Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird

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The Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird is a supersonic long range reconnaissance aircraft that was developed from the Lockheed YF-12. When this was being developed it was classified as a top secret project and was undertaken by the now well know Lockheed Skunk Works. The SR-71 featured many advanced technologies and concepts that were primarily designed by Clarence Kelly Johnson. The aircraft set top speed records over Mach 3 when it first flew in the mid 1960s and these records still stand some 40 years later. This is a true testament to just how far ahead of the curve Lockheed Skunk Works was when developing the Blackbird. The supersonic aircraft was designed to fly at altitudes as high as 80,000 feet and with its dark coloring it was difficult to detect from the ground. The Blackbirds main defense was speed, as it was able to outrun just about any weapon that was fired upon it. There are documented cases where it accelerated to speeds above Mach 3 when a ground to air missile was fired at it and it was able to simply outrun the missile. Another impressive feature of the SR-71 is the fact that it is one of very few, if any, aircraft that was able to improve fuel efficiency the faster it flew. This was discovered by accident when on a reconnaissance mission pilots where fired at and had to fly at Mach 3+. After flying at this speed for a while to ensure they had outrun the missile the pilots discovered that they had actually used less fuel to cover the same distance as compared to flying at lower speeds. The SR-71 was also the first aircraft to employ stealth technologies in order to reduce the aircraft’s radar cross signature to help avoid detection by enemy forces. When compared to current stealth aircraft the SR-71 features many similarities in the visual characteristics and design elements found on both types of aircraft.

Design
The SR-71 Blackbird features an overall design that was completely unique when it was developed and has never been replicated. The extensive engineering that went into developing this aircraft is astounding, especially when you take into consideration the fact that computers were of limited use at the time. There were significant challenges faced by those designing the aircraft because of the high speed and high altitude at which the aircraft flew. The high speeds at which the SR-71 was to fly at were going to result in extremely high temperatures due to friction and other factors. To counter this the SR-71 was designed to be manufactured with a titanium airframe, which would withstand the stresses exerted as a result of these extreme conditions. The titanium was ironically bought from the USSR and to reduce suspicions they used many cover companies and elaborate stories to explain why the titanium was needed. The SR-71 utilized JP-7 fuel for a variety of reasons and with its high flash temperature it was also utilized as a coolant for the avionics. This process actually heated the JP-7 fuel to a higher temperature for better ignition. Another unique design element found on the Blackbird is the cone shaped “spike” at the front of each engine. These “spikes” actually had a significant role in helping the engines to perform at high speeds. They altered the extremely high pressure created when flying at such high speed and allowed the engines to function normally under these extreme conditions. The Blackbird was also one of the first aircraft to feature the use of chines around the nose and front portion of the fuselage. These chines were initially used to reduce the aircraft’s radar cross section, but it was later discovered that they also offered numerous aerodynamic advantages. They allowed for greater maneuverability, increased payload capacity, reduced landing speed, and other benefits. While there are certainly many other noteworthy design elements found on the SR-71 Blackbird, those found above are some of the most notable and they were far ahead of their time when introduced.

Development
The SR-71 was designed as a replacement for the U-2 after it was shot down over the USSR and it was obvious that the low speed of the U-2 was unacceptable for a reconnaissance aircraft. While the SR-71 was flown by the USAF it was actually developed for use by the CIA, as was the U-2. The initial models of the SR-71 were known as the A-12 while being designed by Clarence Johnson for Lockheed Skunk Works. The A-12 was first flown in Area 51 in April of 1962 and there were a total of thirteen A-12s built. The A-12 also flew missions over North Korea and Vietnam before they were retired a short while later in 1968. The A-12 evolved into the SR-71 with the first flight of the new Blackbird taking place on December 22, 1964. The existence of the newly designed aircraft was confirmed by President Johnson as a result of political pressure on July 25, 1964. Those at Lockheed Skunk Works where shocked at the announcement because all aspects of the program were deemed top secret when the president revealed the project. After it was confirmed to exist there were a total of 32 SR-71 Blackbirds built and they operated up until the official retirement in 1998. With the introduction of advanced satellite capabilities, as well as advanced UAVs, there was no need for an advanced reconnaissance aircraft thus ending the impressive reign of the SR-71 Blackbird.