From: skunk-works-digest-owner@mail.orst.edu To: skunk-works-digest@mail.orst.edu Subject: Skunk Works Digest V5 #49 Reply-To: skunk-works-digest@mail.orst.edu Errors-To: skunk-works-digest-owner@mail.orst.edu Precedence: bulk Skunk Works Digest Wednesday, 30 March 1994 Volume 05 : Number 049 In this issue: [none] SR-71 programs. Re: SR-71 programs. Assistance Aviation BBS's RAF Lyneham Digest Re: SR-71 See the end of the digest for information on subscribing to the skunk-works or skunk-works-digest mailing lists and on how to retrieve back issues. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: TMILLER@UTCVM.UTC.EDU Date: Tue, 29 Mar 94 09:02:35 EST Subject: [none] login ------------------------------ From: tpoole@psi.wilmer.com (Poole, Timothy) Date: Tue, 29 Mar 94 11:01:24 EST Subject: SR-71 programs. Just how big is this target that is to be launched from the SR-71 that it could be carried UNDERNEATH it? I didn't think the main gear on the 'Bird was that long. ------------------------------ From: larry@ichips.intel.com Date: Tue, 29 Mar 1994 11:46:15 -0800 Subject: Re: SR-71 programs. >... >In the March 21st issue of Aviation Week there is an article on how >the SR-71 may be used to lauch targets for missle defense tests. >... >Two immediate problems come to my mind. > >a) We had problems before jetisoning the protective cone on the D-21 > so we probably will have those same problems again. The reason for the nose and tail shrouds on the D was to reduce drag and allow faster acceleration in the MD configuration to launch speed. Acceleration to launch speed was too slow, without something being done. Some of the things that were done: The previously mentioned nose and tail shrouds on the D. New model J-58's with higher thrust, that were originally destined for the USAF SR fleet, were grabbed for the MD program. Attempts at burning the ramjet to help increase the thrust in the MD configuration, were done. This was facilitated by the fact that the D burned the M's fuel (JP-7). A vertical dive by the MD configuration to go transonic and assist acceleration. >b) We lost an M-12 when the D-21 was launched, hit the plane's shockwave, > bounced back downward and broke the back of the M-12. More importantly > than the M-12 was the loss of human life that occurred. The 'unofficial' (but from good sources) reason for the 'bounce' was an inlet unstart on the D when it hit the M's bow shock. Remember that the D was on its own after launch. When the D's flight control system sensed the unstart, the maneuver was to go to down elevon on the D (nose down) and then do a TEB shot (relight operation) in the ramjet combustor. The D does not have a translatable (moveable fore and aft) inlet spike (this is technically untrue because the spike did translate to split the shroud, but that was only to split the shroud). There are launch videos (not all show this) of the D coming off the pylon where you can see a little ... POOF ... out the back of the D soon after launch. That is from the TEB shot. If you watch the trailing edge of the D closely you can also see down elevon being applied. In other words, you have an airbreather that is under complete autopilot control, experiencing an inlet unstart a few feet from the mother ship that launched it, and going to down elevon (towards the M) to recover! >So why do we want to try something so risky again? As you can see, assuming the above is true, launch from underneath would work better, if only the M had long landing gear ala B-58. Also, it might be possible to do shroud seperation after launch, if the shroud COMPLETELY covers the missile, in other words, the shroud is not designed to integrate the missile INTO the SR's fuselage (to eliminate shock impingement from the missile's fuselage on the SR's fuselage perhaps). > Just how big is this target that is to be launched from the > SR-71 that it could be carried UNDERNEATH it? I didn't > think the main gear on the 'Bird was that long. It is small. The Lockheed SR-71 Researchers Guide also mentiones launch from underneath. Larry ------------------------------ From: TMiller Date: Tue, 29 Mar 94 15:33:02 EST Subject: Assistance I have been unable to access archives. Does anyone have some hints on how to do this? Thanks. ------------------------------ From: schneider joshua e Date: Tue, 29 Mar 1994 18:58:57 -0600 (CST) Subject: Aviation BBS's XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX For all fellow Skunk-Works members XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Call FLIGHTLINE AVIATION BBS. **(217) 255-5959** XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX SVGA PROTOCOL....VIEW GIFS ONLINE. AWESOME INTERFACE..... XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX ------------------------------ From: Matthew_Williams@empyr.dircon.co.uk (Matthew Williams) Date: Tue, 29 Mar 94 23:57:15 GMT Subject: RAF Lyneham Dear UK Skunk readers, RAF Lyneham on weekdays is a good place to see multiple Hercules doing practice STOLs and steep turns. Boring but true. I have seen it a few times whilst travelling past on the motorway. RAF Lyneham has got a very easy to view runway from the village nearby. It is usualy quite active as this is where all most of the Armed Services flights come and go from with Customs clearance facilities aswell! This is where the Purple Airways flights quite often originate (ie Royal Family). They don't have to clear Customs. Hmmmm. Off topic but I did hear somebody talking about Hercs and they aint exactly F117 stuff. So I bow politely and now leave. Thanks also to the folks who took over Skunkworks. - -- Via DLG Pro v1.0 ----------------------------------------------------------------- "THERE ARE MONKEY BOYS IN THE ___/\___ " Salutations FACILITY" /________\ Great Buckaroo Matthew_Williams@empyr.dircon.co.uk _/ \_ Banzai! " ------------------------------ From: mikek@cscns.com (Mike Keithly) Date: Tue, 29 Mar 1994 21:52:01 -0700 (MST) Subject: Digest Just making sure you get this message to get me hooked up to recieve the Skunk Works digest. Thanks -- mikek@cscns.com ------------------------------ From: dadams@netcom.com (Dean Adams) Date: Tue, 29 Mar 1994 21:29:20 -0800 Subject: Re: SR-71 tpoole@psi.wilmer.com (Poole, Timothy) says... > Just how big is this target that is to be launched from the > SR-71 that it could be carried UNDERNEATH it? I didn't > think the main gear on the 'Bird was that long. The SR has fairly good ground clearance... at the point where they would attach the payload in question, there is just over 4.5 feet of space available. I'd say the Blackbird actually has quite a bit of room to move around underneath it... Under the wings there is about six feet of clearance for example, and its possible to stand up straight when looking inside the landing gear and chine bays. ------------------------------ End of Skunk Works Digest V5 #49 ******************************** To subscribe to skunk-works-digest, send the command: subscribe skunk-works-digest in the body of a message to "majordomo@mail.orst.edu". 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