Message posted by noskcaJ (Member since 09/21/2022) on November 25, 2023 at 18:00:00 PST:
Thats right. IIRC watching interviews of SR71 pilots they would always say the "official top speed" was mach 3.3. If it was the *real* top speed they wouldn't phrase it as such. If the 71 was limited what are the odds the "72" uses (hypothetical) the new flexible ceramic that Smythers has been mentioning? The one thats great with radar return and great as a heat sync? And in response to Vern Moore: Would they even need the J58's as a placeholder engine? Why wouldn't they be able to use those in the (hypothetical) finished product? Lockheeds combined cycle propulsion diagram says the main turbine would get it to mach 3 which the J58 can do. Would just mean the plane would have to be a monster as the J58 is not a small engine.
In Reply to: Re: SR-72 posted by Casper on November 25, 2023 at 17:47:27 PST:
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