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| Description | |||
| Manufacturer: | Lockheed | ||
| Designation: | SR-71 | ||
| Version: | A | ||
| Nickname: | Blackbird | ||
| Type: | General Reconnaissance | ||
| Specifications | |||
| Length: | 107' 5" | 32.74 M | |
| Height: | 18' 6" | 5.64 M | |
| Wingspan: | 55' 7" | 16.94 M | |
| Empty Weight: | 60000.0 lbs | 27210.0 Kg | |
| Gross Weight: | 170000 lbs | 77097.0 Kg | |
| Propulsion | |||
| No. of Engines: | 2 | ||
| Powerplant: | Pratt & Whitney J58 | ||
| Thrust (each): | 32500 | 14512 | |
| Performance | |||
| Range: | 2900 miles | 4669.00 Km | |
| Max Speed: | 2000.00 Mph | 3220.00 Km/H | 1740.54 Kt |
| Ceiling: | 85000.0 Ft | 25907.0 M | |
Lockheed SR-71A Blackbird
Created by Kelly Johnson, the SR-71 Blackbird set the world speed record in July 1976 of 2193.167 MPH and has held it ever since. In the same flight it also set the altitude record of 85,068.997 feet.
The SR71 was designed as a high-speed high altitude aircraft, providing pre-attack and post-attack reconnaissance. The SR71 flew most of its operational missions from Detachment 1, Kadena Air base, Okinawa. Between 1968 and its deactivation in 1990, the SR71 fleet flew 2,410 sorties. It was there that the Blackbird earned the nickname Habu after a native deadly snake. Sortie marks were tallied on the aircraft as small white habus. No SR71 was ever shot down or hit by enemy fire, and they are known to have outrun over 4000 missiles. It could fly 1 mile in under 2 seconds.
Constructed of 93% titanium alloy and composites, it produces original stealth technology. A special paint is applied giving it a higher thermal emissivity when cruising at high Mach and contains tiny iron balls that dissipates electromagnetic radiation. The paint alone adds over 60 lbs to the jet.
The complex Pratt and Whitney J58 engines are very unique. Inlet temperatures can reach 1100 degrees C. and require astralloy discs in the turbine sections to withstand the heat. The combustion exhaust temperature reaches 2000 degrees F. The blast created by the SR71 stretches for 3000 feet and the turbulent air sizzles at over 200 degrees. The SR71 cruises in afterburner so it incorporates an Air Inlet Control System (spikes) and a bleed by-pass system, which increases or decreases airflow into the engine, when flying between subsonic and supersonic speeds. The largest engines ever built for an aircraft, they produce 160,000 horse power giving the blackbird a thrust to weight ratio of 5.2 to 1. Designed as a combination turbo-ramjet engine, after attaining desired altitude and speed, the engines are throttled back and speed is maintained by the airflow passing through the engine, thus requiring less thrust from exhaust, consuming less fuel.
Heat generated during flight can reach over 1000 degrees F. temperatures that cause the fuselage to expand in flight. After landing, ground crews cannot go near the aircraft for over 30 minutes. Once the plane has cooled, it literally seeps fuel on the ground until it flies again. The flight crew wears special self- contained space suits to protect them during flight and to ensure survival during a high altitude ejection. Temperatures inside the cockpit reach 200 degrees and 550 degrees on the windscreen. To heat their food they simply held it against the windscreen. A pair of complete suits cost approximately $185,000.
The SR-71 uses a special JP-7 high-temperature jet fuel. It can carry 12,219 gallons and, at top speed, needs refueling every 45 minutes. It consumes fuel at about 8000 gallons per hour. The fuel doesn't burn easily and it requires a chemical ignition system to start the engines. Tri-ethyl borane (TEB) is injected into the engines at start-up, re-start and when going into afterburner. The fuel system is also used to cool the aircraft environmental, hydraulic, oil, TEB systems, and associated lines.
The SR71 has 6 main BF Goodrich 32-ply tires, each filled with 415 PSI of nitrogen. Impregnated with aluminum powder to reduce heat, they cost $2,300.00 each and are serviceable for approximately 15 landings.
Cameras in the SR-71 can map 100,000 square miles per hour in which selected targets could be enlarged 20 times for analysis.
Upon retirement, SR-71 61-7972 was donated to the Smithsonian Institute and in a farewell flight, flew from Los Angeles to Washington DC in 64 minutes.
The March Field Air Museum's SR71 61-7975 completed over 82 reconnaissance missions in Vietnam. During Linebacker II in December 1972 our SR71 performed one of the most important missions: flying over targets exactly when 60 B52's would drop their bombs. By doing this they were able to provide additional ECM coverage to protect the bombers and take reconnaissance photos. The pictures revealed unknown enemy emitters that were responsible for B52 losses. In 1987 our SR71 flew an 11-hour mission over Iran searching for unfriendly missiles overlooking the Gulf of Hormuz. Their revelation enabled a warning to the U.S. Navy and neighboring countries.
The SR71 proved itself to be a valuable asset to the United States and a technological masterpiece. It was a thoroughbred; however, the $30,000 per hour price tag became too expensive to operate and the SR71 program was canceled in 1990.
In 1995 the SR71's talents were needed once again and the program re-activated. Two blackbirds were returned to active duty at Beale AFB, simply to once again be chopped on the defense budget and canceled again. The aircraft were retired again in 1997.
On 28 February 1990, 61-7975 flew from Beale AFB to March AFB and retired. It was delivered to the Air Force in 1967 and finished her career with 2854 flight hours, 743.4 hours at Mach 3 speed.
In February 2000, 10 years after her last flight, 61-7975 was restored. During the restoration it was discovered that the left rudder had once been on a sister SR71, 61-7978. This SR71 wore the famous Playboy bunny and was named Rapid Rab. In 1972 during a landing mishap, 61-7978 was damaged beyond repair. Her crew safely escaped and the salvaged parts were removed to be used on other operational blackbirds. Now the museum proudly displays one more piece of history, the tail shadow of 61-7978.
Today the blackbird rests in the sunny skies of California and breaking the sound barrier is just a memory.
Specifications:
First Flight: December 1964
First Operational Use: March 1968
Wingspan: 557
Length: 1075
Height: 186
Engines: Two Pratt & Whitney J58 continuous after-burning turbojets with 32,500 lb maximum thrust each
Publicized Max. Speed: 3.5 mach (2,310 mph)
Take-off speed: 200 knots
Landing speed: 150-155 knots. Uses a drag chute to stop.
Service Ceiling: 88,000 ft plus
Max. Range: 2,982 miles un-refueled (has flown 18,000 mile missions with in-flight refueling)
Weight: 170,000 lb max weight
Crew: 2
Cost: $24.616 million in 1972
Total Built: 32
Number Lost: 12(accidents)
Number in Museums: (as of 1999) 14
References:
The US War Machine, 1983. Ray Bond.
Arsenal of Democracy II, 1981. Tom Gervasi.
March Field Museum Literature.
Lockheed SR71, 1993, Paul Crickmore
SR71 in Action, Signal Publications
Flight magazine, Feb 2000
Airpower magazine
