The coolest aircraft - ever!

[KarlMarx]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kn6CgKEuB-M (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kn6CgKEuB-M)

The Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird, an ultra high-speed, ultra fast spy plane built during the height of the Cold War.

Speed = Mach 3+ (over 2,100 MPH)
Height = over 85,000 feet (over 16 miles high)

[Marcus Aurelius]

Which inspired the coolest movie jet ever...

http://www.fantastic-plastic.com/X-JetMain.jpg

[hjmick]

SR-71 or the A10 Warthog... A toss up in my book.

[Marcus Aurelius]

SR-71 or the A10 Warthog... A toss up in my book.

The A10 is a pimple on the left butt cheek of the SR-71:poke:

[logroller]

The A10 is a pimple on the left butt cheek of the SR-71:poke:
Those hurt though, just saying. My friend had a retired air force flight controller for a neighbor and he said that once the blackbird had one engine flameout at speed and had to attempt an emergency turning maneuver, requiring the notification of 4 states and Mexico. Thats crazy fast. Kind of a cool story actually, I guess those cones on the intake move in and out to control intake air and one of the servos malfunctioned and did the exact opposite of what it should. Once descending to lower altitude the engine reignited and managed to not penetrate foreign airspace; but not before traveling through Nevada Arizona and New Mexico in minutes.

[CSM]

SR-71 or the A10 Warthog... A toss up in my book.

Different planes with different missions. I suspect that the Blackbird would have a very tough time providing close air support to ground troops!

[Marcus Aurelius]

Those hurt though, just saying. My friend had a retired air force flight controller for a neighbor and he said that once the blackbird had one engine flameout at speed and had to attempt an emergency turning maneuver, requiring the notification of 4 states and Mexico. Thats crazy fast. Kind of a cool story actually, I guess those cones on the intake move in and out to control intake air and one of the servos malfunctioned and did the exact opposite of what it should. Once descending to lower altitude the engine reignited and managed to not penetrate foreign airspace; but not before traveling through Nevada Arizona and New Mexico in minutes.

Top speed is Mach 3.2 at about 85,000... 2,430 MPH. Pretty f-ing fast, huh. Just over 21 minutes to cross those three states... Amazing.

The one on display in DC is amazing.

[fj1200]

The A10 is a pimple on the left butt cheek of the SR-71:poke:

Not if you're about to get pounded by an enemy tank. :slap: Of course you can always counter with the A10 not really being an airplane but a cannon with wings. :poke:

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f5/GAU-8_meets_VW_Type_1.jpg

[Robert A Whit]

http://www.debatepolicy.com/images/debate_policy/misc/quote_icon.png Originally Posted by hjmick http://www.debatepolicy.com/images/debate_policy/buttons/viewpost-right.png (http://www.debatepolicy.com/showthread.php?p=651135#post651135)
SR-71 or the A10 Warthog... A toss up in my book.


Different planes with different missions. I suspect that the Blackbird would have a very tough time providing close air support to ground troops!

I agree with CSM. A deadly armed airplane providing close air support vs an airplane that flies super high, each does a job and both are valuable.

[Marcus Aurelius]

Coolest. Not best in a battle, or for a specific task. Just... coolest.

[Robert A Whit]

Those hurt though, just saying. My friend had a retired air force flight controller for a neighbor and he said that once the blackbird had one engine flameout at speed and had to attempt an emergency turning maneuver, requiring the notification of 4 states and Mexico. Thats crazy fast. Kind of a cool story actually, I guess those cones on the intake move in and out to control intake air and one of the servos malfunctioned and did the exact opposite of what it should. Once descending to lower altitude the engine reignited and managed to not penetrate foreign airspace; but not before traveling through Nevada Arizona and New Mexico in minutes.

I saw the SR-71 at the DC Air and Space museum. And have seen video of them on a mission. A very stunning airplane and so very fast. Do you know more about the engines? I had not heard of the cones you speak of.

[Marcus Aurelius]

Those hurt though, just saying. My friend had a retired air force flight controller for a neighbor and he said that once the blackbird had one engine flameout at speed and had to attempt an emergency turning maneuver, requiring the notification of 4 states and Mexico. Thats crazy fast. Kind of a cool story actually, I guess those cones on the intake move in and out to control intake air and one of the servos malfunctioned and did the exact opposite of what it should. Once descending to lower altitude the engine reignited and managed to not penetrate foreign airspace; but not before traveling through Nevada Arizona and New Mexico in minutes.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/89/SR71_J58_Engine_Airflow_Patterns.svg/280px-SR71_J58_Engine_Airflow_Patterns.svg.png

[aboutime]

The SR-71 was literally, the very first STEALTH aircraft used primarily by, and for the CIA.

Check out all of the exposed, former secrets about the speeds, and preparations that aircraft needed both, before, and after getting airborne.

Youtube, and Google have hundreds of stories, and examples.

5219