These SR-71 Blackbirds
Discussion
Here are some A-12s others I've seen.
Two-seater trainer at the California Science Center in LA:
A-12 by Dr Gitlin, on Flickr
A-12 by Dr Gitlin, on Flickr
A-12 at the San Diego Air and Space Museum which is in really bad condition:
Air and Space Museum, San Diego by Dr Gitlin, on Flickr
Better shot of the Smithsonian SR-71, from a previous visit:
Udvar-Hazy Smithsonian Annex by Dr Gitlin, on Flickr
Gloomy shot of the SR-71 at the USAF museum in Dayton, OH (it's very dark in there but it's a must-visit, IMO. Has a B-36, B-52, B1, B2, you name it it's there).
USAF Museum, Wright Patterson AFB by Dr Gitlin, on Flickr
Interesting links about the Blackbirds that people may or may not know about:
RoadRunners Internationale: http://www.roadrunnersinternationale.com/
Former pilots and crew share their stories. A great way to waste several hours.
The CIA declassified their OXCART files:
http://www.foia.cia.gov/collection/12-oxcart-recon...
http://www.foia.cia.gov/sites/default/files/DOC_00...
And they also published a monograph on the plane:
https://www.cia.gov/library/center-for-the-study-o... (there's also a PDF version, https://www.cia.gov/library/center-for-the-study-o...
Two-seater trainer at the California Science Center in LA:
A-12 by Dr Gitlin, on Flickr
A-12 by Dr Gitlin, on Flickr
A-12 at the San Diego Air and Space Museum which is in really bad condition:
Air and Space Museum, San Diego by Dr Gitlin, on Flickr
Better shot of the Smithsonian SR-71, from a previous visit:
Udvar-Hazy Smithsonian Annex by Dr Gitlin, on Flickr
Gloomy shot of the SR-71 at the USAF museum in Dayton, OH (it's very dark in there but it's a must-visit, IMO. Has a B-36, B-52, B1, B2, you name it it's there).
USAF Museum, Wright Patterson AFB by Dr Gitlin, on Flickr
Interesting links about the Blackbirds that people may or may not know about:
RoadRunners Internationale: http://www.roadrunnersinternationale.com/
Former pilots and crew share their stories. A great way to waste several hours.
The CIA declassified their OXCART files:
http://www.foia.cia.gov/collection/12-oxcart-recon...
http://www.foia.cia.gov/sites/default/files/DOC_00...
And they also published a monograph on the plane:
https://www.cia.gov/library/center-for-the-study-o... (there's also a PDF version, https://www.cia.gov/library/center-for-the-study-o...
Blackbird fans, just found these animated gifs on the old interweb. Apparently of one of the NASA aircraft overflying the tower at Dryden. It looks like an un-start in the second gif, then she clears her throat and is back on song.
Edit found the Youtube video of these:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3iXfUzbKOXA
Edit found the Youtube video of these:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3iXfUzbKOXA
Edited by rufusruffcutt on Thursday 29th May 11:28
rufusruffcutt said:
Blackbird fans, just found these animated gifs on the old interweb. Apparently of one of the NASA aircraft overflying the tower at Dryden. It looks like an un-start in the second gif, then she clears her throat and is back on song.
The vids were on the old Dryden web site in various sizes sans sound. That site has changed so not looked for a while.Edit. Here they are. Follow your nose, they have SR71 and the project further down YF-12
http://www.dfrc.nasa.gov/Gallery/Movie/index.html
Edit 2. Damn, getting lost in that link again. If you want fast......
http://www.dfrc.nasa.gov/Gallery/Movie/X-15/HTML/E...
Edited by jmorgan on Thursday 29th May 11:31
Edited by jmorgan on Thursday 29th May 11:39
rufusruffcutt said:
Blackbird fans, just found these animated gifs on the old interweb. Apparently of one of the NASA aircraft overflying the tower at Dryden. It looks like an un-start in the second gif, then she clears her throat and is back on song.
The SR-71 that displayed at Mildenhall back in 1986 did the same thing on a steep banked flypast - and made a terrific series of bangs when it did.There might be a vid somewhere on youtube (but was a long time ago)
Found a still though from it on t'web.
The flames come from the "afterburner" initialising sequence! To get the low volatility "high temperature" fuel to ignite reliably in the afterburner secton, the engine uses triethylborane (TEB), a compound that spontaneously ignites in the presence of oxygen. When the throttles are pushed up from full "dry" power, through into the minimum "afterburner" position, the system injects TEB into the flame holders of the afterburner section, which then ignites the fuel. But, because the system is mechanical basically, it always has to ensure the afterburner fuel flow is started first. Under some G loadings, that afterburner fuel flow can pool in the front section of the flame holder, and when subsequently "Lit" by the TEB, it gets pushed out the back as a large sheet of relatively low temperature orange flame!!
In those videos, the pilot has just pushed into afterburner, as the g load start to slow the aircraft in those tight banks. (and no doubt to give the watching audience the full J-58 treatment ;-)
Remember, the SR-71 has a relatively low dynamic loading capability, as it was designed as a stable high altitude recon platform, so most of it's systems were not really rated for pulling "g" ;-)
In those videos, the pilot has just pushed into afterburner, as the g load start to slow the aircraft in those tight banks. (and no doubt to give the watching audience the full J-58 treatment ;-)
Remember, the SR-71 has a relatively low dynamic loading capability, as it was designed as a stable high altitude recon platform, so most of it's systems were not really rated for pulling "g" ;-)
Max_Torque said:
The flames come from the "afterburner" initialising sequence! To get the low volatility "high temperature" fuel to ignite reliably in the afterburner secton, the engine uses triethylborane (TEB), a compound that spontaneously ignites in the presence of oxygen. When the throttles are pushed up from full "dry" power, through into the minimum "afterburner" position, the system injects TEB into the flame holders of the afterburner section, which then ignites the fuel. But, because the system is mechanical basically, it always has to ensure the afterburner fuel flow is started first. Under some G loadings, that afterburner fuel flow can pool in the front section of the flame holder, and when subsequently "Lit" by the TEB, it gets pushed out the back as a large sheet of relatively low temperature orange flame!!
In those videos, the pilot has just pushed into afterburner, as the g load start to slow the aircraft in those tight banks. (and no doubt to give the watching audience the full J-58 treatment ;-)
Remember, the SR-71 has a relatively low dynamic loading capability, as it was designed as a stable high altitude recon platform, so most of it's systems were not really rated for pulling "g" ;-)
We were at the D-Day event at Duxford on Sunday and there were talks by an old engineer(?) who worked on the SR-71 about them. He was telling us about the TEB. Sounds like real nasty stuff!In those videos, the pilot has just pushed into afterburner, as the g load start to slow the aircraft in those tight banks. (and no doubt to give the watching audience the full J-58 treatment ;-)
Remember, the SR-71 has a relatively low dynamic loading capability, as it was designed as a stable high altitude recon platform, so most of it's systems were not really rated for pulling "g" ;-)
Max_Torque said:
The flames come from the "afterburner" initialising sequence! To get the low volatility "high temperature" fuel to ignite reliably in the afterburner secton, the engine uses triethylborane (TEB), a compound that spontaneously ignites in the presence of oxygen. When the throttles are pushed up from full "dry" power, through into the minimum "afterburner" position, the system injects TEB into the flame holders of the afterburner section, which then ignites the fuel. But, because the system is mechanical basically, it always has to ensure the afterburner fuel flow is started first. Under some G loadings, that afterburner fuel flow can pool in the front section of the flame holder, and when subsequently "Lit" by the TEB, it gets pushed out the back as a large sheet of relatively low temperature orange flame!!
In those videos, the pilot has just pushed into afterburner, as the g load start to slow the aircraft in those tight banks. (and no doubt to give the watching audience the full J-58 treatment ;-)
Remember, the SR-71 has a relatively low dynamic loading capability, as it was designed as a stable high altitude recon platform, so most of it's systems were not really rated for pulling "g" ;-)
One was irreparably 'bent' by a pilot being a bit over enthusiastic with the 'G' at Mildenhall in 1987.In those videos, the pilot has just pushed into afterburner, as the g load start to slow the aircraft in those tight banks. (and no doubt to give the watching audience the full J-58 treatment ;-)
Remember, the SR-71 has a relatively low dynamic loading capability, as it was designed as a stable high altitude recon platform, so most of it's systems were not really rated for pulling "g" ;-)
Tango13 said:
One was irreparably 'bent' by a pilot being a bit over enthusiastic with the 'G' at Mildenhall in 1987.
It might be on this film then...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DTrpe04zJU
Col. Richard Graham did an AMA on Reddit last night - https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/2k06jn/iama...
Picked up two books by Richard Graham at Duxford, he was signing them as well. Not read them yet but they sound good listening to the authors description.
One is a selection of memoirs from various involved and the other is how to fly one (yeah, I know.....)
Edit
This one
clicky
And this one
One is a selection of memoirs from various involved and the other is how to fly one (yeah, I know.....)
Edit
This one
clicky
And this one
Edited by jmorgan on Friday 31st October 06:31
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