Hit me with some weird trivia. I know you guys know about so many and varied things.
My brain wants new stuff.
Share something random.
The only SR-71C Blackbird made is on display at the Hill Aerospace Museum in Utah.
It was given the nickname "The Bastard" because it was built out of the rear section of a YF-12 and an SR71 engineering mockup. Being made from 2 planes it was assembled slightly crooked and flew as such.
I thought all the Blackbirds were hinky in the air. iirc, one of the pilots spoke of dealing with fuel leaks at speed and altitude.
@northernbassist @Coffee_and_Salt
Notoriously finicky to control oand leaked fuel (by design) until flight temperatures allowed the Titanium to expand enough to "seal" the gaps.
A marvel in many ways, some of them a little alarming.
@Pgfrisby @northernbassist the expanding titanium sealant is mad science. 😂 will it work? Yea. Should we do it? No!
@Coffee_and_Salt @northernbassist
'It'll be fine, the JP-7 fuel won't ignite unless we use a pyrophoric and toxic ignition source.'
They choose Triethylborane. Which is just a nasty compound that will auto ignite at temperatures as low as -4°F
@Pgfrisby @northernbassist alright gotta go educate myself a little on this but I’m doing to go out on a plane wing here and say that was an insane choice.