Just a cool pic
 

Found this on a FaceBook group about 'Cars and Planes'... Taken at Lakeland AFB.

Re: Just a cool pic
 

Speaking from experience...even with all the drain plugs pulled, that model A will STILL leak less then that SR-71

Re: Just a cool pic
 

Yep - as I understand it, the SR-71 was basically a giant gas tank and when sitting on the ground with the skin cold would leak like a sieve. After take-off they had to refill from a tanker before accelerating and the skin would reseal once they were at speed and the friction would warm the skin.

Re: Just a cool pic
 

Are those Kelsey Hayes wheels? 650X16's?
Looks nice on that coupe.

Re: Just a cool pic
 

I think the Black Bird is the fastest airplane in the world. Don't think it's public knowledge as to how fast it will fly and just how long they have been flying.

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Used to dismantle the engines when they came to PWA o/haul and repair facility in Southington, CT back in the 60"s.
Paul in CT

Re: Just a cool pic
 

Wow! That is very cool indeed!

Re: Just a cool pic
 

In 1969 as an Air Force air traffic controller I used to clear the SR-71 south out of Eglin AFB, Florida (probably heading for Cuba) to "at or above 60,000 feet". Above that is uncontrolled air space, but of course no one else can fly that high. It did leak like a sieve. The skin of the wings was the outside of the fuel tank.

Re: Just a cool pic
 

Agree with Mickey T. The bird did rule the sky's. Now retired, the SR71's top speed is still classified...

Re: Just a cool pic
 

That pic looks like a compare/contrast study... Aerodynamics to the max vs complete lack thereof.

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And, theoretically, both could be refueled from behind a tanker! And, there's still a lot of controversy about the top speed of both!

Re: Just a cool pic
 

My cousin used to date a Blackbird pilot. He once called her from Okinawa asking her to join him for dinner that night in Washington DC which she was pretty incredulous of. He made it, which gives you some idea of the speed since he would have had to hop a standard transport from the Blackbird base to DC.

Really makes you wonder what they replaced it with?

Re: Just a cool pic
 

I paid PARTICULAR attention to the Pilots' windows, duz he also have 2 APPROVED Rear View Mirrors & D.O.T. approved WIPERS? Quite SURE he has NO Back-Up Beeper---LOL
In case you "think" I'm a NUT, my Daughter, Cindy, assured me that I AM! That'll make it easier, when it's FUNNIE FARM TIME---
Bill Foxsmart

Re: Just a cool pic
 

"Really makes you wonder what they replaced it with?"

Satellites.

Re: Just a cool pic
 

Talking with some friends in a position to know, satellites can do quite a bit, but not all that is needed for intel gathering. They are in a fixed orbit and can be tasked specifically, but are bound by when they are over the area of interest. For certain kinds of things you still need to be able to overfly an area maybe with special kinds of imaging equipment not available on the satellite. Hence the need for an SR-71 replacement, which many theorize is the Aurora or SR-75.

Re: Just a cool pic
 

Any color you want as long as its BLACK!

Re: Just a cool pic
 

Where could they have gotten that idea? Next, you’ll be telling us that some cars had something similar. :eek:

Re: Just a cool pic
 

The UK must have captured one, as there is one at the Duxford Museum.
I heard this guy talk when we were there a few years ago.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0oYu5TTplQ
The bit that sticks in my mind is the high tyre pressure and how they have to check the runway before take off. Pretty much anything will make them burst. Of concern were the jack rabbit (?) droppings that look like ball bearings.