Leland Haynes passed away on November 26, 2010. Many of us former Air Force members had a chance to work with MSgt Haynes and the SR-71 at Beale AFB, CA and operating locations around the globe. RIP HABU buddy.
Amazing when the JP-7 and TEB (triethylborane) come into contact to make that green-hued explosion of ignition for engine lightoff (and afterburner ignition on takeoff roll and during other parts of the flight profile).
That $64 million in 1965 US Dollars is $471 million in today's "Obama bucks". Each of these airplanes was a national treasure. Only about 150 pilots were ever qualified in the aircraft (both flight test and mission ready crews).
When released, the drone could not break through the shock wave wall of the MD-21. It basically bounced off the shock wave and back down unto the MD-21 essentially cutting it in half (with the assistance of the very high dynamic pressures involved at mach 3). They had performed this same routine many times in a .9 dive but never in level flight. This flight marked the end of the program. It was called off by the narrarator of this video - Kelly Johnson - the designer of the beautiful P-51.
This and the A-10 Thunderbolt are the most beautiful aircraft ever constructed, IMHO. Very 'purpose-oriented'. In a perfect universe I'd get to go (and be able to physically and mentally handle) a flight in one of these. Obviously never, ever going to happen.
@Nickomfacc at mach 3, if something pushes the back of the plane down and the nose goes up, the sheer force of resistance will break up the plane... What a beautiful aircraft...
and us swedes are the only ones who have ever had a lock-on on this using a Viggen plane :D The US army was sop impressed that they actually congrated the swedish army
@JetMechMA the problem i heard on a doc was they didn't keep the molds for the parts so they have to scrap some to keep the others going, but when they run out of parts.
They both survived the ejection and landed on sea, but Ray Torick opened his helmet visor by mistake and his suit filled up with water which caused him to drown.
Man I love that plane. was always my favorite. It used to be the fastest manned plane in the world till the X-15 came out going over Mach 6. But the Blackbird is still my all time favorite.
@abc123xyz51 It was a design selection that was deliberate. Like synclavier said, they had their reasons, and that would be the heat from the friction causing the metal to expand and cover those leaks in-flight. I've also heard (but have not gotten confirmed), that the friction would damage or crack the aircrafts body, but would re-seal itself like it was it's own welder. Interesting eh?
@evyjon They make the shocks that form during supersonic flight happen at just the right point of the inlet so that the engine can get the right amount of airflow without being destroyed. The spikes are actually movable to deal with different airspeeds.
