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Developed as reconnaissance aircraft more than 40 years ago, SR-71s are still the world's fastest and highest-flying production aircraft.
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The aircraft can fly more than 2200 mph (Mach 3+ or more than three times the speed of sound) and at altitudes of over 85,000 feet.
As research platforms, the aircraft can cruise at Mach 3 for more than one hour.
In flight the titanium skin is heated to 500°C and expands by 15cm.
The fuselage has longtitudinal creases to absorb this heat expansion but unsealed tanks leak fuel while on the ground.
The Pratt & Whitney J-58 enigines start flight as turbojets, then become ramjets above Mach 1.6, requiring a steep dive due to anaemic low speed peformance.
The SR-71's JP-7 fuel is used as a coolant and lubricant during flight, and contains caesium to mask the radar signature of the exhaust plume. Wiki:
SR-71
