|
|
| 8888 888
THE WORLDS FASTEST JET
MACH 3 TITANIUM
RARE AND LIMITED AVIATION COLLECTIBLES HAND MADE PRESENTATIONS ONE OF A KIND FABRICATIONS USING AUTHENTIC MATERIALS FROM HISTORIC SR-71 BLACKBIRDS A treasure that will last forever An investment that you can afford A gift that will be remembered
***************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************
Introduction
You’re nearly nineteen miles above the Earth, ripping through the upper stratosphere at three and a half times the speed of sound.
You’re keen concentration makes seconds seem like minutes. Like some sort of futuristic Cyborg. You are the processing unit controlling a 107 foot long, 170,000 pound titanium machine.
Atmospheric frictional loads heat the crafts surfaces beyond 1000 degrees F. Your “alien like” propulsion systems blast exhaust afterburner flames 150 feet out and stress the systems exotic alloys with 68,000 pounds of thrust at 3,200 degrees F.
The physiological support systems along with your astronaut space suit keep your bodily fluids from evaporating away in a boiling instant.
You are driving not a futuristic star cruiser but the sleek black, air breathing, turbo ram jet powered, Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird.
America’s, United States Air Force, super secret reconnaissance aircraft.
In 1962, The Director of the CIA, Richard Helms recalled a midnight test flight in the Nevada desert, later wrote: “The blast of flame that sent the black, insect-shaped projectile hurtling across the tarmac made me duck instinctively. It was as if the Devil himself were blasting his way straight from Hell”.
Even today as the few remaining Blackbirds stand on display they command jaw dropping disbelief and breathtaking stares.
As an SR-71, Code 42 Machinist, I was part of a select, elite team that flew, maintained, and provided operations for our nations classified surveillance program. I was privileged, humbled, and awed at the opportunity to be part of, work, and maintain these magnificent marvels of aviation.
The one thing that I wish I could covey to SR-71 fans now and in the future would be the experience to feel the Earth shaking rumble of the SR-71 Blackbirds.
Dan Freeman, TSgt, USAF (Ret) Tuesday, January 27, 2009
BLACKBIRD TITANIUM - BETA Ti 13V 11CR 3Al Solution treated and artificially aged to refine the predominant phases within its microstructure.
The
result was a super alloy with characteristics far beyond Earthly
materials allowing for the creation of the World’s most incredible
aircraft.
This photo shows me holding in my bare hand a small shard of SR-71 Titanium, glowing RED HOT!
Try that with a piece of aluminum or stainless steel.
EACH OF THE SR-71 ENGINES PRODUCES THE POWER OF 45 LOCOMOTIVES
"The SR-71 BLACKBIRD"
1971 MACKAY TROPHY WINNER
"Most meritorious flight of the year"
April 26, 1971
SR-71A, 61-7968 was flown 15,000 miles non-stop in 10-1/2 hours.
1972 HARMON INTERNATIONAL TROPHY
"Most outstanding international achievement in the art / science of aeronautics"
July 27 / 28, 1976
3 SR-71's flown by 3 different crews set 7 world speed and altitude records. 100KM Closed Course at 2092 MPH / Altitude Record of 85,068.997 FT / 15 & 25 Straight Course at 2193 MPH >DETAILS<
6 March 1990
SR-71A, 61-7972 set 4 speed records on its last flight to the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
US Coast to Coast (2086 Nmi); 67 minutes 54 seconds at 2124.5 MPH.
Los Angeles to Washington DC (1998 Nmi); 64 minutes 54 seconds at 2144.8 MPH.
Kansas City to Washington DC (942.08 Nmi); 25 minutes 58.53 seconds at 2176 MPH.
St. Louis to Cincinnati (311.44 Nmi); 8 minutes 31.97 seconds at 2189.94 MPH.
On Sept. 1, 1974, SR-71A, 61-7972 flew from New York to London in
1 hour, 54 minutes, 56 seconds, smashing the previous trans-Atlantic speed record by nearly three hours!
Returning to the U.S. on Sept. 13, 1974, #972 established a world speed record of
3 hours, 47 minutes, 36 seconds for the 5,463 mile (8,790 km) flight from London to Los Angeles.
It outraced the sun, landing some four hours before the time of day it took off.
>DETAILS<
This is the mighty Blackbird's exhaust nozzle
The 9th Reconnaissance Wing proudly displays her heritage. The men and women at Beale AFB did a fantastic job refurbishing SR-71A, 61-7963.
The muzzle velocity of a high powered, 30-06 rifle bullet is 2910 feet per second.
The Blackbird can fly at 3226 feet per second.
Of course that bullet starts to slow down as soon as it leaves the rifle barrel.
The Blackbird continues to fly at MACH 3+ and then accelerates faster.
| |
|
A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE
SR-71 BLACKBIRD The Lockheed SR-71 was an advanced, long-range, Mach 3 strategic reconnaissance aircraft developed from the Lockheed YF-12A and A-12 aircraft by the Lockheed Skunk Works. The A-12 was developed and tested during the early 60's under the Top Secret "OXCART" program at AREA 51.The SR-71 was unofficially named the Blackbird, and called the Habu ("snake") by its crews. Clarence "Kelly" Johnson was responsible for many of the design's advanced concepts, with the SR-71 being one of the first aircraft to use its shape, cesium fuel additive, and plastic composites made with asbestos and iron ferrite's to reduce its radar cross section. Although its radar signature could be tracked by contemporary systems unlike later "stealth" aircraft. Its radar signature was lowered substantially by these features giving it a reduced intercept reaction factor.
A last resort defensive feature of the aircraft was its high speed and operating altitude; whereby if a surface-to-air missile launch was detected, standard evasive action was simply to accelerate. The SR-71 line was in service from 1964 to 1998, with 12 of the 32 aircraft being destroyed in accidents, though none were lost to enemy action.
No symbols, or any colorable imitation of such words, initials, or seals in connection with any merchandise, impersonation, solicitation, or commercial activity in any manner is to be calculated to convey the impression that such use is approved, or endorsed, by any Agency, or person. | | It has been rumored or suggested that surplus SR-71 Blackbird titanium would be released for sale by the Air Force and NASA. This is false; last year the USAF, Defense Logistics Agency and NASA completely destroyed all of the remaining SR-71 parts and materials that were held in storage. Go to this page and see the link to the official power point presentation.
http://mach3ti.com/opinion.aspx
| |
|