gibsons]

I love that YF-12 missile test. The YF-12 firing a missile at mach3 + at a target 80 miles away on the deck, the missile falling from 80,000+ft and accelerating all the way until it hit at over mach 6. Who needs a warhead.

Yeah, lots of energy at that speed. Although with a near miss, you'd be glad for the nuc or 100lb warhead.

Speaking of which, I remember in Skunk Works, Rich said they'd proposed blackbird strike bomber variants. The weapon would be a big steel dart, dropped from a blackbird, no warhead iirc. Don't remember if he said how big it would be.

 

[John Connor]

I thought KJFK was the ICAO code for JFK in New York State

If you mean from Co to JFK, that makes partial sense.

Using the Sim, which airport did you launch from
KAPA (Centennial)
KDEN (Denver)
KFNL (Loveland/Ft Collins)

Pretty smart. But if I say what airport I launched from then I'll give away my location here in CO. HAHAHAHA.

I do believe it took only 45 min. Yes, KJFK.

 

[John Connor]

Not my youtube video but I was at this game when the B-2 flew overhead. Utterly amazing to watch, and because of the weird shape it honestly just doesn't look like it belongs in the air.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fiiiLSjiMUo

That is my most favorite aircraft! bar none. Got to see it fly over head at an airshow. I wish I had a camera back then. Always wanted to see the B2 fly over head.

 

[cabri]

Pretty smart. But if I say what airport I launched from then I'll give away my location here in CO. HAHAHAHA.

I do believe it took only 45 min. Yes, KJFK.

Already pegged you as not KDEN or KAPA.

And i know you are north of Colfax and south of 80

 

[Brian Stirling]

The A-12/SR-71 series of aircraft were, and are, among the greatest things made by man. Kelly and his team broke through barriers and made the impossible possible.

There was a time when the USA made great things and tested ourselves to the limit. In addition to the Blackbird we built the greatest rockets and landed men on the Moon. Sadly, if the trend line continues, the last US manufacturing job will disappear by about 2055. I was a young boy of 12 when we landed on the moon and I'm nearing 60 now -- we need to leave footprints on Mars!


Brian

 

[Blitzvogel]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compression_lift

I don't think the SR-71 makes use of compression lift like the XB-70 does. I have found no sources supporting the idea on the internet, and not even the Concorde took advantage of it, despite it's downward wing droop as you move further out to the tip. Not only does either plane lack the wedge at the bottom to create enough shocks at the right moment, such minor downward tipping would be too small to really trap it properly in relevance to the rest of the aircraft. You see how big the moveable wingtips on the XB-70 had to be to take proper advantage of compression lift.

 

[Blackjack200]

I don't think the SR-71 makes use of compression lift like the XB-70 does. I have found no sources supporting the idea on the internet, and not even the Concorde took advantage of it, despite it's downward wing droop as you move further out to the tip. Not only does either plane lack the wedge at the bottom to create enough shocks at the right moment, such minor downward tipping would be too small to really trap it properly in relevance to the rest of the aircraft. You see how big the moveable wingtips on the XB-70 had to be to take proper advantage of compression lift.

I thought it was so the wing tips wouldn't stall during a high attitude approach. The wingtips have less AOA than the rest of the wing/fusalage, so maybe they help keep the airflow attached?

 

[William Gaatjes]

Unrelated, but i just love the sound of that F16 engine revving up and going into afterburner mode.

https://youtu.be/tdczvix3EiE?t=74

 

[Gibsons]

I don't think the SR-71 makes use of compression lift like the XB-70 does. I have found no sources supporting the idea on the internet, and not even the Concorde took advantage of it, despite it's downward wing droop as you move further out to the tip. Not only does either plane lack the wedge at the bottom to create enough shocks at the right moment, such minor downward tipping would be too small to really trap it properly in relevance to the rest of the aircraft. You see how big the moveable wingtips on the XB-70 had to be to take proper advantage of compression lift.

?
I don't think the SR71 used compression lift either. The B-70 did. I got signals crossed.

 

[cabri]

SR-71 Pilot Free Falls from Space

 

[Ichinisan]

SR-71 Pilot Free Falls from Space

I recall reading the survivor's first-hand account on a web site. Pretty incredible. Sad that the other pilot died in the incident.

 

[NoTine42]

SR-71 Pilot Free Falls from Space

Is that the Mach 3, 78,000' breakup?
http://theaviationist.com/2015/03/17/sr-71-mid-air-disintegration/

 

[cabri]

Is that the Mach 3, 78,000' breakup?
http://theaviationist.com/2015/03/17/sr-71-mid-air-disintegration/

Same pilot