It is intended to conduct special reconnaissance from great heights at supersonic speeds of vast territories in the rear of the enemy. Yet 29 February 1964 g. President L. Johnson announced, US Air Force hold a new high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft, which he identified as A-12. The President asserted, that this unit was flown at speeds, exceeding 3219 kmh, and at altitudes above 21335 m. Even now, little is known specifically about this plane, but there are suspicions, that he was a descendant of the fighter-interceptor with a delta wing of the company «Lockheed» YF-12A. Plane A-12 and the subsequent embodiment YF-12A provided the basis for the scout SR-71A "Blackbird", which used US Air Force Strategic Air.
Scout SR-71 Blackbird – video
Double plane SR-71A was made primarily of titanium, to increase the strength of the airframe heating under kinetic (at speeds, exceeding 3 M (eg, Some structural elements are heated to 3000 degrees). Due to the fact that the air resistance increases considerably with increasing speed, the most thin fuselage were taken and delta wing, along with large "influx" in front of the fuselage, creating lift and prevents tightening of the aircraft into a dive with increasing speed. Two continuously operating turbojet Pratt & Whitney J58 is a major part of combined power plant. These engines provide full thrust at low speeds. However, at a rate 3 M they created only 18% thrust, and the remaining part was provided ramjet engine.
Ordered to replace the high-altitude strategic reconnaissance Lockheed U-2, plane SR-71A «Blackbird» first took to the air 22 December 1964 g. In January 1966 g. He was commissioned as the first aircraft the US Air Force. possessing speed 3 M. The aircraft was manufactured in series in 1966-1967. It is believed, that the production of these machines should have had a total of thirty-two two-seater, including two of training. SR-71B and one SR-71 C, which differ from the original shape of altered Cockpit (elevated rear seat) and the presence of the keel by the engine nacelles. Airplane SR-71A made by "tailless" scheme with a wing, smoothly mating with the fuselage. The aircraft has a blue-black color, which gives the surface a high heat radiating ability (0,93).
SR-71A "Blackbird" is equipped with an automatic flight control system with a three-channel redundancy scheme, which consists of a system to improve the stability of the three axes, autopilot and balancing systems according to the number M. Aircraft equipment includes a navigation system astroinertial, providing automatic tracking of the selected star in the daytime, and air data computer.
The five main compartments of the forward fuselage housed optoelectronic (TREAT) and radiotehnicheskaya (COMINT) reconnaissance equipment, composed: laser system, short focus panoramic aerial camera with a focal length 610 mm, aerial camera for long focus side perspective LOROP type shooting with a lens of focal length 1680 mm resolution 76 cm at a range of 96 km. These tools allow for one flight to prospect an area 259000 km2 with the height 24400 m. The aircraft is also equipped with electronic warfare system with passive and active means. Crew SR-71 aircraft pilot consists of (on front seat) and intelligence equipment operator, which can serve as the second pilot if necessary, engineer or navigator.
TO 1988 g. in working condition were only 6 Aircraft SR-71, and in November 1989 g. They were decommissioned. The official ceremony of write-off took place in January 1990 city, the remaining aircraft were distributed as a sentinel at the air bases. Two aircraft entered the Air Force Museum at the air base Wright-Patterson and the Smithsonian Museum of Aeronautics in Washington.
Thanks to its flight characteristics, plane SR-71 has received confirmation from the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (DO) on record flights New York - Farnborough in September 1974 g. (for a fantastic time: 1 time 55 minutes and 42 seconds) and (a few days later) return flight to London - Los Angeles (3 o'clock 47 minutes and 39 seconds). In conclusion 6 Martha 1990 g. Plane SR-71, intended for the Smithsonian Institution, I set another record, He flew from Los Angeles (California) in Washington 64 minutes and 5 seconds with an average speed 2153 miles at a time.
Surprise at the sudden cancellation of "Blackbird" aircraft decreased with an increase in references to the new and not yet received the designation of high-speed aircraft, which may be the successor model SR-71. This "black" aircraft, is the development of the company "Lockheed" and received the code name "Aurora", It was seen flying at high supersonic speed with a characteristic sound "wave" of Southern California. It is believed, it is equipped with a radically new engine, which leaves a distinctive trail of condensation in the form of a "long hot dogs" at a high altitude and easily recognizable sound.
Performance characteristics of SR-71 Blackbird
– chief designer: Clarence "Kelly" Johnson
– First flight: 22 December 1964 of the year
– End of operation: 1998 year
– units produced: 32
Crew SR-71
– 2 man
Dimensions SR-71
– Length: 32,74 m
– Wingspan: 16,94 m
– Height: 5,64 m
– wing area: 141,1 m²
– Wing loading: 546 kg / m
Weight SR-71
– empty weight: 27215 kg
– Maximum takeoff weight: 77100 kg
– Payload weight (equipment): 1600 kg
– fuel weight: 46180 kg
Engines SR-71
– engine's type: air-turboramjet
– Model: Pratt & Whitney J58-P4
– maximum thrust: 2 x 10630 kgf
– Thrust in afterburner: 2 x 14460 kgf
– thrust-to-weight ratio: 0,36
– engine weight: 3200 kg
SR-71 Speed
– The maximum permissible speed: M = 3.2 (at the bow of the <+427 ° C allowed to disperse M = 3.3)
– Supersonic cruising speed: M = 2.8
– Skoropodъёmnost: 60 m / s
– The length of the run-up / run: 1830 m
The range filter SR-71
– 5230 km
– Radius of action: 2000 km
– flight duration: 1,5 no
Ceiling SR-71
– 25910 m (85000 feet)
– Maximum flight height: 29 000 m.
Photography Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird
