SR-72 Confirmed: Mach 6 Project Blackswift

reply to post by Stealthbomber


You may be right.

I can certainly be out of date.

I knew about several studies 40 years ago. They seemed very consistent in their replications of prior studies.

I haven't read in that area much in the last 40 years.

Sorry for my blather.

a reply to: Zaphod58

Time to chime in. The military doesn't release classified technology unless it being outed by other countries. The Sabre program in the UK is a main driver in the slow release right now of hypersonic technology.

The US has already proven this technology and airframe. We prefer to play dumb and double grind on funding than rather play smart until the time is right. It really is the best way to keep something secret.

In regards to going Mach 4 and beyond...which the SR-71 did...is presented with myriad of issues: heat, atmospheric force, and lift. At those speeds you really aren't flying in the traditional sense, it is your immense kinetic acceleration/velocity that is keep you aloft. As far as heat, the USAF looked at the quantum level of physics for resolve.

a reply to: themadgenius

The SR-71 never went mach 4. This is well documented.

a reply to: boomer135

Of course it did, you must not have got the memo about the antigrav system
haha

originally posted by: Stealthbomber
a reply to: boomer135

Of course it did, you must not have got the memo about the antigrav system

haha

Oh that's right...my mistake

originally posted by: boomer135
a reply to: themadgenius

The SR-71 never went mach 4. This is well documented.

Never did, but what passed by over head certainly was doing so - Air Traffic Control told the SR-71 crew by mistake.

That's straight from the mouth of a Sled driver.

The SR-71 is still classified as to its top speed and max altitude

Studies done fairly recently by a team of researchers suggested the SR-71 was capable of speeds in excess of mach 6 (with modifications to inlets) and the airframe was capable of 130,000ft

All the Russians have said about it is it was too high and too fast

And to think... This aircraft is how many years old now? 50 years?

a reply to: TritonTaranis

The flight manual and speeds have been declassified for years. It never broke Mach 4. The only thing still classified is where it flew.

im pretty pesimistic about the current lockheed management and skunk works ability to create another masterpiece.. the JSF debacle really diminished my faithed toward skunkworks / LM as a whole..

a reply to: TritonTaranis

Mig 31s intercepted it without engagements by virtue of our turning away.

a reply to: cavtrooper7

With the turning radius they had by the time they turned away the Foxbat would have easily caught them.

Just intrigued by the confirmation of this project. Makes me wonder if they'll ever confirm if something like the Aurora was tested before, as the witnesses in TV documentaries claimed.

a reply to: DaboiaAlien

There was no Aurora. The name was seen in the budget and it was assumed that it was a high speed aircraft, when the reality was much more mundane, and it was funding for the B-2.

a reply to: Zaphod58

Thank you for the correction.I must have read propaganda again.

a reply to: cavtrooper7

That was always the drawback to the Blackbird. At speed, it could take several hundred miles for a 180 degree turn. They had to carefully lay out the route for turns to make sure they got all the targets.

originally posted by: DaboiaAlien
Just intrigued by the confirmation of this project. Makes me wonder if they'll ever confirm if something like the Aurora was tested before, as the witnesses in TV documentaries claimed.

i think it was ben rich grom skunk works that debunked the Aurora code name in the budget as a cover for the hypersonic hydrogen fueled spy plane they trying unsuccessfully to make after SR71

The very fact that a black program is mentioned here on ATS means that it is not truly BLACK.

originally posted by: subtopia
The very fact that a black program is mentioned here on ATS means that it is not truly BLACK.

Depends on if your talking about former black programs now declassified or current black programs.

Makes me wonder if this SR-72 will lead to another good proof-of-concept, or another cancelled beauty.

Just out of interest.....anyone know where Intelgurl has gone?