Do we need the SR-71?

I'm not sure exactly what you are trying to say here but the air was bled
off the fourth stage compressor section and ducted to the afterburner
section where the fuel came out the afterburner nozzles and all the
combustion took place in the AB. The J58s were not ramjets but more of a
hybred. Pratt called them "dual cycle turbo-ramjets". It isn't true that
"the faster it flew the faster it could go", like all aircraft it has all
sorts of limits only one of which is temperature. I have the flight manual
for the SR-71 minus the recon and defensive systems.

It is my favorite aircraft too but I can't help objecting when someone calls
an aircraft "invulnerable". It is the same as calling a ship "unsinkable".
Most of the unsinkable ships can be found on the bottom of the ocean.

Mike
MU-2


"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
news:5fSnc.66286$kh4.3904147@attbi_s52...
The Blackbird used afterburning in all supersonic flight.

The Blackbird used afterburners to accelerate for takeoff, and to achieve
supersonic flight, not unlike the Concorde.

At speeds above 2000 mph, however, the J-58 engines became ramjets, and
operated in supercruise, enabling Mach 3+ flight for anywhere from 2500 to
3300 miles without refueling.

The unique thing about the Blackbird was that the faster it went, the
faster
it could go. The only thing limiting its top speed was heat -- the
engines
and airframe aerodynamics would have allowed even higher speeds, except
that
critical things started to melt.

Still, it flew faster than a rifle bullet for hours on end -- a truly
remarkable aircraft.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

The unique thing about the Blackbird was that the faster it went, the faster
it could go.


An intriguing statement, but what does it actually mean?

Jose

--
(for Email, make the obvious changes in my address)

Jay Honeck wrote:

Lots of things happened with the A-12, YF-12A, and SR-71 that haven't hit
the history books yet, Dima.

Ok, then where are *you* getting it from?

George Patterson
If you don't tell lies, you never have to remember what you said.

Jay Honeck wrote:

Actually, the Blackbird, with it's *sideways* looking cameras, ....

When you're 20 miles up, no recon photo is *sideways*.

George Patterson
If you don't tell lies, you never have to remember what you said.

"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
____________________

"Paul Tomblin" wrote in message


As far as I know, the US NEVER disregarded the treaty they signed
with the Soviets to stop recon overflights after Frank Gary Powers
was shot down. So the SR-71 probably never flew directly over the
USSR.

Was that a treaty or merely a promise Eisenhower made to Kruschev after the
Powers affair?

The US promoted and continues to promote an "open skies" policy that would
allow both countries to overfly the other (with an escort, of course).

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

The unique thing about the Blackbird was that the faster it went, the
faster
it could go.


An intriguing statement, but what does it actually mean?

The faster it went, the more thrust the ramjet engines could produce.

To a point, of course. Eventually, at somewhere around Mach 3.5, the
limits of metallurgy were reached.

Or, at least, that's what Bill TELLS us happened. Methinks he knows a whole
lot more than he can divulge...

;-)
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

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

The first operational FIGHTER with supercruise capability is the F-22.

I think there is some confusion over what constitutes "using the
afterburner" in high mach cruise flight in the SR-71.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

When you're 20 miles up, no recon photo is *sideways*.

The oblique camera angles shot from a Blackbird were a lot more "sideways"
than the Keyhole photos taken from geosynchronous orbit.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

"Mike Rapoport" wrote in message
hlink.net...
Yes, and when was the last time the Blackbird actually overflew the Soviet
Union? '70s? '60s?

During the fall of the Soviet Union.

It usually flew from Japan up the Kamchatka peninsula
staying out of Soviet airspace.

Not always.


Mike
MU-2