51–60 of 146 posts
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Also incredible most of the titanium came from the USSR but through indirect routes and suppliers with the Soviets being unaware.
Which is really odd, as Titanium is not that rare. Are we sure that story about the Titanium coming from the USSR is accurate?
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I doubt they were absolutely convinced it was real, but still pretty hilarious. https://www.businessinsider.com/bruckheimer-china-moved-sate...
“The Navy told us that a Chinese satellite turned and headed on a different route to photograph that plane.” I can only assume that China publish their targeting on some Twitter account? What ludicrous statement.
Ironically, the plane was dripping, much like the misshapen model had assembled in my youth. Fuel was seeping through the joints, raining down on the hangar floor. At Mach 3, the plane would expand several inches because of the severe temperature, which could heat the leading edge of the wing to 1,100 degrees. To prevent cracking, expansion joints had been built into the plane. Sealant resembling rubber glue covered…
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Also incredible most of the titanium came from the USSR but through indirect routes and suppliers with the Soviets being unaware.
Which is really odd, as Titanium is not that rare. Are we sure that story about the Titanium coming from the USSR is accurate?
https://chem.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Inorganic_Chemistry/...
At the time, the USSR had already invested significant resources into making titanium for submarines. Buying titanium under false pretenses was easier than increasing the domestic industrial capacity for making titanium, particularly when the plane was not going to be produced in large numbers.
The SR-71 began as the YF-12, and was originally supposed to be RS-71 (Reconnaissance/Surveillance), but somebody thought SR sounded better.
The YF prefix on the original aircraft is often referred to as "Yankee Fire", a caveat that is still in use.
Indeed, Mach 3.5 is the declared top speed in this story, but higher speeds are implied. The Mach eases to 3.5 as we crest 80,000 feet... Screaming past Tripoli, our phenomenal speed continues to rise... I realize that I still have my left hand full-forward and we're continuing to rocket along in maximum afterburner... The TDI now shows us Mach numbers, not only new to our experience but flat out scary. He mentions u…
Stealth banana. Smart fruit!
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I have read that story SO MANY TIMES, but I nearly always click and read again when it comes up.
Once you've finished re-reading, here's the reverse version: > There were a lot of things we couldn't do in a Cessna 172, but we were some of the slowest guys on the block and loved reminding our fellow aviators of this fact. People often asked us if, because of this fact, it was fun to fly the 172. Fun would not be the first word I would use to describe flying this plane. Mundane, maybe. Even boring at times. But th…
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Also incredible most of the titanium came from the USSR but through indirect routes and suppliers with the Soviets being unaware.
Which is really odd, as Titanium is not that rare. Are we sure that story about the Titanium coming from the USSR is accurate?
Indeed, Mach 3.5 is the declared top speed in this story, but higher speeds are implied. The Mach eases to 3.5 as we crest 80,000 feet... Screaming past Tripoli, our phenomenal speed continues to rise... I realize that I still have my left hand full-forward and we're continuing to rocket along in maximum afterburner... The TDI now shows us Mach numbers, not only new to our experience but flat out scary. He mentions u…
Temperature is the limiting factor for speed, I remember SR71 pilots on a panel saying the aircraft flew faster in winter than in the summer for that reason.