"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
news:yLQnc.64372$0H1.6146627@attbi_s54

Because the Blackbird was able to maintain speeds better than Mach
3.3+ without afterburners (I.E.: "Super cruise")'

It just so happens that a former client of mine was a Blackbird pilot and he
gave me an unclassified version of the flight manual. It completely fills a
3-inch 3-ring binder and is sitting in my closet.

Afterburners were used throughout supersonic flight. I think you may be
confusing the fact that roughly 80% of the engines' thrust was derived from
the spike-controlled intake.

The first operational US aircraft with supercruise capability is the F-22
Raptor.

--
John T
http://tknowlogy.com/TknoFlyer
http://www.pocketgear.com/products_s...veloperid=4415
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