Why dont we bring back the SR-71?

[tcsenter]

<< Why dont we bring back the SR-71? >>

Because its not a toy we have for your amusement.

<< System cost: $25 million (1999 dollars) >>

That is the entire "system" cost. The aircraft itself costs $3.2 million. The rest of the system consists of the command and control base.

<<

 

[KDOG]

"Why don't we bring back the SR71?'

Cause the Aurora is so much better....

 

[Balt]

One problem is that they are going to start running out of Predators if they keep getting shot down (according to a NY Times article I read). They are bumping up production, but they never expected such a demand I guess so it will take a considerable amount of time for new ones to be flying. They don't exactly have an assembly line setup for the production of these things.

Oh, and the SR-71 is by far my favorite plane. I just wish that crappy band hadn't tainted its name. :|

 

[rudder]

Because its not a toy we have for your amusement.

Damn you all are harsh! I just happen to be an aviation buff and really liked the capabilities of the SR-71, seeing that it was first flown in the mid 60's! I know that these things getting shot down are unmanned drones and that is thier job. To keep them cost effictive you cannot stuff them full iwth the latest and greatest ECM systems and we are bound to lose more.

 

[Windogg]

Still, building Predetors is easier than building SR-71s. All original plans, jigs, machine tools, molds, etc.. were destroyed after the last one came off the assembly line. Read "Skunkworks" by Ben Rich who succeeded Kelly Johnson at the Lockheed Skunkworks. Lots of great first hand stories on the development and deployment of the U-2, SR-71, F-117, D-21 (Grandpa Predator), Sea Shadow, and the Hydrogen powered plane from the people that were there.

The shortage is most likely caused by demands in such places as Iraq, Kosovo, Afghanistan, South America, and training.

Windogg

 

[Random Variable]

<< Cause the Aurora is so much better.... >>



Does the Aurora really exist? I remember reading about it a long time ago in Popular Science.

 

[ElFenix]

i built a model once of senior smart, which was supposed to be the sr-71's replacement (amazingly, the model looked damned near the same as the sr-71 model) and supposedly carried the aurora aircraft piggy-back

 

[Tominator]

<< Drones like the Predetor now have more advantages than the Blackbird. >>



There ARE no advantages! Each is used for a completely different roll. There is no substitute for either type......besides they are not using the SR71, they are using U2s to overfly Afganistan....

 

[Shagger]

The SR-71 cost upwards of a million per flight and are so outdated that they still have analog instrumentation. They proved their worth in the Gulf "war" when satellite imagery was fouled by the bad weather and the Oil fires set by "insert tinpot dictator's name here"

It's true that until they reach operating temps the skin of the aircraft doesn't seal and fuel leaks out. It is also true that the SR-71 can theoretically be in service forever since the airframe gets so hot during flight that it actually re-tempers itself, eliminating stress cracks in the frame due to metal fatigue.

It's pretty fVckin' cool. I had a high school bud (Steve Mathes) that used be a crew chief on the SR-71, but I am a plane nut anyway.

 

[ttn1]

<< Does the Aurora really exist? I remember reading about it a long time ago in Popular Science. >>



I could tell you, but then I would have to **** you. j/k

Actually, I'm sure an aircraft was designed and possibly built, but noone, publicly, knows what the actual capabilities are or were.

ttn1

 

[ttn1]

<< It is also true that the SR-71 can theoretically be in service forever since the airframe gets so hot during flight that it actually re-tempers itself, eliminating stress cracks in the frame due to metal fatigue. >>



This would only theoretically be true if the titanium was free of any defects. Any foriegn material or defect, which is in all metals to some extent, would cause cracks to develop and propagate. The heating and cooling would just add to this effect.

The SR-71 is still by far the most awesome leap in design I have ever seen.

ttn1

 

[Windogg]

The plane was made for the best titanium Mother Russia could provide.

Windogg

 

[Aihyah]

it is back, we use it for testing now mach 3 wind tunnel basically

and yes, amazing we had to buy titanium from russia are we extracting titanium faster these days?

 

[Magicthyse]

Mebbe they should get some lessons from the Israelis in piloting them.
They've got far more experience in flying UAV's to gather intel to terrorize the Palestinians.