The SR-71 was the most extraordinary aircraft ever flown, and it first flew in 1964, only 19 years after WW 2.
Lugwho · 61-69, M
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SomeMichGuy · M
@Bumbles @Lugwho
Lockheed actually had a lot of problems working with Ti. Some issues are recorded here
https://wisconsinmetaltech.com/titanium-and-the-sr-71/
https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/news/features/history/blackbird.html
Something I remember reading about years ago is referred to in the first reference:
I remember reading that the bolts would actually fall out! As a result of this issue, they made tools out of Ti in order to work on the Ti plane.
Lockheed actually had a lot of problems working with Ti. Some issues are recorded here
https://wisconsinmetaltech.com/titanium-and-the-sr-71/
https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/news/features/history/blackbird.html
Something I remember reading about years ago is referred to in the first reference:
They discovered that their cadmium plated tools were leaving trace amounts of cadmium on bolts, which would cause galvanic corrosion and cause the bolts to fail. This discovery led to all cadmium tools to be removed from the workshop.
I remember reading that the bolts would actually fall out! As a result of this issue, they made tools out of Ti in order to work on the Ti plane.
SomeMichGuy · M
SandWitch · 26-30, F
@SomeMichGuy
The fact that they wore pressurized suits is irrelevant. At 85,000 feet, if the aircraft depressurized it would cause blood to boil within 10 seconds because the atmospheric pressure/air density is so extremely low. Additionally, time of useful consciousness would be as low as 3 seconds if the aircraft depressurized and the pilots weren't breathing 100% oxygen, so wearing pressurized suits was mandatory only because that altitude within our atmosphere (which is not in space) is otherwise completely uninhabitable.
Even the Concord passenger jet flew as high as 60,000 feet but no higher, simply because it was not practical for passengers to be wearing pressurized suits should the aircraft have depressurized, therefore their altitude was restricted to a max of 60,000 feet.
Additionally, the Concord didn't have the power to climb to 85,000 feet like the SR71 did, but then again, there was no reason for a passenger jet to be flying at 85,000 feet either.
To even suggest that the SR71 was on the edge of space is like saying the USA is near the shoreline of Australia. That's the most accurate earth-based analogy that I can offer you as a comparison to the reality of what the SR71 was really all about.
The fact that they wore pressurized suits is irrelevant. At 85,000 feet, if the aircraft depressurized it would cause blood to boil within 10 seconds because the atmospheric pressure/air density is so extremely low. Additionally, time of useful consciousness would be as low as 3 seconds if the aircraft depressurized and the pilots weren't breathing 100% oxygen, so wearing pressurized suits was mandatory only because that altitude within our atmosphere (which is not in space) is otherwise completely uninhabitable.
Even the Concord passenger jet flew as high as 60,000 feet but no higher, simply because it was not practical for passengers to be wearing pressurized suits should the aircraft have depressurized, therefore their altitude was restricted to a max of 60,000 feet.
Additionally, the Concord didn't have the power to climb to 85,000 feet like the SR71 did, but then again, there was no reason for a passenger jet to be flying at 85,000 feet either.
To even suggest that the SR71 was on the edge of space is like saying the USA is near the shoreline of Australia. That's the most accurate earth-based analogy that I can offer you as a comparison to the reality of what the SR71 was really all about.
SomeMichGuy · M
@SandWitch They didn't wear just any pressurized suits, but you'd have to actually read the info from a guy who flew one.
smh
smh
SandWitch · 26-30, F
@SomeMichGuy
Pressure suits as they're called, are irrelevant to this discussion. I've already told you that once and now I'm reminding you of that again. If you understood anything about high altitude flight, you'd understand what the upper atmosphere does to the human body long before the issue of 'space' even needs to be addressed.
Commercial aircraft themselves are pressurized for exactly the same reason that the SR71 pilots wore pressure suits. The SR71 may have been partially pressurized itself, but if that pressurization failed at high altitude, the pilots would have to remain within a pressure suit to ensure their own survival beyond 5 seconds of aircraft decompression, even at only 35,000 feet!
SR71 pilots never once achieved 'astronaut' status at any time in it's history, not even during test flights. The aircraft simply wasn't capable of flying that high!
Pressure suits as they're called, are irrelevant to this discussion. I've already told you that once and now I'm reminding you of that again. If you understood anything about high altitude flight, you'd understand what the upper atmosphere does to the human body long before the issue of 'space' even needs to be addressed.
Commercial aircraft themselves are pressurized for exactly the same reason that the SR71 pilots wore pressure suits. The SR71 may have been partially pressurized itself, but if that pressurization failed at high altitude, the pilots would have to remain within a pressure suit to ensure their own survival beyond 5 seconds of aircraft decompression, even at only 35,000 feet!
SR71 pilots never once achieved 'astronaut' status at any time in it's history, not even during test flights. The aircraft simply wasn't capable of flying that high!
Harmonium1923 · 51-55, M
I saw one at the air and space museum in the DC area. It’s astonishing. I love the story about how when they decided to put it in the museum the plane was in California so they had to fly it back. So they said, what the hell, let’s go for a new cross-country speed record for a fixed wing aircraft. They flew it there in an hour! That’s a great way to go out!
EarthGirl · 18-21, F
What made the black scratches?
