Fastest Machines: World's Top Ten by Press University

Author:Press, University [Press, University]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: University Press
Published: 2020-07-29T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 6

Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird

Category: Manned Air Breathing Aircraft World Record

Speed: 2,193 mph (3,529 km/h)

The sleek, black, futuristic-looking Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird - often simply referred to as the Blackbird - was built to carry out stealthy spying during the Cold War. After a United States Lockheed U-2 reconnaissance aircraft was shot down by Soviet Air Defence Forces in May of 1960, the US wanted to make a plane that was nearly impossible to hit with a surface to air missile. Lockheed Martin had a reputation for delivering advanced technology within short timeframes, particularly with the help of Kelly Johnson, one of the most well-known aircraft designers during the Cold War. Lockheed had developed the U-2, and was now being asked to make an entirely new aircraft - within 20 months - that would be difficult to detect and would be even harder to shoot down.

Even more important, the US government wanted the plane to achieve speeds of over 2,000 mph and be able to sustain those speeds for hours at a time. This had not been possible previously because the amount of heat generated at those speeds in the atmosphere could melt the airframe of the plane. The team needed to make something that could sustain incredibly fast speeds while enduring heat over 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit without making the plane too heavy. The only known metal at the time that could do this was titanium, which was lightweight and durable in excessive heat. It proved to be a complicated metal to work with, though, as it was brittle during production. As a result of the problems posed by working with the metal, Lockheed developed specialized tools.

The cockpit required extra attention because the extreme heat was only present at the leading edge of the plane. Around the cockpit and core of the plane, the temperature was -60 degrees Fahrenheit. This meant that engineers had to find a way to keep these parts of the plane warm around these areas. The solution to this particular problem had been considered back when one of the team had been in college – paint the entire plane black so that it would emit the excessive heat along the leading edge while absorbing it elsewhere. This is where the nickname came from – Blackbird. The surfaces of the aircraft would also need to avoid detection from radar by absorbing the radar signals.

The first Blackbird was ready for testing at the end of April 1962, and it was designated as the A-12. The original version had room for one pilot but was soon expanded to include a passenger, resulting in the designation of SR-71. The second passenger was to handle reconnaissance. This larger version was tested at the end of 1964. Tests were conducted in secret so that the Soviets would not learn of the new aircraft.

As a result of the innovation and the continued need to remain undetected, the Blackbird began its flight without fanfare. With the ability to reach the edge of space, and with the

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