From: owner-skunk-works-digest@netwrx1.com (skunk-works-digest) To: skunk-works-digest@netwrx1.com Subject: skunk-works-digest V7 #46 Reply-To: skunk-works@netwrx1.com Sender: owner-skunk-works-digest@netwrx1.com Errors-To: owner-skunk-works-digest@netwrx1.com Precedence: bulk skunk-works-digest Wednesday, August 12 1998 Volume 07 : Number 046 Index of this digest by subject: *************************************************** A question of ID ADMINISTRATIVE NOTE/REQUEST Re: ADMINISTRATIVE NOTE/REQUEST Re: YF-110 Re: Dreamland I'm such an Idiot... RE: White 707? Re: YF-110 LOHARP (Low Observabillity High Altitude Reconnaissance Platform) RE: White 707? RE: White 707? (Warning - off topic) Re: White 707? Re:white 707s & A/C at Palmdale Re: White 707? RE: White 707? (Off-Topic) Re: A question of ID [none] Re: A question of ID RE: White 707? (Warning - off topic) Su-27 tail cone. Reviving the Blackbird SR-71 SR-71 engine thrust - Pratt & Whitney's new high thrust engines Re: SR-71 engine thrust - Pratt & Whitneys's new high thrust engines Re: SR-71 engine thrust - Pratt & Whitney's new high thrust engines *************************************************** ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 10 Aug 1998 02:34:08 +0000 From: John Szalay Subject: A question of ID - --=====================_902727300==_ Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" A question.. Found this in a current list of aircraft on the books of the AC boneyard in Ariz. While these planes are listed on their books, the A/C themselves are shown to be at Palmdale. I assume the same place that the A-12's were stored. can anybody ID the planes ? Curious.. BTW: this is a list from late July 1998 so its supposed to be up-to-date. - --=====================_902727300==_ Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Thu Jul 30 page 14 FREEDOM OF INFORMATION DATA NUMBER LOCATION TAIL NUMBER ARRIVAL DATE MDS - ------------ ------------ --------------- ---------------- ---------- AAAF0009 PALMDALE 99006940 15-APR-77 A011A AAAF0001 PALMDALE 99006924 15-APR-77 A011A AAAF0003 PALMDALE 99006927 15-APR-77 A011A AAAF0005 PALMDALE 99006931 15-APR-77 A011A AAAF0007 PALMDALE 99006937 15-APR-77 A011A AAAF0006 PALMDALE 99006933 15-APR-77 A011A AAAF0008 PALMDALE 99006938 15-APR-77 A011A AAAF0004 PALMDALE 99006930 15-APR-77 A011A AAAF0002 PALMDALE 99006925 15-APR-77 A011A - --=====================_902727300==_-- ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Aug 1998 02:41:30 GMT From: georgek@netwrx1.com (George R. Kasica) Subject: ADMINISTRATIVE NOTE/REQUEST Hello Again: Just a few simple notes/requests: 1) NO ATTACHMENTS OF ANY SORT on E-Mail. Many people still use readers that don't know how to handle this and it causes BIG problems. Also please remember our digests are created at 30K in size, one attachment can EASILY force a digest as happened today. 2) DO NOT QUOTE THE ENTIRE DIGEST! Just PLEASE use the piece you are replying to. Same reasoning as above, it happened again today and it just wastes bandwidth and drive space. 3) AGAIN...UFO type postings have their own forum. THIS IS NOT IT however. Please try to refrain from this type of posting unless you can tie it in reasonably to the already stated topics here. Thank you for your cooperation, George ===[George R. Kasica]=== +1 414 541 8579 Skunk-Works ListOwner +1 800 816 2568 FAX http://www.netwrx1.com West Allis, WI USA ICQ #12862186 Digest Issues at: http://www.netwrx1.com/skunk-works ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Aug 1998 02:52:47 +0000 From: John Szalay Subject: Re: ADMINISTRATIVE NOTE/REQUEST At 02:41 AM 8/10/98 GMT, you wrote: >H >1) NO ATTACHMENTS OF ANY SORT on E-Mail. Many people still use readers >that don't know how to handle this and it causes BIG problems. Also >please remember our digests are created at 30K in size, one attachment >can EASILY force a digest as happened today. > Sorry I forgot that rule, will not happen again. also forgot to point out the aircraft type code. according to the the numbering system used, this would show as A-11 or A 11 ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Aug 1998 00:04:22 EDT From: Xelex@aol.com Subject: Re: YF-110 The McDonnell F-110 Spectre has nothing whatsoever to do with the YF-110 designation for the MiG-21. Don't get the two mixed up. That would be as foolish as confusing the Red Hats with the Red Eagles. They are completely separate items. Peter W. Merlin ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Aug 1998 00:10:18 EDT From: Xelex@aol.com Subject: Re: Dreamland Dave Cox asked about the "Dreamland" designation for Groom Lake. Yes, it was the name of the airspace, and the callsign used by air traffic controllers. DREAMLAND airspace in the 1970s was originally pretty much the same as its 1960s predecessor YULETIDE, which was operated by Area 51 personnel from CP-1 on the Nevada Test Site. The DREAMLAND designation later came to refer to the airspace directly above Groom Lake and the Nevada Test Site (R-4808). Peter W. Merlin ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Aug 1998 13:20:17 +0900 From: "James Matthews" Subject: I'm such an Idiot... Guys: I'm so sorry about that!!... James. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Aug 1998 05:21:52 -0400 From: "James P. Stevenson" Subject: RE: White 707? Where is Pine Gap? >> Apologies if this isn't quite the right list for the question, but I >don't >> know of any better. >> >> A windowless, white 707 was recently seen at Alice Springs, >> Australia -- no apparent cargo door, and the only marking was a small >"N" >> number on the tail (just what the number was hasn't been communicated, >but it may be >> forthcoming.) >> >> There was a discussion of such 707s within the past few >> months somewhere on the net, but DejaNews and Metacrawler searches >don't turn anything up. >> >> Any suggestions as to what this airplane may have been would >> be appreciated. >> >> > >No slight to the ADF (Australian Defense Forces), but they don't have >all the bells and whistles the USA has in its arsenal. A 707 in Aussie >skies is not anything to sneeze at; they still exist here, especially >when it comes to ferrying around members of parliament. > >However, the description you provide, and its location, indicates a US >aircraft in conjunction with the US facility at nearby Pine Gap (a place >where Area 51 conspiracy buffs would find they died and went to heaven >as PG makes Area 51 seem like an amateur picnic in the park). > >Care to provide more details offline of this alleged sighting? > >Dennis > > ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Aug 1998 05:25:41 -0400 From: "James P. Stevenson" Subject: Re: YF-110 Peter, What is your source for the "YF-110" on the MiG-21? My understanding is that the Air Force began using designations after F-111 for the MiGs, e.g. F-112, F-113, etc. Jim >The McDonnell F-110 Spectre has nothing whatsoever to do with the YF-110 >designation for the MiG-21. Don't get the two mixed up. > >That would be as foolish as confusing the Red Hats with the Red Eagles. They >are completely separate items. > >Peter W. Merlin ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Aug 1998 07:02:55 -0400 From: "DW" Subject: LOHARP (Low Observabillity High Altitude Reconnaissance Platform) I recently received a "tid-bit" of information about the above platform, does anyone know anything about it? DW ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Aug 1998 23:17:58 +1200 (NZST) From: Kerry Ferrand Subject: RE: White 707? On Mon, 10 Aug 1998, James P. Stevenson wrote: > Where is Pine Gap? Not all that far from Alice Springs in the NT...stick a pin in the middle of Australia on a map and you wont be far off. US aircraft headed there (C-141s mainly) used to pass through the airport here in Christchurch, NZ - using the US Antarctic program support facilities we host. K ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Aug 1998 23:33:01 +1000 (EST) From: James Morris Subject: RE: White 707? (Warning - off topic) On Mon, 10 Aug 1998, Kerry Ferrand wrote: > On Mon, 10 Aug 1998, James P. Stevenson wrote: > > Where is Pine Gap? > > Not all that far from Alice Springs in the NT...stick a pin in the > middle of Australia on a map and you wont be far off. I was about to answer 'In a safe place' :-) Actually, perhaps someone on this list may be able to help with something I've been trying to track down for quite a while. A few years ago, I was listening on HF bands here (Australia) and picked up a message with a very strong signal. I could only hear what seemed to be the ground station, who was transmitting something to the effect of: "Sky King Sky King, this is Fresh Fruit. Do not respond." This was repeated a few times then a series of phonetic letters (Alpha, Bravo etc.) and numbers. Based on the frequency and conditions at the time, I'm reasonably sure that the transmitting station was within or very close to Australia. I've heard that 'Sky King' is a generic callsign for USAF aircraft, but have never been able to track down anything on 'Fresh Fruit'. My best guess is Pine Gap. If anyone can help me with information on this callsign, please let me know :-) - - James. - -- James Morris ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Aug 1998 09:28:45 -0500 From: Bill Hensley Subject: Re: White 707? Allen, there are two white four-engine aircraft in US service that might be the bird in question, the E-6B and the E-4B. The E-6 is called "TACAMO", it's a white 707, used for submarine communications. Some of the fleet have a large radome on top, just aft of the wings, that has a Milstar SATCOM dish. I doubt that one of those E-6s was in Australia. The E-4B is a white 747 with a blue stripe, and "United States of America" on the sides. There is a large radome on top of the hump, with both a Milstar and an SHF SATCOM dish. There was an E-4B in Australia recently, as a transport for the Secretary of Defense. I'd guess that this was the aircraft your friend saw, particularly of the tail number ended in 677. From a distance, I could see how the E-4B could be mistaken for a 707, maybe. Cheers, Bill Bill.Hensley@trw.com http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/Bill_Hensley/ - -------------------------------------- > Date: Sun, 9 Aug 1998 09:10:18 -0600 > From: "Allen Thomson" > Subject: White 707? > > Apologies if this isn't quite the right list for the question, but I don't > know of any > better. > > A windowless, white 707 was recently seen at Alice Springs, Australia -- no > apparent cargo door, and the only marking was a small "N" number on the tail > (just what the number was hasn't been communicated, but it may be > forthcoming.) > > There was a discussion of such 707s within the past few months somewhere on > the > net, but DejaNews and Metacrawler searches don't turn anything up. > > Any suggestions as to what this airplane may have been would be appreciated. > ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Aug 1998 10:48:50 -0400 From: kekeller@mindspring.com Subject: Re:white 707s & A/C at Palmdale This is a multi-part message in MIME format. - ------=_NextPart_000_019A_01BDC44C.755F9980 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Although it's been a number of years since I last saw them, The Air = Force operated all-white 707s as navaid validation aircraft, in = conjunction with FAA. I think their callsigns were "Flightcheck". Iused = to see (and hear) them shooting approaches to the ILS at an airport I = worked near. Regarding the aircraft listed as resident at Palmdale: I don't have my = ref books here at work, but the tail numbers sound like the ones = assigned to A-12s. Also, there are nine listed, and I think that's how = many I last read were stored at Palmdale. Regards, Kim - ------=_NextPart_000_019A_01BDC44C.755F9980 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
Although it's been a number of years = since I=20 last saw them, The Air Force operated all-white 707s as navaid = validation=20 aircraft, in conjunction with FAA. I think their callsigns were=20 "Flightcheck". Iused to see (and hear) them shooting = approaches to the=20 ILS at an airport I worked near.
 
Regarding the aircraft listed as = resident at=20 Palmdale: I don't have my ref books here at work, but the tail numbers = sound=20 like the ones assigned to A-12s. Also, there are nine listed, and I = think that's=20 how many I last read were stored at Palmdale.
 
Regards,
 
Kim
- ------=_NextPart_000_019A_01BDC44C.755F9980-- ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Aug 1998 11:35:35 -0500 (CDT) From: drbob@creighton.edu Subject: Re: White 707? Sorry to belabor an off-topic post, but there are several all-white 707s in USAF service which might well be the one described visiting Alice Springs. One is an EC-137D, which serves as the Special Ops Command VIP aircraft. I saw this recently while visiting Robins AFB, although I was told it had relocated to Florida. Another all-white 707 is a recent sighting, with no one having much clue about its function. It has been seen consistently at Wright-Patterson AFB. New Jersey ANG operates a single C-135B in discrete markings (white with very small serial number on the aft fuselage) which may appear from a distance to be a 707. E-Systems at Greenville, TX, frequently has oddball 707s show up for modification. These are often part of foreign air forces but carry N-numbers while in the possession of E-Systems. Finally, there are E-3 and E-8 trainer aircraft (both 707s), although I doubt that wither of these were the mystery Australian aircraft. No doubt there are other 707s, but I can't recall them. My guess is that the mystery aircraft was either the SOCOM EC-137 or the Wright-Patterson jet. Incidentally, model builders might be interested to know that a recent issue of Fine Scale Modeler reviewed conversion parts and decals for 1/48th scale U-2Rs. There! That was related to the Skunk Works! DrBob ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 11 Aug 1998 10:01:13 +0930 From: Dennis Lapcewich Subject: RE: White 707? (Off-Topic) > -----Original Message----- > From: James P. Stevenson [mailto:jamesstevenson@sprintmail.com] > Sent: Monday, August 10, 1998 6:52 PM > To: skunk-works@netwrx1.com > Subject: RE: White 707? > > > Where is Pine Gap? > The "Joint Defense Facility Pine Gap" located near Pine Gap, Northern Territory, Australia, is south-southwest of Alice Springs on the southern flank of the West MacDonnell Ranges, no more than an hour's drive from the edge of town. Check out http://www.nttc.com.au/pfm/index_maps.htm and select the Central Region Map. Unfortunately, you won't see it listed, but imagine it to be just east of the letter "g" at the end of the name Hermannsburg where the hard-surfaced road ends. Dennis ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Aug 1998 20:53:56 -0400 From: jeffhclark@juno.com Subject: Re: A question of ID On Mon, 10 Aug 1998 02:34:08 +0000 John Szalay writes: >Thu Jul 30 page 14 > FREEDOM OF INFORMATION DATA > >NUMBER LOCATION TAIL NUMBER ARRIVAL DATE MDS >------------ ------------ --------------- ---------------- ---------- >AAAF0009 PALMDALE 99006940 15-APR-77 A011A Isn't 940 the M-21 aircraft that's in the Seattle Musuem of Flight? (and has been there for a while?) _____________________________________________________________________ You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail. Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com Or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866] ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 11 Aug 1998 01:33:32 +0000 From: John Szalay Subject: [none] Taking the Skunk-works back a bit, We took a trip to Middlesboro Ky late last month, Bell County Airport, thats the site where the P-38F recovered from the icepack in Greenland is being restored. Been trying to get there for two years, finally made it and its well worth the wait. When this aircraft is ready for flight in two more years, you will see a brand new 1942 Kelly Johnson product. the attention to detail that the restoration team is taking is unbelievable. I,ve taken many pictures and soon as they are right, I plan to post them to alt.binaries.pictures.military I was able to get up close and personal with this plane and speaking as a old sheet-metal bender and machine tool operator, I recognize craftsmanship If you are ever in the area of southern Ky near Knoxville Tenn, stop by and check this out. I can,t praise the work enough, I was wondering why the restoration was taking so long, since the recovery itself, after viewing the aircraft work in progress, I,m impressed. John Szalay Louisville Ky. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 11 Aug 1998 01:37:57 +0000 From: John Szalay Subject: Re: A question of ID At 08:53 PM 8/10/98 -0400, you wrote: >O >>Thu Jul 30 page 14 >> FREEDOM OF INFORMATION DATA >> >>NUMBER LOCATION TAIL NUMBER ARRIVAL DATE MDS >>------------ ------------ --------------- ---------------- ---------- >>AAAF0009 PALMDALE 99006940 15-APR-77 A011A > >Isn't 940 the M-21 aircraft that's in the Seattle Musuem of Flight? >(and has been there for a while?) > >__ Thats one of the reasons I asked the group, I,ve loaned all my SR books to a friend, so for the time being, I,m without reference material. Theres a few more interesting planes in the FOA document. theres an F-84 and several RF-101, and a couple of B-57 and WB-57 still showing. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Aug 1998 20:07:11 -0700 From: patrick Subject: RE: White 707? (Warning - off topic) At 11:33 PM 8/10/98 +1000, you wrote: >On Mon, 10 Aug 1998, Kerry Ferrand wrote: > >Actually, perhaps someone on this list may be able to help with >something I've been trying to track down for quite a while. A few years >ago, I was listening on HF bands here (Australia) and picked up a >message with a very strong signal. > >I could only hear what seemed to be the ground station, who was >transmitting something to the effect of: > >"Sky King Sky King, this is Fresh Fruit. Do not respond." > >This was repeated a few times then a series of phonetic letters (Alpha, >Bravo etc.) and numbers. > >Based on the frequency and conditions at the time, I'm reasonably sure >that the transmitting station was within or very close to Australia. I've >heard that 'Sky King' is a generic callsign for USAF aircraft, but have >never been able to track down anything on 'Fresh Fruit'. > >My best guess is Pine Gap. > >If anyone can help me with information on this callsign, please let me >know :-) > I will take a stab......I used to listen to a lot of mil hf comms back in the good old days. It sounds like a typical SAC status code sent to the bombers flying alert missions during the cold war. Offut AFB (SAC Command center) would send out broadcasts on the AF's global comm network. They had transmitters in Alaska; Thule, Greenland, England; Ascension Island; Incirlik, Turkey; Diego Garcia; Japan; Panama and several in the US. These messages, sent to a specific plane, would go out at regular intervals on several frequencies from several transmitters sites at the same time. The code was merely a status report notifying them of mission conditions such as "everything is copacetic, were just down here watching the ballgame on TV, have a nice flight" or maybe "someone just sank a nuclear submarine, go tank up and head for you preassigned target-good luck". Thus no response was necessary. And with hf, it was common to hear a distant station clear as a bell yet not hear a close station at all. When the Soviets gave up, the AF grounded Looking Glass and the skyborne bomber fleets. I sold my radio and had to find a new hobby. I hate when that happens. patrick ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 11 Aug 1998 16:36:03 +1000 From: Paul Birnstihl Subject: Su-27 tail cone. The very end of the Su-27's tail cone contains a drogue chute, deployed to reduce the landing run. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 12 Aug 1998 08:47:44 -0400 From: Martin Hurst Subject: Reviving the Blackbird SR-71 There's still hope it will be. The following is an extract from Aviation Week & Space Technology - Aug 10, 1998, Washington Outlook website news: http://www.awgnet.com/aviation/avi_wash.htm SHOW ME THE MONEY To revive the SR-71 Blackbird, Rep. Howard P. (Buck) McKeon (R-Calif.) has introduced legislation that would require the Defense Secretary to obligate the $39 million appropriated for the program in Fiscal 1998. The obligation was canceled by President Clinton's line item veto in October, but all such vetoes were ruled unconstitutional in June (AW&ST June 29, p. 18). The appropriation would normally expire Sept. 30, but McKeon's bill also makes the $39 million available through Fiscal 1999. "With the increased presence of sophisticated weapons in Iran, Iraq and North Korea, and the spread of weapons of mass destruction to India and Pakistan, the SR-71 is the only platform that can quickly process sensitive information to our intelligence community," McKeon and nine House colleagues wrote to Pentagon Comptroller William Lynn. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 12 Aug 1998 09:37:36 -0400 From: Martin Hurst Subject: SR-71 engine thrust - Pratt & Whitney's new high thrust engines Maybe a bit off topic, but some fascinating news about Pratt & Whitney's new high thrust engines. I wonder if there any mil aircraft with similar engine thrusts !?!?! I thought the SR-71 had the most engine thrust of any aircraft ? Read on ... - ----------------------------------------- http://www.awgnet.com/shownews/newsmakers/news05.htm News Makers On The Record With Karl J. Krapek, President, Pratt & Whitney Pratt & Whitney Shows a New Aggression Pratt & Whitney's ability to announce no fewer than four new engine programs last week was due to massive strides in engineering efficiency, according to company president Karl J. Krapek. "Today P&W has the financial capability to become a full product line supplier like we haven't always been in the past. We have the financial flexibility now to go on to the attack, to go for placement on any airplane," he told Show News. Pratt's four engine programs are: * A PW8000 geared turbofan aimed at reducing operating costs by 10%, fuel burn by nine percent and noise levels by 30 decibels. The 25,000- to 35,000-pound-thrust engine complements the 16,000- to 23,000-pound-thrust PW6000 series, and is aimed squarely at the rival CFM marketplace for 120-180 passenger aircraft. * A 65,000-pound-thrust PW4000 with a 98,000-pound-thrust core and 94-inch fan for the increased gross weight Boeing 747-400, for the 767-400, and the A340-500/600. "If we can get on that, we will bring in a customer," said Krapek. * A 98,000-pound-thrust core PW4000 with a 100-inch fan for more thrust and obstacle clearance at certain airports for the A330. "We have a leading market share of 51% on that airplane. We have to keep it by growing the thrust to 75,000 pounds, then we will derate it and get better maintenance costs," Krapek said. * A 102,000-pound-thrust PW4000 for the Boeing 777-200/300X. "We have an interim engine at 98K which we did for the A300 for Korean and Asiana; we can throttle push that to 102K with new materials in the turbine and other improvements," Krapek added. He maintained that the total cost of all four engine programs will be less than $1 billion. "I can now do four engine programs for the price of two only five years ago due to modeling and computer capability, as half my engineering budget is hardware," he said. "I can get rid of the hardware costs as I only need three development engines instead of 11. It's amazing," he said. The PW8000 is by far the most aggressive of P&W's new engines. Not only does the geared fan involve a great deal of new technology, but it is the first time in the company's history it has launched an engine without an airplane. "It's an engine that can make the A320 transcontinental in range," Krapek said. It is perhaps the first time an engine has arrived that will completely change the capability of an existing airplane model. "We haven't got Airbus to agree yet but we're proposing it," Krapek said. The engine will use a core based on technology in the PW6000, "but it is not a PW6000 core," he added. Krapek noted that while attention focuses on the new engines, P&W has made many improvements in other areas. Financial performance was "much better" last year, "so we won't miss opportunities we missed in the past, such as CFM becoming the only engine on the Boeing 737, and Allison going to Rolls-Royce," he said. The PW4000 was improved, with only four in-flight shutdowns in more than 75,000 flight hours compared with a forecast 16. "So we were four times better than the ETOPS standard," Krapek said. Cost reduction and aftermarket growth, with revenue from overhaul and repair (excluding spare parts) is expected to hit $1 billion this year, 12 months ahead of target. Half the revenue is generated internally, and half from the acquisition of Howmet and Interturbine. Pratt & Whitney Canada "is doing brilliantly," Krapek said, winning eight out of nine competitions for new platforms last year to supply engines on an exclusive basis. "They just hit home runs. They have excellent returns, and they are a nice underpinning to Pratt with sales of $1.5 billion," he said. Krapek said he intends to take full advantage of P&W's dominant position. "We have 55% of the installed commercial base. If we stay exclusive on the Joint Strike Fighter on the first 2,000 aircraft, we will have 60% of the Western military market for the next two decades. "Add in space, P&WC and the aftermarket business, and it's pretty good," he said. "But all anyone gets excited about is this great competition between the three major manufacturers in the market for very large commercial engines." --John Morris ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 12 Aug 1998 15:56:41 +0200 (METDST) From: pharabod@in2p3.fr Subject: Re: SR-71 engine thrust - Pratt & Whitneys's new high thrust engines > I thought the SR-71 had the most engine thrust of > any aircraft ? > Martin Hurst (Wed, 12 Aug 1998 09:37:36 -0400) The Soviet Ye-266M's engines (R-15BF2-300) had more thrust than the SR-71's Pratt&Whitney J58. By the way, the Y2-266M has the world absolute altitude record (123,492 ft - far more than any kind of Blackbird). J. Pharabod ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 12 Aug 1998 10:08:54 -0700 (PDT) From: Wei-Jen Su Subject: Re: SR-71 engine thrust - Pratt & Whitney's new high thrust engines On Wed, 12 Aug 1998, Martin Hurst wrote: > Maybe a bit off topic, but some fascinating news about Pratt & Whitney's > new high thrust engines. > I wonder if there any mil aircraft with similar engine thrusts !?!?! > I thought the SR-71 had the most engine thrust of any aircraft ? Be careful. How much thrust an aircraft engines have doesn't mean really how high or fast it can go. It all depend on the aircraft design and the engine design also. Those commercial aircraft engines that you posted is not design for the aircraft to go supersonic speed, the blades will stall. May the Force be with you Wei-Jen Su E-mail: wsu@cco.caltech.edu Self-realization. The immortal words of Socrates, when he said "I drank what?" ------------------------------ End of skunk-works-digest V7 #46 ******************************** To subscribe to skunk-works-digest, send the command: subscribe in the body of a message to "majordomo@netwrx1.com". If you want to subscribe something other than the account the mail is coming from, such as a local redistribution list, then append that address to the "subscribe" command; for example, to subscribe "local-skunk-works": subscribe local-skunk-works@your.domain.net To unsubscribe, send mail to the same address, with the command: unsubscribe in the body. Administrative requests, problems, and other non-list mail can be sent to georgek@netwrx1.com. A non-digest (direct mail) version of this list is also available; to subscribe to that instead, replace all instances of "skunk-works-digest" in the commands above with "skunk-works". Back issues are available for viewing by a www interface located at: http://www.netwrx1.com/skunk-works If you have any questions or problems please contact me at: georgek@netwrx1.com Thanks, George R. Kasica Listowner