[FlashDrive (Poppy)]

Originally Posted by mswhin63

Loved that aircraft when I was a kid, found out recently it was taken away because the expansion and contraction caused it to leak fuel ever trip.

They were designed to leak fuel at ' Ground Level ' . The leading edge of the fuselage ... made of ' thin titanium ' ... would gradually ' close ' at high altitude ... and ' military high speed runs ' .... this would make the leading edge ' glow red hot ' ... even in the upper atmosphere's thin air.... enormous amount of friction.

The Fuel had a ' high flash point ' ... much higher than Jet A1 ( fuel for the F111C ). ( fact ) You could light a match while standing near the SR71 and not pose a fire risk ..... The SR71 has a ceiling of well over 20 miles up.... could out accelerate the Russian FOXBAT ( MIG 25 ) which had a Top Speed 3 x Speed of Sound ... and if the SR71 could fire off a Sidewinder Air to Air Missile ... it could " outrun " the missile in a straight out ' speed dash '

Some Pilot's who flew enough hours in this Aircraft were awarded their ' Astronaut Wings " .... why wouldn't they ...their on the edge of Space most of the time.
Not uncommon for them to see the " curvature " of the earth on normal missions.

They may not want to admit it ... but the CIA " borrowed " this plane at times ... to further their " intelligence " on Soviet Propaganda.

Impressive Aircraft for it's time.

Flash