Why Was the Lockheed SR-71 So Difficult to Fly?

Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird by US Air Force designed for strategic reconnaissance missions It was a high speed and high altitude aircraft.

Aeroplane, It could reach speeds of Mach 3.2 and reach an altitude of 25,929 meters. However, these performance characteristics also made the aircraft very difficult to control.

One of the main reasons it is difficult to fly is that the aircraft is very sensitive at high speeds and altitudes.

Flying at high speeds requires pilots to operate controls very carefully. Buz Carpenter, a former Blackbird pilot He explains this situation with the following words:

“When flying at high speeds the aircraft became very sensitive and the controls had to be managed carefully. The faster you fly, the more responsive the aircraft becomes and it would require more concentration and care.”

While flying at Mach 3, the exterior and cockpit of the SR-71 Blackbird became very hot.

Pilots to protect themselves from high temperatures They had to wear heat-resistant pressure suits and helmets. Suits and helmets restricted the pilots’ movements and field of view more than in other aircraft.

To fly the SR-71 Blackbird It was necessary to go through special selection and training processes. The physical standards of the pilots who would fly the aircraft were quite strict and only a few pilots were selected to fly in this aircraft.

In addition, the maintenance and preparation processes before and after each flight were quite complex. Aeroplane, required special preparations before flight and it could take days.

The SR-71 Blackbird was retired by the US Air Force in 1998.

Satellite to the location of the plane and Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) began to be used. “SR-72”, a new unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) developed by Lockheed, is planned to make its first flight in 2025 and enter service in 2030.

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