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Science & Technology
Exclusive: Skunk Works Reveals SR-71 Successor Plan
2013-11-04
Posted by:Uncle Phester

#9  I believe the USDOD + DARPA have been testing the "Aurora" over Guam-WESTPAC.

Looked boradly like a meteoric or bolide fireball [ghost = spirit? ball or wisp] but widout any smoke andor fire/spark trails.
Posted by: JosephMendiola   2013-11-04 19:00  

#8  Bill, The Air Farce, in it's infinite wisdom, retired the Blackbird and replaced it with satellites. The Blackbird community was too small to be influential and there were far more opportunities for promotions, funding and post military careers in the companies that make satellites. Remember this is the same branch of service that is constantly trying to replace the very effective A-10 with F-16's and F-35's
Posted by: Chantry   2013-11-04 18:10  

#7  It's an amazing aircraft, especially considering the UNIVAC age when it was developed.
Posted by: Fred   2013-11-04 16:20  

#6  Logic would suggest something like Aurora exists. The USAF etc., would not go 20 years without some kind of high altitude reconnaissance aircraft even with the optical capabilities of the K-birds.
Posted by: Bill Clinton   2013-11-04 08:32  

#5  the fastest air to air missiles probably can't sustain mach 6 which makes the SR71 pretty impressive

I wonder what materials they use, the stresses must be enormous.
Posted by: lord garth   2013-11-04 06:23  

#4  Wasn't that "Aurora"?
Posted by: Procopius2k   2013-11-04 04:22  

#3  We need a surface-to-orbit craft.

With a death ray.
Posted by: phil_b   2013-11-04 02:55  

#2  Sounds (And looks) like an orbital craft,

We need a surface-to-orbit craft.
Posted by: Redneck Jim   2013-11-04 00:47  

#1  The engine operation diagrams for the SR-71 are amazing. What genius it took to develop that propulsion system!

The SR-72 will also have an amazing system, but it will be presented in general terms for now, understandably.
Posted by: Alaska Paul   2013-11-04 00:45  

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