The Blackbird Lowerle_02

The builders of the SR-71 did have to overcome one problem. Like most materials, titanium expands when it is heated. How do you build a plane that needs to expand when it flies? The answer is simple. It must have large gaps in the pieces of skin when the plane is on the ground. Once in the air, the pilot pushes on the throttle or device that controls the fuel to the engine. The plane accelerates up to incredible speeds. As it does, the plane’s skin heats up. As it heats up, the gaps close up. 

The SR-71 is literally able to fly to the edge of space and back. The pilots look more like astronauts than a typical pilot. Do you think it is hard to fly a plane that high and that fast? Believe it or not, it’s harder to fly when it is going slow. At slow speeds, the plane can be very unstable. Why would this plane need to go slow?

SR-71 pilot in full flight suit

As you might imagine, this fast plane is a gas hog. It needs a fill-up every 90 minutes. It doesn’t have time to land to refuel. Instead it meets up with a flying gas station. Well, sort of. Some planes are equipped to carry large amounts of fuel.

These special planes provide planes with fuel in midair. These refueling planes are not nearly as fast as an SR-71. That means the SR-71 must slow down. When planes refuel, they must fly very slowly behind the refueling plane.

Would you consider starting a long trip with an empty fuel tank? Well, that’s what a SR-71 has to do. It has to refuel a lot, even when it first takes off. The SR-71 takes off with only a small amount of fuel in its tanks. This is done for a few reasons. The reduced weight makes it easier to take off. It limits the wear on the planes tires. The plane also leaks fuel while on the ground.

The SR-71 takes off with only a small amount of fuel in its tanks. Less weight makes it easier to take off. The first task for the pilot once the plane is in the sky is to refuel. Once in the sky , the plane’s titanium skin heats up and expands. The gaps close and the fuel stop leaking.

View from 71,000 feet over the Pacific Ocean

The SR-71 is now retired but not forgotten. It still holds the high speed record. The Blackbird is an example of Science and Engineering coming together. Without the knowledge of the properties of matter, this plane would not exist. The Blackbird is one example of why it is important to learn about Science.