What does SR stand for planes?
It’s an arbitrary designation meaning “strategic reconnaissance”. No other aircraft in USAF history has ever been given the SR designation, primarily because it was made up by General Curtis LeMay, Strategic Air Command’s outspoken leader, immediately before President Johnson revealed its existence in 1964.
How did the Blackbird fly So High?
But when the Blackbird goes supersonic, fuel is shot into the afterburner behind the engine and ignited with TEB, punching the aircraft to much higher speed.
What does SR-71 stand for?
Strategic Reconnaissance
The SR-71 designation has been attributed to lobbying efforts by USAF Chief of Staff General Curtis LeMay, who preferred the SR (Strategic Reconnaissance) designation over simply RS (Reconnaissance, Strategic). The aircraft was introduced to operational service in January 1966.
Why was the SR-71 called Habu?
Working almost daily on the SR-71 was quite the inspiration, and in 1986, I decided to finally draw a poster of this amazing aircraft, which Okinawans had long ago nicknamed “Habu” because its color and distinctive chines reminded them of a poisonous cobra on the island of the same name.
Is the SR-71 top speed classified?
The U.S. Air Force ceased SR-71 operations in January 1990. The Blackbird was designed to cruise at “Mach 3+,” just over three times the speed of sound or more than 2,200 miles per hour and at altitudes up to 85,000 feet. Blackbird’s cruise speed was officially Mach 3.2…but there’s MORE.
How high can a SR-71 fly?
85,069 feet
In 1976, the SR-71 set the records it still holds: flying at a sustained altitude of 85,069 feet, and reaching a top speed of 2,193.2 miles per hour, or Mach 3.3.
Was the SR-71 The RS-71?
— On July 25, 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson revealed the existence of the SR-71 or RS-71. Then Air Force Chief of Staff General Curtiss Lemay preferred the SR (Strategic Reconnaissance) designation and wanted the RS-71 to be named the SR-71.
Is the SR-71 the fastest plane ever?
The SR-71 Blackbird remains the fastest operational military aircraft in history to this day, despite leaving service more than two decades ago, but its Lockheed predecessor in the A-12 was actually faster.
Can the SR-71 go into space?
The Lockheed SR-71, designed in secrecy in the late 1950s, was able to cruise near the edge of space and outfly a missile. To this day, it holds the records for the highest altitude in horizontal flight and the fastest speed for a non-rocket powered aircraft.
Can the SR-71 perform a low approach?
The air cadet commander there was a former Blackbird pilot, and thought it would be a motivating moment for the young lads to see the mighty SR-71 perform a low approach. No problem, we were happy to do it.
The Lockheed SR-71 ” Blackbird ” is a long-range, high-altitude, Mach 3+ strategic reconnaissance aircraft developed and manufactured by the American aerospace company Lockheed Corporation. It was operated by both the United States Air Force (USAF) and NASA.
Did you see the SR-71 fly-past in Denmark?
As we scooted across Denmark in three minutes, we learned that a small RAF base in the English countryside had requested an SR-71 fly-past. The air cadet commander there was a former Blackbird pilot, and thought it would be a motivating moment for the young lads to see the mighty SR-71 perform a low approach.
What is the SR-71 high speed research program?
Data from the SR-71 high speed research program will be used to aid designers\r of future supersonic/hypersonic aircraft and propulsion systems, including a high\r speed civil transport.