How Fast? by bmac62
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Description
...there's always been speculation among enthusiasts about how fast the SR-71 Blackbird (center of picture) really could fly.
...during the Cold War, every time the Soviet Union attempted to set a new world speed record with one of their latest jet planes, the US Air Force would roll out an SR-71 and break the record just set by the USSR.
...the US Air Force only admitted to a speed in excess of Mach 3.0 (2283 mph)(3674 km/h)
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So here's the definitive answer for those of you who want to add a little more trivia to your already full minds;-)
The fastest published speed of the SR is Mach 3.5. There are several factors that limit the speed of the SR, one is the shock waves generated by various parts of the plane, at around Mach 3.6- 3.8 the shock wave off the nose of the aircraft narrows enough to go into the engine, while there is the inlet spike (which slows the air to subsonic before it enters the engine), the shock wave bypasses the spike and causes the engine to unstart.
Second is the heat generated by the plane moving through the atmosphere, even titanium has it's limits, and the heat generated by the SR brings the fuselage to the brink. Just recently I found out that during a Lockheed Skunk Works study to see how much money and development it would take to get the SR to go faster than it's designed top speed 3.2- 3.5, the designers discovered (among other things) that the metal divider between the windshield was heating up so much above mach 3.5 that it was affecting the integrity of the windshield, and at that point they had stretched the glass technology to the max! So Mach 3.2 to a max of 3.5.
Now according to Richard Graham: "The design Mach number of the SR-71 is 3.2 Mach. When authorized by the Commander, speeds up to Mach 3.3 may be flown if the CIT limit of 427 degrees C. is not exceeded. I have heard of crews reaching 3.5 Mach inadvertently, but that is the absolute maximum I am aware of." (Graham obviously making his remarks during the time the SR-71 was in use).
Bill
P.S. The SR-71 flew operationally from 1964 to 1998. The picture above is in the main gallery of the Boeing Museum of Flight in Seattle, Washington.
"What I Saw"
Comments (32)
She's a beauty that much is certain, we will never know what it is like unless going in the cockpit and witnessing it. I have learned in my time to say "Figures schmigures." When push comes to shove, the pilot is the final arbiter :} Great shot and PP Bill.
This is some aircraft Bill. A great shot and wonderful info.
With that needle-like shape and all,it does look like it sure can move.A fine shot of this aircraft.
Oh my. I was about to guess Mach 3, but 3.8 is another story! The cockpit looks VERY small and cramped. Only the pilot as crew, or one more? It's beautiful, sleek. I wonder how well the crew fared at Mach 3.8? Already at Mach 1 the body starts having problems (you would know more about that from experience than I). It it were to be pushed further, I suspect it would need ceramic blocks on its surface (like the space shuttle) to withstand the heat generated, and THAT would cut the speed significantly (more weight, and drag). It would be fun to take a ride at Mach 2, but I think I'll pass on anything higher. Do you have more photos of this fantastic plane? It would be fun to see them. Keep up the good work! :-)
Love the look of this with that filter!
superb piece of engineering
other than the X-15, this is the only other craft that held my attention when I was a teen! Great capture and information Bill
marvelous
I really like this aircraft, but for some strange reason I've always liked looking at it from the back, those huge engines and offset forked tail....looks more like a spaceship.Then again it is more spaceship than aircraft, the speed is impressive but the 'ceiling' 'aint too shoddy either :-) Like the post work on this too.....cheers Bill..
Nicely done! I'm with Andrea ... I really like your postwork!
Great "portrait" of one of my all-time favs! Rex, the SR-71 had a crew of two. If you think the cockpit looks cramped... bear in mind they had to wear fully-sealed pressure suits! I may be mis-remembering, but Blackbird crew qualified for astronaut wings due to her extreme altitudes.
Ah yes, one of the most awesome machines ever to take to the air... and has a similar degree of mystery around performance as one of my other fav's, the EE Lightning. Fascinating to read the attached story, and a great photo...
Great capture of this amazing plane Bill! Very interesting info!
Really, really, really fast..... Zip! What was that? An SR-71.... Great shot of this beauty, Bill! One of the most beautiful and incredible aircraft ever created, IMHO!
Seen one of these in Lincoln once right before they put it in the hanger.Very cool.
wonderful
Neat capture Bill and some info I hadn't heard before. I was fortunate enough to see an operational SR-71 on the ground at Nellis AFB in April 1997 and another one doing a fly-by in celebration of the Air Force's 50th anniversary that year. In 1997 they were already retired by the Air Force, but a few were still used by NASA for research purposes, so they said. They flew out of Edwards. I also read that only the Air Force- and the Lockheed 'Skunk Works' really know to top speed. Amongst the people that worked on them, they were known to leak fuel while on the ground and cold, and, when flying they expanded by one foot in length. That Clarence Kelly was one hell of a guy, he designed the plane, and then they had to develop material to build it!
Very interesting information Bill! I also like the phrase "and causes the engine to unstart."
Bill this thing just LOOKS fast lol I know Nada about these but impressive for sure! Great shot!
Beautifully streamline!!
Superb capture Bill. God Bless.
Not very when it's stuck on those traffic cones Bill. Seriously though, this is one of those aircraft that looks like it's doing Mach 3 even when it's standing still. Gotta agree with Neil, it's the engines on this that stand out for me.
WOW! It looks like it could CUT itself through the air :-D Pity we cant se its wings.... if it has any :D Beautiful capture.
A really great aircraft, there is one at Duxford and it did fly in! I'd loved to have seen that lol Of course like many 'top spec' aircraft, it leaked like a sieve Drip trays a must, the Lightning was the same, leaked hugely.. That of course being the only aircraft to catch both the U2 and the SR in intercept.. Would it do it every time....doubtful!!!! lol Impressive! Very very impressive and it should still be in service! Rob
wusssshhhhh! pretty fast and cool pic!
I can't even begin to imagine that kind of speed. I do much better on the ground :} Wonderful capture of this speed demon, and I agree the postwork is fantastic!
Love the postwork!
Cool image!!!
I saw this and immediately imagined that this is the inspiration for the plane in the cinematic version of The X-Men, and I gotta say that Halle Berry (in a snow white wig does make a rather sexy pilot, if you ask me.) Hmmm...Halle Berry fling this puppy is a photo op I'd PAY to enjoy. Anyway...enough of that. What a shot! I have yet to photograph anything that flies, unless it's an insect, and that's something I'll have to rectify soon. I love the POV in this shot and the wonderful contrast of the USAir passenger carrier in the background, almost like a displaced shuttlecraft that's docked in the wrong bay by accident. This is a gorgeous shot and I'm glad I saw it. As you can see, I have a lot of catching up to do, but when I get my laptop back (and move, again) that'll happen at full speed.
very interesting information Bill and what a blast it must have been to see it in person.I envy your trip there