AirSkyBuster : Aircraft and Airplane

image dimensions : 1200 x 749

SR-71 Blackbird (wallpaper 4)
SR-71 Blackbird aircraft images wallpaper gallery 4. SR-71 Blackbird airplane pictures collection 4.
The SR-71 was the first operational aircraft designed around a stealthy shape and materials. There were a number of features in the SR-71 that were designed to reduce its radar signature. The first studies in radar stealth technology seemed to indicate that a shape with flattened, tapering sides would avoid reflecting most radar energy toward the radar beams' place of origin. To this end, the radar engineers suggested adding chines to the design and canting the vertical control surfaces inward. The aircraft also used special radar-absorbing materials which were incorporated into sawtooth shaped sections of the skin of the aircraft, as well as cesium-based fuel additives to reduce the exhaust plumes' visibility on radar. SR-71 Blackbird (wallpaper 4). SR-71 Blackbird aircraft images wallpaper gallery 4. SR-71 Blackbird airplane pictures collection 4. Despite these efforts, the SR-71 was still easily detected on radar while traveling at speed due to its large exhaust stream and air heated by the body (large thermal gradients in the atmosphere are detectable with radar). The SR-71's radar cross section (RCS) of almost 10 square meters was much greater than the later F-117's RCS, which is similar to that of a small ball bearing. The overall effectiveness of these designs is still debated; Ben Rich's team could show that the radar return was, in fact, reduced, but Kelly Johnson later conceded that Russian radar technology was advancing faster than the "anti-radar" technology Lockheed was using to counter it. The SR-71 made its debut years before Pyotr Ya. Ufimtsev's ground-breaking research made possible today's stealth technologies, and, despite Lockheed's best efforts, the SR-71 was still easy to track by radar and had a huge infrared signature when cruising at Mach 3.2 or more. It was visible on air traffic control radar for hundreds of miles, even when not using its transponder. SR-71s were evidently detected by radar, as missiles were often fired at them. SR-71 Blackbird (wallpaper 4). SR-71 Blackbird aircraft images wallpaper gallery 4. SR-71 Blackbird airplane pictures collection 4.

image dimensions : 1200 x 749

SR-71 Blackbird (wallpaper 3)
SR-71 Blackbird aircraft images wallpaper gallery 3. SR-71 Blackbird airplane pictures collection 3.
This public disclosure of the program and its renaming came as a shock to everyone at the Skunk Works and to Air Force personnel involved in the program. All of the printed maintenance manuals, flight crew handbooks, training slides and materials were labeled "R-12" and 18 June 1965 Certificates of Completion issued by the Skunk Works to the first Air Force Flight Crews and their Wing Commander were labeled "R-12 Flight Crew Systems Indoctrination, Course VIII". The name change was taken as an order from the Commander-in-Chief, and immediate reprinting began of materials, including 29,000 blueprints, with the new name. A particularly difficult issue with flight at over Mach 3 is the high temperatures generated. SR-71 Blackbird (wallpaper 3). SR-71 Blackbird aircraft images wallpaper gallery 3. SR-71 Blackbird airplane pictures collection 3. As an aircraft moves through the air at supersonic speed, the air in front of the aircraft is compressed into a supersonic shock wave, and the energy generated by this heats the airframe. To address this problem, high-temperature materials were needed, and the airframe of the SR-71 was substantially made of titanium, obtained from the USSR at the height of the Cold War. Lockheed used many guises to prevent the Soviet government from knowing what the titanium was to be used for. In order to control costs, Lockheed used a more easily-worked alloy of titanium which softened at a lower temperature. Finished aircraft were painted a dark blue (almost black) to increase the emission of internal heat (since fuel was used as a heat sink for avionics cooling) and to act as camouflage against the night sky. The aircraft was designed to minimize its radar cross-section, an early attempt at stealth design. The call sign of the aircraft, "Blackbird", signifies the resistance of its airframe to visible light and radar detection. SR-71 Blackbird (wallpaper 3). SR-71 Blackbird aircraft images wallpaper gallery 3. SR-71 Blackbird airplane pictures collection 3.

image dimensions : 1200 x 749

SR-71 Blackbird (wallpaper 2)
SR-71 Blackbird aircraft images wallpaper gallery 2. SR-71 Blackbird airplane pictures collection 2.
The SR-71 designator is a continuation of the pre-1962 bomber series, which ended with the XB-70 Valkyrie. During the later period of its testing, the B-70 was proposed for a reconnaissance/strike role, with an RS-70 designation. When it was clear that the A-12 performance potential was much greater, the Air Force ordered a variant of the A-12 in December 1962. Originally named R-12 by Lockheed, the Air Force version was longer and heavier than the A-12, with a longer fuselage to hold more fuel, two seats in the cockpit, and reshaped chines. Reconnaissance equipment included signals intelligence sensors, a side-looking radar and a photo camera. SR-71 Blackbird (wallpaper 2). SR-71 Blackbird aircraft images wallpaper gallery 2. SR-71 Blackbird airplane pictures collection 2. The CIA's A-12 remained a better photo reconnaissance platform than the Air Force's R-12, however, especially since the A-12 flew higher and faster, and with only one pilot it had room to carry a superior camera and more instruments. During the 1964 campaign, Republican presidential nominee Barry Goldwater repeatedly criticized President Lyndon B. Johnson and his administration for falling behind the Soviet Union in developing new weapons. Johnson decided to counter this criticism by revealing the existence of the YF-12A Air Force interceptor (which also served as cover for the still-secret A-12) and, on 25 July 1964, the Air Force reconnaissance model. Air Force Chief of Staff General Curtis LeMay preferred the SR (Strategic Reconnaissance) designation and wanted the RS-71 to be named SR-71. Before the July speech, LeMay lobbied to modify Johnson's speech to read SR-71 instead of RS-71. The media transcript given to the press at the time still had the earlier RS-71 designation in places, creating the story that the president had misread the aircraft's designation. SR-71 Blackbird (wallpaper 2). SR-71 Blackbird aircraft images wallpaper gallery 2. SR-71 Blackbird airplane pictures collection 2.

image dimensions : 1200 x 749

SR-71 Blackbird (wallpaper 1)
SR-71 Blackbird aircraft images wallpaper gallery 1. SR-71 Blackbird airplane pictures collection 1.
The Lockheed SR-71 "Blackbird" was an advanced, long range, Mach 3+ strategic reconnaissance aircraft. It was developed from the Lockheed A-12 reconnaissance aircraft in the 1960s by the Lockheed Skunk Works as a black project. Clarence "Kelly" Johnson was responsible for many of the design's innovative concepts. During reconnaissance missions the SR-71 operated at high speeds and altitudes to allow it to outrace threats; if a surface-to-air missile launch was detected, standard evasive action was simply to accelerate. The SR-71 was in service with the U.S. Air Force from 1964 to 1998. Twelve of the 32 aircraft were destroyed in accidents; none were lost to enemy action. SR-71 Blackbird (wallpaper 1). SR-71 Blackbird aircraft images wallpaper gallery 1. SR-71 Blackbird airplane pictures collection 1. The SR-71 was unofficially named the Blackbird, and called the Habu by its crews, referring to an Okinawan species of pit viper. Since 1976, it has held the world record for the fastest air-breathing manned aircraft, a record previously held by the YF-12. The Lockheed A-12, designed for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) by Clarence Johnson at the Lockheed Skunk Works, was the precursor of the SR-71. The A-12's first flight took place at Groom Lake (Area 51), Nevada, on 25 April 1962. It was equipped with the less powerful Pratt & Whitney J75 engines due to protracted development of the intended Pratt & Whitney J58. The J58s were retrofitted as they became available, and became the standard power plant for all subsequent aircraft in the series (A-12, YF-12, M-21) as well as the follow-on SR-71 aircraft. Thirteen A-12s were built. Two A-12 variants were also developed, including three YF-12A interceptor prototypes, and two M-21 drone carrier variants. The cancellation of A-12 program was announced on 28 December 1966, due to budget concerns, and because of the forthcoming SR-71. The A-12 flew missions over Vietnam and North Korea before its retirement in 1968. SR-71 Blackbird (wallpaper 1). SR-71 Blackbird aircraft images wallpaper gallery 1. SR-71 Blackbird airplane pictures collection 1.