The Blackbird appears to be the first interstellar space-ship to enter service with the US air force. One of the worlds most distinctive aircraft for its completely unique shape and menacing black/black-red paint scheme, the SR-71A is the fastest "conventional" aircraft ever built (With the SR-71A, the word conventional must be applied liberally). Along with the U-2, the Blackbird has been the most successful reconnaissance aircraft produced by Lockheed's concentrated Skunk Works. However, the ability to outperform a MiG-25 did not come without a serious amount of development and testing. Each SR-71A mission is physically exhausting for its crews, who require the same credentials as an astronaut to fly this jet. All systems have to be reinforced and stress-tested to prepare them for Mach-3 flight. And with its looks and a maximum service ceiling so high it's practically in orbit, there is no surprise that it gets similar treatment to the space shuttle.
The SR-71A program was unique from the beginning. Instead of a requirement for a USAF program, the SR-71A was actually developed for the American CIA (Central Intelligence Agency), from the A-12 and YF-12 aircraft, neither of which were produced in large numbers. The CIA desired an extremely high altitude-capable aircraft with high power and cameras/communication' equipment for spying on enemy positions without having to worry about being engaged by hostiles. The CIA approached the USAF (United States Air Force), who agreed to fund the program, although it was the most ambitious ever undertaken. As ultimate secrecy was required, the company deemed to have the best chance of success in fulfilling the requirement, in this case Lockheed for its legendary Skunk Works design strategy, was the only company notified the requirement. Led by Kelly Johnson, a legend in aviation design, the Skunk Works team of professionals decided to place the engines to the very rear of the craft along with short wings. The fuselage itself was quite long, and at the very front was the cockpit, surrounded by avionics suites. Due to the design being quite radical, Lockheed was forced to address many problems that had not yet existed for service aircraft. While extraordinarily fast aircraft existed, such as the Northrop X-15, the Blackbird would also be flying at high altitudes carrying multiple pilots and electronics equipment to top it off. There was also the chance that Soviet fighters, such as the then little-known MiG-25, would be able to engage the Blackbird in combat. Lockheed therefore decided on titanium alloy materials for their lightness and strength, which would later successfully prevent the SR-71A from melting in-flight.
When the SR-71A prototype was finished, it was transported for testing at Groom Lake, Nevada, a CIA owned complex, as due to the discreetness of the project no ordinary runway could be used. Some confusion had arisen over the Blackbird's designation, as it was reconnaissance aircraft, and the designation should have been RS-71A. Rumours arose that the initials "SR" were added because they were easier to pronounce. The SR-71A's official Blackbird designation derived from the black paint covering the entire aircraft. It entered service in 1966.
The SR-71A is one of the most complex aircraft ever designed and built. Large air intakes are the dominant feature of the Blackbird, which provide the heavy air flow needed for its immense engines. Nozzles, valves, and other systems control airflow through the intakes, ejecting excess air and diverting the rest to cool the engine compartments. The powerplant of the aircraft is comprised of dual 144.57 kN Pratt & Whitney J58-1 turbo-ramjets. The engines are stored in nacelles that directly stem from the intakes. The large volume of air brought in by the intakes cools the engines, and along with several other techniques employed to prevent the SR-71A from generating a large heat signature, has been quite successful. When utilizing afterburner, "shock diamonds" are created which appear to be small balls of fire trailing the Blackbird, and appear this way due to the high velocity the craft can travel at. The SR-71A does not use conventional fuel, and specialized KC-135T tankers are used to service the aircraft. Capable of speeds up to 3700 KmH at high operating heights (altitudes), the Blackbird can use its speed and other attributes to both outrun and outrange many conventional weapons. SR-71A pilots flying over the USSR had been intercepted several times by MiG-25s, one of the only aircraft with a high enough altitude and speed to capture the Blackbird, although none have been caught to date.
The cockpit of the SR-71A allows the pilot a decent forward view, and is stocked with tv-screens, communications equipment, and electronics that are used in the reconnaissance mission. To harvest data instantly and efficiently, an ASARS-1 (Advanced Synthetic Aperture Radar System) is used, and can transmit information to-and-from command centres/ground teams extremely fast. Cameras are also mounted on the aircraft, capable of capturing footage of the surrounding horizon and the ground. The crew of two wear full-pressure suits, comparable in appearance to those of astronauts, as a safety measure due to the high altitudes at which the Blackbird normally operates. The 32.74m long fuselage is painted black and has a low radar-cross section, which helps the craft to remain elusive. Aside from a handful of markings in red, most blackbirds do not carry any other colour schemes or markings, and sometimes even lack USAF markings or identification numbers. A total of 30 SR-71As were built, and several were restored to service after retirement, although they were brought back into retirement shortly after.
The SR-71A was the distinctive variant, serving in the largest numbers and performing recon missions all over the world, especially in communist countries. A pair of SR-71B trainers was also constructed, as was an SR-71C developed from the remains of a destroyed YF-12 and an SR-71A airframe. The A-12 which preceded the SR-71 shared a similar design and was also used for reconnaissance, although many features were perfected in the SR-71. The YF-12 was a proposed interceptor but proved too costly and although pre-production variants were built, none entered service.
Written by: Pace51