Still one of the most impressive planes I know. It has to be fuelled in flight because before heat expansion closes the gaps between all metal parts, the fuel tanks would leak their contents. So you take off with just enough fuel to reach the tanker.
i have heard of the fuel leaking at takeoff thing, but it doesn't make sense to me why that would mean the plane would be fueled just enough to takeoff. if it leaks, it leaks. unless a full fuel tank caused a major increase in the leakage, seems to me you would just fill it up. (although i did see the less than full tank seems to be due to the weight and tire issue at takeoff explained in the other comments.)
The original article, from July of 2017, can be found on Task and Purpose. While it still has a lot of advertising, at least there isn't a big popup telling you to disable your ad-blocker.
Here’s a first-hand unverified heresay report from a grey-beard who worked for Tektronix back in the day: on assignment he drove out to China Lake for some high level troubleshooting, his vehicle came to a large gated facility and upon reaching the inner gate, he noticed a fleet of SR-71s, all with the same tail numbers. He was quickly escorted off the premesis and sent packing.
This is the same guy who personally claims we were actively experimenting with directed energy weapons using the San Onofre nuclear plant and that he personally saw the damaged tail of another YF12/SR-71 that had been hit by a Russian laser weapon.
"In this episode we discuss the world's fastest and highest flying jet-powered aircraft ever built, the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird. Our guest is Col. (Ret) Richard Graham, a former SR-71 pilot. Our conversation is loosely based on his book Flying the SR-71, and we discuss the challenge of flying the SR-71. As a consequence of its unique capabilities and its engine and inlet design, the aircraft posed a number of very specific challenges on the pilot."
I adored this plane in middle school (roughly around the time when the X-men were rolling around in one), but the body style, it's speed, everything about it just screamed mystery and power.
It doesn't have the same appeal to me now, but I still think it was such an elegant design in comparison to the stealth bomber.
21 comments
[ 3.7 ms ] story [ 55.6 ms ] threadhttps://m.youtube.com/watch?v=MGdxpqqsHl8
(Well worth watching the whole thing!)
The planes definitely leaked at low temp eg on the apron but not much at all; just a few drips.
The problem was the tires were gonna burst if you aborted a takeoff with a full fuel load and had to land immediately. It was a weight problem.
Murray takes about it at length and even says he has a tire at home in the garage.
He also hands around other bits of the plane so people can see the honeycomb etc.
1. leaking
2. taking off without a full load of fuel
It makes sense for the first to be thermal expansion issues, and the second to be tire pressure issues.
https://taskandpurpose.com/sr-71-blackbird-rare-video/
Mods, maybe we could update the link and throw a (2017) on this?
Screw that. Here are the direct links to the Youtube videos embedded in the "article".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIPOVuJrOF0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5SwyJTJagq8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJ3kJbv3oVI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ol7Tcza6wi0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxGbmAtfaX8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKNS4DTj3io https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrhJ3vFD3fE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJ-XDNl8u_4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w61qCsDg7II https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USsKznwIQxI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwnRQKZh9Ec https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpHiGQQZ2bM
This is the same guy who personally claims we were actively experimenting with directed energy weapons using the San Onofre nuclear plant and that he personally saw the damaged tail of another YF12/SR-71 that had been hit by a Russian laser weapon.
http://omegataupodcast.net/91-flying-the-sr-71/
Episode 091 – Flying the SR-71 Blackbird (March 31, 2012, 7:27 PM)
"In this episode we discuss the world's fastest and highest flying jet-powered aircraft ever built, the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird. Our guest is Col. (Ret) Richard Graham, a former SR-71 pilot. Our conversation is loosely based on his book Flying the SR-71, and we discuss the challenge of flying the SR-71. As a consequence of its unique capabilities and its engine and inlet design, the aircraft posed a number of very specific challenges on the pilot."
Father was U2 pilot
It doesn't have the same appeal to me now, but I still think it was such an elegant design in comparison to the stealth bomber.