Flying at altitudes and speeds unheard of for contemporary jet aircraft, the Blackbird family required a fuel with unique properties to perform in the extremes the aircraft would be subject to. The Mach 3+ speeds of the Lockheed A-12, M-21, YF-12A, and SR-71 would heat fuel up to 350 degrees, and, lacking insulated fuel tanks, […]| The Aviationist
Ever wondered what generates the diamond pattern in the SR-71 jet engine exhaust? It is due to the additional thrust generated by the afterburner, resulting in sequential shock waves that appear as the diamond pattern. Except for refueling, the SR-71 engines operate in continuous afterburner mode. Aluminum was incorporated into the latex when the tires […] The post Facts You Probably Didn’t Know About The SR-71 Blackbird appeared first on Aviation Humor.| Aviation Humor