The solution to these three problems was a worked alloy of titanium covered with a corrugated skin, crafted into a stealthy shape. Of course, it did not have a low radar cross section as modern fighters have, the SR-71 had an RCS of about 10m^2 while for instance the F-22 Raptor looks like a marble on the radar. It was actually the first operational aircraft using stealth features. Because yes, the Blackbird was using stealth technology.

This meant that the airplane had to be built so that it could both withstand high temperatures, high stress, and be stealthy. In easy words: The air molecules can’t get out of the way fast enough so they pile up in front of the jet and give off heat. The high temperatures are a result of a physical phenomenon that is causing the air molecules at high speeds to be smashed into each other which results in higher pressure which leads to higher temperatures. This meant that its design had to be completely rethought about. Ed Feilding illustrates that the plane’s top speed really was “faster than a speeding bullet.”īecause of the astonishingly high speed, the aircraft was travelling at, the canopy was heated up to over 300☌.

How fast does the f 22 raptor go