The Project

A visit to the aviation museum in Duxford introduced me to the only SR71A Blackbird on display in Europe. Sitting in "The American Air Museum" section it truely is an overwhelming sight. And once you start thinking about what it was capable of (when in service), what it did and WHERE, once gets addicted to this baby.

It was world record holder in speed (mach 3.31).

It operated in altitudes which weren't even believed by air traffic controllers guiding the aircraft. 

Pilot: Radar, Good Day, Airforce Blackbird, request FL 600
Controller (with a chuckle): Sir, if you can reach, you are cleared FL 600
Pilot: US Air Force Blackbird, leaving FL 800, decending Level 600

It set the altitude record in horizontal flight when it flew at 85069ft in July 1976.

It is powered by two Pratt&Whittney J-58 turbojet engines. In fact, the aircraft was designed and built "around" them.

Although it flew three times the speed of sound, jet engines can only operate by taking in air, which is subsonic. The spikes at the front of the engine are designed to slow down the air.

Its fuel is JP-7, which is low volatile Jet Propellant Type 7, to allow the SR71 to fly in the heat generated by its speed. This fuel is ignited by reaction with triethyl borane, which on the other hand is so volatile, that it will ignite spontaneously in plain air!

You see, the SR71 is an aircraft with attitude! And you can operate it now within your FS2004 environment!

This is a cross-promotion project with SONY Pictures Germany for their movie "Stealth - Under the Radar" coming to theaters on September 15th 2005.

Do you want to win a ticket and other prizes?  Visit back and check it out soon!