Actually the Raptor DOES have some limited variation in the inlet system, but not near the intakes. There are no moving ramps or doors in the inlet system except pressure relief doors near the engines themselves that are on top of the airframe. There are boundry layer screens inside the intake but that's all there is.

On the Blackbird the normal cruising speed was Mach 3.17, 3.2 high cruise and under permission from the ground M3.3. An A-12 did Mach 3.5 in testing for a few mins and was lucky to land as it crisped its wiring and had only a quart of hydraulic fluid left in the system or something. The Mach 4-7 claims are utterly bogus.

Originally posted by intelgurl
2. The Realist - this individual realizes that it is standard DoD operating procedure to only estimate performance figures (especially on new systems) and that the DoD generally keeps these estimates around 5 to 15% below the actual performance potential of the system in question.

I have to kinda of agree with you on this, although 10%-25% is more of what it think about when it comes to speed and altitude. As high as 25% or so being around the maximum figures with a clean configuration and optimal conditions are my estimates for still classified aircraft. After all 15% isnt much when you think about it.

Originally posted by intelgurl 3. The Conspiracist and The Red, White & Blue Patriot - these two character types will take published performance figures and double or triple them or make even more outlandish claims. (for differing reasons, however)
Case in point; a claim that the SR-71 can do Mach 7 or that the B-2 can fly to the moon and back on it's electrogravitic drives.

Lol, I love the crazy ones, they always make wild statements with no evidence whatsoever. They always give me a good laugh.

ok, id love too believe that the f-22 raptor can fly to speeds of mach 3.
but im not sure, thre has been alot if speculation and assumed coverups (which) i believe and i reckon that the raptor is the most advanced/superior fighter jet in the world today. and a current real pilot of an f-22 says that the usaf is working on an improvement of it and it will out fly it out run it and be able to whip it without breaking a sweat. and plz keep on topic why does every1 keep bringing up the sr 117 and carriers?? lol

Originally posted by beyondSciFi

Originally posted by Seekerof
And to think that many think they actually know how fast an U.S. aircraft carrier can go, eh?
[edit on 20-2-2005 by Seekerof]

About 40-45 kts last I heard.

I know that the gov't lies at about EVERYTHING. I just made this post to make these obvious to people who didnt know this, by giving an example...

Everyone knows carriers have F-22 type engines attached to them that permit them to travel at speeds of upt to Mach 1.7... and thats without afterburners. Duuhhhh.

Concorde could cruise at Mach 2 without afterburners....