Lecture on the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird

Introduction

• Speaker: Jake O'Neal, creator of Animagraffs
• Topic: Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird - reconnaissance aircraft used by the USAF
• Entered service in 1966, known for not carrying bombs or guns
• Defenses include high speed and altitude (Mach 3.2, 2,200+ mph, altitudes up to 85,000 feet)
• Never shot down; evaded missiles by outrunning them

Design and Structure

• Size: Larger compared to other aircraft of its era due to fuel requirements
• Fuel Capacity:
  • 12,219.2 gallons
  • Two-thirds of fuselage for cylindrical fuel tanks
  • Fuel weighs around 80,285 pounds

Jet Engines

• Placement: Integrated into the wings, known as nacelles
• Key Components:
  • Movable inlet cones ("spikes")
  • Elevons (row of flaps) and rudders
  • Two cockpits: Pilot and Reconnaissance Systems Officer
  • Equipment bays with mission-specific components

Exterior Aerodynamics

• Design Considerations:
  • Engines tilted slightly downwards on ground
  • 6 degrees positive rotation at altitude
• Delta Wing Design:
  • Sharp, thin wings for supersonic speed
  • Comb air into smooth supersonic shock waves
  • Chines for stability, lift, and reduced radar cross-section

Stealth and Materials

• Stealth Features:
  • Radar-absorbing composite material and stealth shaping
• Construction Materials:
  • Titanium for strength and heat resistance
  • Corrugations on wings for expansion and strength

Engine Mechanics

Jet Engine Operation

• Components:
  • Inlet spike, jet engine, rotors & stators for airflow
  • Compressor, combustor, and turbine sections for basic turbojet design
• Afterburner:
  • Fuel-efficient at high speeds, continuous at cruising speed
  • Converging/diverging nozzle for converting heat/pressure into velocity

Inlet Spike

• Function: Align shock waves to optimize supersonic air intake
• Adjustments: Spike retracts at Mach 1.6, moves up to 26 inches at Mach 3.2
• Thrust Generation: 58% thrust from pressure recovery at Mach 3.2
• Unstarts: Abrupt loss of thrust due to shock wave misalignment

Fuel System

• Fuel: JP-7, non-ignitable below 466 degrees F
• Ignition: Triethylborane (TEB)
• Tank Construction: No bladders, relies on panel gaps for expansion
• Refueling: Requires mid-air refueling after takeoff due to weight constraints

Flight Control Surfaces

• Components:
  • Dual rudders above each engine
  • Elevons (combined ailerons/elevators) for roll and pitch
• Mechanical Linkages:
  • Mixer for blending pitch and roll inputs
  • Separate control cables for flight stick commands

Cockpit and Landing Gear

Cockpit Overview

• Instruments:
  • Attitude indicator, HSI, altimeter, airspeed, Mach indicator
  • Fuel flow, oil pressure, hydraulic pressure, exhaust indicators
• Controls:
  • Inlet, spike, and engine controls
  • Communication and emergency systems

Landing Gear

• Configuration: Single nose wheel, twin rear gear
• Chute: 40 ft diameter drag chute for landing
• Tires: High flash point with aluminum powder, pressurized to 400 psi

Reconnaissance and Equipment

• Equipment Bays:
  • Liquid oxygen supply, radar recording, and technical objective cameras
• Navigation: Astro Inertial Navigation System (ANS)
• Defensive Systems: Equipment for radar and missile countermeasures

Conclusion

• Project Insights: Overview of the making of Animagraffs, future content.

Additional Information

• Emphasis on accuracy and functionality
• Rarity and significance of the SR-71 in aviation history