Speech
Operating at altitudes of 85 000 feet, cruising at speeds over Mach 3.2, undetectable to enemy radar and unsusceptible to aerial defences. The Lockheed Martin SR-71 Blackbird. Good Evening Mr Hanley and classmates. In the following presentation I will demonstrate why the monumental Lockheed Martin SR-71 Black Bird was possibly the best advancement in aviation history and why the SR-71 is a testament to the evolution of aviation technology.
The Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird was the result of more than six decades of advancements in aviation since the first powered flight. Its development began in the May of 1960, following the Soviet downing of a Lockheed U-2 reconnaissance aircraft. President Eisenhower requested Lockheed Martin to design an aircraft to replace the U-2, an aircraft “capable of avoiding all enemy defences”. Thus in 1962 Lockheed Martin introduced the first prototype, the Lockheed A-12. The A-12 embodied all operational capabilities required to avoid the enemy defences, however it lacked in strategic reconnaissance capabilities. A variation of the A-12 airframe gave way to the Lockheed YF-12A Airforce Interceptor in 1963, which served as a cover for the development of the SR-71 Blackbird. The monumental Lockheed SR-71
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Blackbird was finally introduced in the December of 1964, with significant advances to aerial reconnaissance technology. Setting records as the world’s fastest and highest flying aircraft, the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird was the ideal strategic reconnaissance unit for the US. It featured the most powerful propulsion system in the world, it introduced the world’s first effective stealth design and featured the most advanced aerial reconnaissance technology at the time. Providing unparalleled operational capabilities. As a long range strategic reconnaissance aircraft it has collected pivotal reconnaissance data for the US military for over three decades. The Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird’s innovative design concepts enabled sustained high-altitude, supersonic flight while maintaining a low radar profile. As the first aircraft of its calibre, Kelly Johnson, Lockheed’s leading aeronautical engineer recalled, “Everything had to be invented, everything”. The SR-71 measured over 33 meters in length and 17 meters in wide. Designers employed tailless delta wings to maintain aerodynamic and structural efficiency during regular supersonic flight. The SR-71 was composed of 85% Titanium alloy because the immense atmospheric drag encountered at supersonic speeds (would have melted conventional airframes). The challenges of manufacturing such a large amount of Titanium led to specialized metallurgical equipment and fabrication methods which have since been used for manufacture of other aircraft. The Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird featured the world’s first successful stealth design, capable of reducing its radar profile by over 90%.
Coupled with the world’s highest speeds and altitudes, its extremely small radar signature rendered the aircraft almost imperceptible to enemy radar. The design incorporated chines and canted vertical stabilizers to create flattened tapering sides in addition to a cylindrical fuselage which reduced the effective radar cross section by deflecting radar energy away from its source. Radar signature was further decreased with the distinct radar absorbent black paint and composite materials. As a result, the SR-71’s effective radar cross section was reduced to a mere ten square
meters. The revolutionary Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird was equipped with an equally radical propulsion system. Twin afterburning Pratt and Whitney J58 Turbo-Ramjets, developed specifically for the SR-71 Blackbird. They were the most powerful jet engines in existence, with each engine producing a staggering 151 000 Newton of thrust with full afterburner. It was designed as a turbo-ramjet engine to operate at both subsonic and supersonic speeds. They reached highest efficiency at a cruising speed of Mach 3.2 by converting to partial ramjets at supersonic speeds. Furthermore, the engine required dynamic inlet cones which moved back and forth to proficiently capture airflow at supersonic speeds. The SR-71 relied heavily on its twin engine thrust vectoring to accurately maneuver the aircraft at supersonic speeds. Dedicated reconnaissance equipment were developed for the Lockheed SR-71 paving the way to the most powerful aerial reconnaissance technology in the world. The SR-71’s payload included a multitude of instruments such as radar system, high tech optical/infrared imaging cameras and electronic defense systems. In addition, the pilot maintained a preplanned flight path during strategic reconnaissance missions, guided by the most powerful navigational system, the “R2-D2” astro-inertial navigational system which limited drift to only a 1000 feet at Mach 3. High powered optical imaging cameras provided high definition horizon to horizon coverage. With its high speed and altitude, the SR-71’s reconnaissance systems surveyed 260 000 km^2 of landmass within an hour. To put that into perspective, that’s the whole United Kingdom landmass in one hour. As demonstrated, the extremely powerful optical imaging camera’s magnification so powerful that they could recognize a number plate from its service ceiling of 85 000 feet. The SR-71 Blackbird is legendary for the host of aviation records it holds till this day. The SR-71 holds the absolute aircraft speed record at Mach 3.5 and the absolute aircraft altitude record at just over 85 000 feet. Furthermore, it holds four of the most renowned ‘speed over a recognized course’ records. It is clear that the SR-71 was a significant milestone in aviation innovation. As a result of its record breaking performance, the SR-71 Blackbird was considered almost invulnerable over enemy air space. Interceptor aircraft continuously failed in attempts to reach the SR-71’s speed and altitude. Former SR-71 pilot Richard Graham recalls MiG-29s “falling out of the sky” as they stalled in their efforts. Surface to Air Missiles rarely detected and locked onto the SR-71 as it was out of range within seconds. In the rare case of a SAM tracking the SR-71, the evasive action was to simply accelerate and outrun the missile. Consequently, missiles were often seen exploding kilometers away from the intended target. In the case of an emergency, the pilots wore full body pressure suits to eject at supersonic speeds. The SR-71 proved a formidable adversary, as none of the 32 SR-71s were lost due to enemy action. Rendering the aircraft undefeated. The Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird was undoubtedly one of the greatest aircraft to take to the skies. Its development has led to significant innovations in aircraft propulsion, aerial reconnaissance equipment, aircraft navigation systems and stealth design. The SR-71 serves as a pioneer for future of reconnaissance aircraft because it has demonstrated the seemingly impossible capabilities a reconnaissance aircraft must embody to fulfill its role.
Many have heard of the Tuskegee Airmen and their accomplishments. They were a group of African American fighter pilots. They proved to be quite vital to the success of World War II. What many people may not know is the Tuskegee Airmen had several squadrons which fought throughout Europe during the war. The most famous squadron was the 332nd fighter squadron, they were commonly known as the Red Tails. Charles McGee was among those men apart of the Red Tail squadron. Charles McGee is one of most notable men in the Red Tails due to his accomplishments throughout the war. I will be explaining his life and all of his accomplishments throughout this paper on famous individuals in aviation.
By the end of World War I the world was beginning to realize the ability air combat presented. When World War II started planes became much more effective. Though still fabric covered, the aircraft were faster and more agile than the variants used in the Great War. In 1938, the first year of the Second World War, Curtiss unveiled their P-40 Warhawk. This aircraft was one of the best of its time and laid the foundation for modern aircraft engineering. But by 1940 the German Luftwaffe had begun to develop faster, long-ranged fighter-bombers. All current Allied aircraft could not keep up with the long range of the B-17 bombers who needed escort. In 1940, North American Aviation received an order from Britain requesting another shipment of
December 1940, the Army Air Corps planned an experiment for black aviators in an all black fighter squadron. This group would be called the 332nd fighter group and would consist of four fighter squadrons, the 99th, 100th, 301st, 302nd. (4 A). The squadrons that made the most history would be the 99th and the 100th. The 99th was to be made of 33 to 35 pilots and 278 ground crew men, but those accusations came from another source when the real number of men in the 99th would be a total of 12 black cadets and 1 officer trainee. 3 squadrons usually make up a fighter group so the 99th was nicknamed the “lonely Eagles”. They would be flying PT-17s, then BT-13s, and later AT-6s, that would have better landing flaps, retractable landing gear, and 650-horse power engines (Mckissack). They would be the first fighter squadron of the 332nd to go into combat over North Africa. Being part of the 12th Air force, they would fly tactical missions over the Mediterranean theater (Haulman). Going over in ships, April 15, 1943, they would arrive in Morocco, May 1943, only to be told that the battle between the Germans and North Africans was basically over. They then tested out P-40L War Hawks, and Curtis’s, that were built to reach up to 350 mph, climb over 22,000 ft., and ferry over 1,000 miles. The planes would be put through flight drills and mock dog fights. The 27th, part of another group, trained with the men in Africa. The war was always back and forth so the...
The 123rd Aviation Battalion was comprised of multiple airframes of which included the OH-23 Raven, OH-6 Cayuse, UH-1 Huey, AH-1 Cobra, and even at one point an attachment of CH-47 Chinooks. According to the Resume of the 123rd Aviation Battalion the A Company and B Company delivered over 1,400 tons of cargo, destroyed 575 structures, killed over 700 enemy combatants, and provided medical evacuation to 114 people. All of these accomplishments took place in 1968, prior to receiving an attachment of CH-47 Chinooks. The scout aircraft provided intelligence by either flying over...
In today’s world, the use of airplanes in wars or in everyday life has become a part of how we live as human beings. Removing the air forces of the world is like taking a step back in time when wars were only fought on land or sea. WWI began only eleven short years after the Wright brothers achieved powered flight in 19031 and yet aircrafts were being used for surveillance and eventually combat purposes. It is understood that these aircrafts were primitive, but they laid down the foundation for what we know today as fighter jets. The Fokker Eindecker “revolutionized air combat by successfully employing a synchronized forward -firing machine gun mounted on the engine cowling”2. Because this airplane became the first to successfully use a synchronized machine gun, it allowed its pilots to become the first aerial combat tactitions3.
Alex Kershaw’s “The Few The American ‘Knights Of The Air’ Who Risked Everything To Fight In The Battle Of Britain” doesn’t just tell the story of the seven American aviators who flew for the British as but also their enemies, the Luftwaffe’s point of view. This book is told through this group of Americans and from the viewpoint of the Royal Air Force pilots they fought with but also the perspective of the Luftwaffe fliers that they fought against during the battle. For example, in one part of the book, there was this one German lookout who had commented on how much of an advantage the British had because of their radars that could locate enemy planes while they crossed the English Channel; the lookout considered the radar an “unfair” tool.
Canadian Air Force Office of Public Affairs. (1996). The Flying Career of William Avery Bishop. [WWW Document] Retrieved May 2nd, 2001 from the World Wide Web: http://www.ukans.edu/~kansite/ww_one/comment/bishop.html
In fact, several black men across the nation had mastered many of the key technological aspects of flight. There were many black aviators amongst the earliest fliers of transcontinental flights. For example James Banning, who learned to fly from a...
Hook: You were sitting on the couch watching TV (like always) until you suddenly hear some noises outside, you went to the window to see what all the racket was until you saw some animals galloping in the distance, they had beautiful manes, they were all different colors, and had very stunning patterns.
In 1940, Preston Tucker created the Tucker Aviation Corporation, and wanted to manufacture aircraft and marine engines. He designed a fighter aircraft, the Tucker XP-57, which the U.S.A.A.C. took an interest in. Again, this n...
Take a look at your car, it probably can only hit eighty on a good day. Then watch the top fuel and funny car dragsters of the National Hot Rod Association who get three hundred miles per hour on a bad day. You would be blown away at the diffrence in power. The pure power and the amount of noise that these cars produce will blow you away. I'm going to inform you on a lot of the amazing facts about the nitro powered dragsters of the NHRA. First, i'm going to inform you on how drag racing started and on how drag racing works, then how the dragsters work. Following that i'm going to explain how the equipment keeps the drivers and workers safe, finally I will explain how the sport is evolving,
History Wing Introduction." Home Page for the Wright Brothers Aeroplane Company and Wright-brothers.org. 1999. Web. 10 Apr. 2011. .
not encountered any struggles with enemy gunfire or warfare. When a pilot flies a jet 2,200 mph in the stratosphere, nothing is going to shoot it down; and the materials used to process this jet absorb many of the incoming radar signals to remain anonymous to the enemy. A parachute is also on board in case of any emergencies (SR71 Blackbird).
In 1957, the army began developing a new fighting force based on the helicopter. ...
Since the time of the World Wars and the Wright brothers, aviation has become a huge part of global society. The Orville and Wilbur Wright’s names will forever be remembered into United States history as the first men who were the first to fully realized human flight. Their successful invention of a working, powered airplane brought about whole new ways of wars, including new strategies for both offense and defense. Many technological advances might not have occurred without the need for new weapons and systems for airplanes. Travel and commerce would be much slower without the usage of airplanes. Orville and Wilbur have made a lasting impact on the world with their invention of a working, human-controlled, powered airplane; who knows what the world would be without it.