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Originally posted by PKD
for anyone who was interested about this aircraft and how it related to the cold war check out the movie FIREFOX. I know that the plane used in that movie was really not an SR-71, but more ressembled a YF-12a because of it's smaller size and manuverability, barring of course the the thought controlled defense pod system.
Originally posted by barba007
Originally posted by Zion Mainframe
You are correct.
That you for pointing that out...
And I was fully aware of all the facts about the SR-71, I run a military aircraft website myself. But thanks for the info anyway.
But I have to disagree on your last statement:
If the SR-71 Blackbird can fly at an average speed of Mach 3. I'm quite surtain it could push to 4 or maybe 5. It was designed to do 9 after all.
That's kind of a weird statement. There have been many articles about the temeratures of the wigs leading edges and the nose of the plane. They get superhot, if the SR could fly at around mach 9, think about the massive increase in temperature. The airframe woud get SO incredibly hot, it would most certainly change shape permentantly, and electronics inside the plane would get damaged by the heath.
Because the aircraft can cruise at mach 3+, that doesn't mean in can fly any faster...
[Edited on 9-5-2003 by Zion Mainframe]
I accept your argument, though I have another question for you. What does "Cruise Speed" mean exactly?
I would say "Cruise Speed" means in simple terms, Flying Safely at a safe speed. Correct?
When I drive my car, I drive to the speed limit, though I could go double the speed limit if I wanted to.
Ponder that thought.
You are correct in your question. Cruise speed does mean "normal operating airspeed" and can be exceeded. Let's not talk in Machs for just a second, because I have a surprise for you. Depending on who is reporting the "mach number" is can either mean the actual defined Mach number (which is dependent on altitude and such) or it can mean (as NASA and often the military use it) as M x 1000 mph...no matter what altitude.
For instance, when they say the shuttle is at Mach 18 during re-entry...they mean 18,000 mph and they don't care about what altitude they report this at.
To sum up, the Blackbird has been clocked in excess of 3000 mph. SO, if a maximum airspeed of Mach 3.3 has been reported, I'll bet my next paycheck it means 3300 mph.
Originally posted by Valhall
Hi Barba007,
So you have THAT avatar and you need me to tell you about Mach???
Okay...I'll bite:
M = V/a
M = Mach number
V = velocity
a = local speed of sound
a = SQRT(kRT)
k = compressibility factor of media in which you are calculating (in this case air)
R = gas constant
T = temperature
so...since a (speed of sound) varies for the altitude at which you are analyzing and if M (Mach number) is held constant, V (velocity) varies at different altitudes. So M=1 at sea level is not the same velocity as M=1 at 30,000 ft...
unless, as I stated before, the reporting institution (such as NASA and some of the military) uses a bastardized definition M=1 is equivalent to 1000 mph (and it doesn't matter what altitude you are analyzing at).
Hope that clears it up.
Originally posted by barba007
What ratio do they use the more you raise the altitude?
As far as whether or not the U.S. has a plane capable of higher speeds, consider that it would never have retired the Blackbird if it didn't have something better in the works, and don't tell me satelites. A satelite doesn't replace the plane.