One thing I all ways wondered was that given it's success, no one thought to scale-up the SR-71 into a bomber the way Boeing scaled up the B-47 to the B-52. About the closest we came was the XB-70, which was able to cruise at Mach 3, but was cancelled due in part to improves SAMs. This also put to lie the Blackbird's alleged max speed of Mach 3, because if they were afraid of the Valk getting shot down at that speed, why wouldn't the SR-71 be equally vulnerable?
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Originally posted by F22trainer View Post:Cool: The SR-71 actually outran the missiles...
by the time it was detected, the Blackbird was already out of range.
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Originally posted by boomer108 View PostThe SR-71 was a awesome plane, I saw them taking off many times out of Mildenhall RAF when I was TDY there. Also had a chance to mid air refuel one when I was checked out on the Q model KC-135'S.
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Originally posted by Valkpilot View Post
When I was flying from Clark AFB in the Philippines to LA, the plane stopped in Okinawa and as we were taxiing to the refueling area one taxied past us and took off.
I was able to watch a couple of them leave while I was there.
Possibly one reason for not creating a bomber version of the SR-71, is how hot it became during its flight. High temperatures and high explosives isn't always a good mix.
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Originally posted by Hoomi View Post
I was on TDY to Kadena AB in Okinawa, around 1978-79. The techs stationed there told us to watch for a KC-135 taking off, because one would always precede a Habu launch. Because the SR-71 was a "wet-wing" aircraft, with the tanks essentially not being fully sealed until the plane started heating up from air friction, they would always refuel mid-air after take-off, before speeding away on their mission.
I was able to watch a couple of them leave while I was there.
Possibly one reason for not creating a bomber version of the SR-71, is how hot it became during its flight. High temperatures and high explosives isn't always a good mix.
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Originally posted by Hoomi View PostTrue, but cameras and electronic sensor arrays aren't as likely to explode in huge fireballs if the heat gets to them. :Scared:
I've never read if heat was an issue on the Valkyrie.
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In the early 1960s the airframe that eventually morphed into the SR-71 was conceived as a next generation interceptor designated the YF-12. In addition to my primary duty of a F101B interceptor pilot, my extra duty was Squadron Intelligence Officer for the 49th FIS based at Griffiss AFB, in Rome,NY. I gave mission capabilities briefings on the YF-12. The main reason that this airframe was not practical as a bomber was the problem of weapon delivery. In order to maintain it's stealth signature,as well as the ability to withstand the skin temperatures, weapons had to be transported internally. At the speed this plane maintained it was causing some difficulties in launching missiles,much less trying to drop an unpowered bomb from an internal bomb bay.
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That is some inside info coolness right there! I often marvel at the backgrounds of many in this community.My YouTube RC videos:
https://www.youtube.com/@toddbreda
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Originally posted by VOODOO View PostIn the early 1960s the airframe that eventually morphed into the SR-71 was conceived as a next generation interceptor designated the YF-12. In addition to my primary duty of a F101B interceptor pilot, my extra duty was Squadron Intelligence Officer for the 49th FIS based at Griffiss AFB, in Rome,NY. I gave mission capabilities briefings on the YF-12. The main reason that this airframe was not practical as a bomber was the problem of weapon delivery. In order to maintain it's stealth signature,as well as the ability to withstand the skin temperatures, weapons had to be transported internally. At the speed this plane maintained it was causing some difficulties in launching missiles,much less trying to drop an unpowered bomb from an internal bomb bay.
But what about modern materials, such as composites?
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Originally posted by Valkpilot View PostOne thing I all ways wondered was that given it's success, no one thought to scale-up the SR-71 into a bomber the way Boeing scaled up the B-47 to the B-52. About the closest we came was the XB-70, which was able to cruise at Mach 3, but was cancelled due in part to improves SAMs. This also put to lie the Blackbird's alleged max speed of Mach 3, because if they were afraid of the Valk getting shot down at that speed, why wouldn't the SR-71 be equally vulnerable?
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