SR-71 Blackbird

**deathgodusmc** · 05-15-09, 03:32 PM

LOL you labeled them tail and nose just in case someone couldn't figure out which way it flew.

**Consultant** · 05-15-09, 03:41 PM

Is that dust all over the plane?

And can somebody explain to me the fuel leaking?

**Captain Coors** · 05-15-09, 03:48 PM

From what I understand the fuel leaks because the tanks\seals are designed to expand as the plane heats up, so after it takes off and heats up everything seals itself up. If they were sealed at start they would bust open with the extreme heat. I think the aircraft would usually midair refuel to replenish what was lost on takeoff,

**deathgodusmc** · 05-15-09, 03:50 PM

Consultant this bird is meant for high altitude flying at speeds over mach 3. Doing this creates extreme heat which causes the skin of the bird to exspand. So to compinsate for this it had to be made with gaps at every seem. That is where the fuels leaks from.

**LewTeNantDan** · 05-15-09, 03:52 PM

Originally Posted by Glitch

We have one in the Kansas Cosmosphere in Hutchinson Ks., about 90 min from me, that you can walk up and touch. Give me chills every time I go see it.

Tail

Nose
[img width=700 height=609]http://www.skunkmountain.com/pictures_2005/sr71.jpg[/img]

I have seen and touched this exact one. The SR-71 has been my favorite jet for years now. Too bad they retired it along with the tomcat.

**MotoZ** · 05-15-09, 03:57 PM

Originally Posted by Captain Coors

From what I understand the fuel leaks because the tanks\seals are designed to expand as the plane heats up, so after it takes off and heats up everything seals itself up. If they were sealed at start they would bust open with the extreme heat. I think the aircraft would usually midair refuel to replenish what was lost on takeoff,

Exactly.

The cockpit cooling system also used the fuel as a coolant to reduce weight and increase fuel volume. Nothing like going Mach 5 while being wrapped in fuel. That's ubermachismo.

**deathgodusmc** · 05-15-09, 04:07 PM

Funniest thing about the blackbird to me is it's retired and been around since what the 50's. Nothing has been able to match its speed capabilities short of the space shuttle.