Across the span of the 20th century, major progressions unfolded in the world of aviation technology. At the same time, there were notable strides in the evolution of tools and technology used for detecting aircraft. In the early 1960s, Lockheed started a project aimed at crafting a streamlined, swift reconnaissance aircraft using top-tier titanium. The hurdle lay in the fact that a large portion of the titanium originated 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 presented challenges in both its workability and accessibility. The United States faced a scarcity of the ore essential for its production, while the Soviet Union emerged as the primary supplier. Amid the tensions of the Cold War, both nations guarded their information closely, leading the US government to withhold details of its activities from 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
During the Yom Kippur War, the United States closely monitored the conflict between Israel and a coalition of Arab states. The SR-71 Blackbird was the perfect reconnaissance tool to follow the conflict as it unfolded. Pilots were deployed on missions lasting between three to four hours, with some extending up to 11 hours. They were tasked with gaining crucial intelligence regarding the positions of both parties.
Speaking to 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.
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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.”