(Photo : NASA / Handout/ Getty Images)
SR-71 Blackbird: Speediest Reconnaissance Plane But Technology Problems Arise With Its Operation
The SR-71 Blackbird is the fastest plane before the MiG-25 Foxbat but could maintain Mach 3+ longer than their Soviet rivals.But the recon plane had a vice which was a headache; it required mounds of repair and maintenance. These problems on the spy plane were a challenge to deal with, but the aircraft was finally retired many years after.
SR-71 Blackbird high-tech plane issues
Its airframe is made of titanium needed to handle flying fast and at high altitude; oddly, the titanium parts were discovered corroded.
In summer, the parts would have corrosion, but there were no such discoveries; there were more problems discovered, later on, reported 19 Forty-Five.
But due to its speed with the problems overlooked, it would be a capable plane in the 2020s.
The corrosion problem would be nicked by the engineer who studied the issue came up with a solution. An answer came from material scraps leftover during production; all scraps were kept with a database.
Compiling all the samples had allowed the engineers to understand how it was happening. Summer or winter and other problems The conundrum about summer or winter; why parts failed in summer, not winter, is confusing.
According to the engineers who found it summer when algae on the airframe were cleaned with water, the chlorine had a harmful effect on the plane's titanium. Instead, they used to distill water to clean the aircraft that helped.
Although the first problem was corrected with the water used, another dilemma would soon crop up that would be a nuisance.
One more concern that came after the water problem was mentioned by Linda Sheffield Miller that needed to be resolved or it would be serious for the SR-71 Blackbird.
Galvanic corrosion was caused by the cadmium-plated tools that left bits off the bolts on the place; at some point, the bolts would be affected negatively by the cadmium tools used for repair. All tools made of that metal are to be taken from the workshop.
Maintainance needed for the SR-71 Blackbird
For sure, the speeds it traveled would impact its rubber tires due to the heat generated flying at Mach 3+; temperatures would reach about 1000 degrees Fahrenheit. Aluminum would be used to cover the wheel wells, and latex added, tires used nitrogen to inflate to 415 psi.
Fuel specialize for the Blackbird was a lot for the speed it traveled, needing 18-tons of fuel. Shell Oil created the JP-7 that stabilized at 85,000 feet; with cesium to give the fuel a hotter flashpoint. This additive would lessen the radar detection of fuel ejected flying.
The Blackbird is not 5th generation but changes to parts of the plane for stealth that had iron paint for lessening radar returns. However, it's still fast enough to avoid a non-hypersonic missile but still quicker than older planes.
Keeping it in flying condition
Due to its speediness and tech inside it, the SR-71 Blackbird was a nightmare for the air force to keep flying. Maintaining them would be a headache for the ground crew assigned to it.
This recon plane has never been equaled or compared except to the MiG-25; it has become iconic as the fastest plane of its time.
Related Article: SR-71 Blackbird Legacy: Can the SR-72 'Darkstar' Find its Niche as the Fastest 6th Generation Plane?
