Ever wondered what generates the diamond pattern in the SR-71 jet engine exhaust? It is due to the additional thrust generated by the afterburner, resulting in sequential shock waves that appear as the diamond pattern.
Except for refueling, the SR-71 engines operate in continuous afterburner mode.
Aluminum was incorporated into the latex when the tires were made, and they are filled with nitrogen. The tire pressure on the SR-71 was 415 psi (compared to 32-35 psi in your car tires!).
SR-71 pilots have more in common with astronauts than you may expect. They flew so high (80,000-85,000 feet) that pilots had to wear special pressure suits, which were basically modified spacesuits.
It was quite inexpensive by today’s standards: an SR-71 Blackbird cost $36 million in 1966, which is equivalent to approximately $292 million now. To put that in context, the B-2 Spirit bomber costs a whopping $2 billion per plane.
Another little-known fact of the SR-71 Blackbird was that it carried one of the most advanced cameras on board. This incredible camera, along with the plane’s high altitude capabilities, enabled it to capture photographs 72 miles wide.
