Throughout the course of the 20th century, many advancements happened in the realm of aviation technology. Simultaneously, there were remarkable developments in the improvement of tools and technology used for aircraft detection. In the early 1960s, Lockheed started a project with the goal of constructing a sleek and fast reconnaissance aircraft utilizing high-grade titanium. The challenge arose from the fact that most of titanium needed had to be sourced from the Soviet Union
A special aircraft requires special materials
The SR-71 Blackbird project was run through Lockheed’s Skunk Works. The aircraft was intended to be an update on the A-12, the company’s previous reconnaissance aircraft. The lead engineer on both projects was Clarence “Kelly” Johnson.
Developers working on the project were under intense pressure and tight deadlines from the US government. During his 1964 presidential campaign, Republican candidate Barry Goldwater slammed President Lyndon B. Johnson for allowing the United States to fall behind the USSR when it came to military technology.
The SR-71 was designed to be bigger than the A-12, so it could carry more fuel and allow for a dual-cockpit. At the same time, the updated aircraft needed to be faster than its predecessor. As such the project was challenging for the engineers at Lockheed, with Johnson recalling a number of years later, “Everything had to be invented. Everything.”
Lockheed engineers came up with a solution
The SR-71 Blackbird was engineered for exceptional speed, capable of reaching velocities of up to 2,000 MPH and sustaining them for extended periods. Nonetheless, this generated atmospheric friction, which posed a risk of melting the airframe, with temperatures surpassing 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit along the edges.
To counter this issue, the aircraft had to be clad in titanium. Lockheed emphasizes that, “Titanium alloy was the only option for the airframe – providing the strength of stainless steel, a relatively light weight and durability at the excessive temperatures.”
The material soon presented challenges in handling due to its high sensitivity and tendency to become fragile. Skunk Works engineers faced recurring issues with the alloy breaking when using cadmium-plated steel tools, leading to the development of titanium tools. Additionally, assembly line machinists required instruction on optimal techniques for working with the material.
Titanium wasn’t readily obtainable
Titanium posed problems due to its malleability and availability. The United States faced a shortage of the crucial ore needed for its manufacturing, with the Soviet Union emerging as the main source. In the midst of Cold War tensions, both nations closely safeguarded their intelligence, prompting the US government to hold back from disclosing specifics about its operations to the Soviets.
Colonel Rich Graham, an SR-71 pilot and former wing commander, explained to the BBC:
“The airplane is [92 percent] titanium inside and out. Back when they were building the airplane the United States didn’t have the ore supplies – an ore called rutile ore. It’s a very sandy soil and it’s only found in very few parts of the world. The major supplier of the ore was the USSR. Working through Third World countries and bogus operations, they were able to get the rutile ore shipped to the United States to build the SR-71.”
The SR-71 Blackbird proved itself during the Yom Kippur War
Throughout the Yom Kippur War, the United States United States maintained close surveillance of the conflict between Israel and a coalition of Arab states. Employing the SR-71 Blackbird, an ideal reconnaissance asset, allowed for continuous monitoring of the unfolding events. Pilots embarked on missions ranging from three to eleven hours, tasked with acquiring key intelligence concerning the positions of the conflicting parties.
In an interview with the BBC, Col. Rich Graham recalled;
“The President wanted to find out whether the Arabs and the Israelis had really moved back from the front line like they said they did. We went over there, took the imagery, came back and showed photographic proof they were both lying about where their forces were. He called both countries and said, ‘Get them back, I’ve got proof you’re not where you’re supposed to be.’ That’s what ended the Yom Kippur War.”
The legacy of the SR-71 Blackbird
The SR-71 Blackbird was operational from 1966 through to 1998, although NASA continued to use the aircraft for an additional year. It was continuously the fastest aircraft of its time during its service. The SR-71 was utilized during the Israeli invasion of Lebanon, in addition to the Yom Kippur War, as well as during the 1986 US raid on Libya and helped reveal Iranian Silkworm missile batteries.
More from us: Lockheed AC-130: The Gunship That Provided Much Needed Support in Vietnam
Not everyone was happy when the decision was made to retire the aircraft. Former astronaut and Senator John Glenn wound up writing to President George H.W. Bush:
“Mr. President, the termination of the SR-71 was a grave mistake and could place our nation at a serious disadvantage in the event of a future crisis. Yesterday’s historic transcontinental flight was a sad memorial to our short-sighted policy in strategic aerial reconnaissance.”