As you may have heard, the mythical Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird was a strategic reconnaissance aircraft able to fly at more than Mach 3 – Mach 3.3 ie around 3,500 km/h; or 1,900 kts; and at a maximum flight level of… FL 850 or 26 kilometers high!

The Blackbird indeed had a unique flight envelope with a particular doghouse plot (since she could not exceed 3.5 G), and an exceptionnal coffin corner limited by her CIT – Compressor Inlet Temperature of 427°C maximum.

This aircraft was also unique for her engines were two J58 ramjets fuelled by JP-7 especially refined for extreme flying purpose. This special fuel could drip and leak abundantly as the airframe made up of titanium was retracted while taxiing, and became airtight only when it got its operating shape while flying very fast and very high because of the air density, and surrounding pressure plus the heating caused by the air friction at such speeds. In short, the whole structure considerably expanded when airborne.

The irony – I heard it on the grapevine, or read it somewhere on the web – that titanium which turned into dark blue while flying (SR-71s probably deserved those unofficial other nicknames « Bluebird », or « Habu » viper) was « imported » from… USSR!

Pilots must have taken significant risks inherent in flying such an aircraft as mentioned in this previous post. These pilots used to fly over the USSR to take strategic reconnaissance photographs during the Cold war. They wore pressurized spacesuits so that their blood could not boil in case of decompression or ejection at such altitudes.

The Blackbird travelled faster than a rifle bullet, and the air friction could have melt aluminum-skinned aircraft. At Mach 3.2, fuel cycled behind the chine surface in order to cool the aircraft! The inner windshield temperature could reach 120°C even though a heavy-duty cooling system was on a full function. On landing, the outside temperature of the canopy could reach 300°C, and it must have been far beyond on the fuselage, and wing surfaces while flying at high speeds. The pilot could feel the heat behind his protective gloves!

Special thanks to Xavier Cotton for the Blackbird photos. Please, visit his website on http://www.passionpourlaviation.fr/

The post Mach-3 SR-71 Blackbird’s HOT COCKPIT appeared first on AVIATION ENGLISH.

In order to save jet fuel, they look at new concepts, processes, and designs that could be lighter. They try to reduce drag, and they try to increase the propulsive efficiency. For this purpose, they try to get rid of metallic airframes, and parts as often as possible.

For instance NASA has a newer composite 10 percent lighter than carbon fiber composite. This advanced material is called « Pultruded rod stitched efficient unitized structure » or PRSEUS.

The new sleeker designs look like large wings without any traditional tube-shaped fuselage in the central part since it is blended with the wings. These futuristic designs are more fuel efficient as the more lift the plane has, the less it consumes fuel.

The researchers also look at new energy sources as it is showed in this video, and in the end there is further information about the NextGen project which could save fuel too, thanks to this new form of air traffic management:

The post SOLUTIONS TO SAVE JET FUEL appeared first on AVIATION ENGLISH.

The post Russian hockey team perish in plane crash appeared first on AVIATION ENGLISH.

The post JUMBO JET EMERGENCY LANDING appeared first on AVIATION ENGLISH.

It is still being developed by American Dynamics Flight Systems. Its airframe is to be made up of carbon fiber and kevlar materials. It could be one of the most effective drones of its generation with its versatile payload configuration; GCS interfaces; and interoperable data links. Its Pratt and Whitney engines could be feed with Jet-A; JP-4; and JP-5 fuel.

VIDEO:

The post AD-150 HIGH-SPEED VTOL DRONE appeared first on AVIATION ENGLISH.

The Australian pilot died in the crash of the Goodyear blimp. The Zeppelin’s captain managed to save the lives of the 3 passengers when he heard a loud noise from an engine, and as it smelled gasoline, he urged the passengers to jump out at only 6 foot above the ground. The aircraft then dashed 50 meters higher. It blew out, before diving in flames. Video:

The post Australian Zeppelin crash appeared first on AVIATION ENGLISH.

The post Paris Charles de Gaulle airport running out of de-icing fluid appeared first on AVIATION ENGLISH.

The post F-35 Raptor batch to freeze West Bank settlements appeared first on AVIATION ENGLISH.

The post Lockerbie – from aircraft bombing till bomber release appeared first on AVIATION ENGLISH.

The post Scary movie: BP spills again! appeared first on AVIATION ENGLISH.

The post 1967 – USS Forrestal fire appeared first on AVIATION ENGLISH.

« The X-51 launched at about 10 a.m. from here, carried under the left wing of an Air Force Flight Test Center B-52 Stratofortress. Then, flying at 50,000 feet over the Point Mugu Naval Air Warfare Center Sea Range, it was released. Four seconds later an Army Tactical Missile solid rocket booster accelerated the X-51 to about Mach 4.8 mach before it and a connecting interstage were jettisoned. The launch and separation were normal », Mr. Brink said. (www.af.mil courtesy)

The post X-51A WaveRider speed duration record at around Mach 5 – May 26, 2010 appeared first on AVIATION ENGLISH.

The post Aircraft saving CO2 emissions appeared first on AVIATION ENGLISH.

The post FALKLANDS OIL DISCREPANCY between UK & Argentina appeared first on AVIATION ENGLISH.

The post Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird documentary appeared first on AVIATION ENGLISH.

Airman Magazine – Jet fuel is strange. It needs to have seemingly contradictory properties to make it useful. It can’t freeze. It can’t have a low flashpoint or easily vaporize. Yet, it must have a tremendous amount of energy for its volume and lubricate and seal fuel lines in aircraft. In the more than 30 years the Air Force has been studying its primary aircraft fuel, known as JP-8, scientists are still learning new things.

READ FULL ARTICLE on www.af.mil

The post Jet fuel R&D appeared first on AVIATION ENGLISH.