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From: rogers@falcon.SRC.Honeywell.COM (Brynn Rogers)
Newsgroups: rec.aviation,sci.space.shuttle
Subject: Re: SR71 to be retired October 1st, rumors regarding SR-71
Message-ID: <18674@srcsip.UUCP>
Date: 14 Mar 89 16:24:46 GMT
References: <524@gonzo.UUCP> <1475@petsd.UUCP> <13987@elroy.Jpl.Nasa.Gov> <976@nbife.NBI.COM> <1993NU052179@NDSUVM1>
Sender: news@src.honeywell.COM
Reply-To: rogers@falcon.UUCP (Brynn Rogers)
Organization: Honeywell Systems & Research Center, Camden, MN
Lines: 24

In article <1993NU052179@NDSUVM1> NU052179@NDSUVM1.BITNET writes:
>ron@nbife.NBI.COM (Ron Schweikert) writes:
>>There were many other rumors.  Heard any good ones you'd like me to comment
>>on?
>
>You'll like this one.  I heard that the skin of the aircraft was designed
>to allow for the expansion caused by fricion heating.  Therefor the gap
>left between each panel was such that fuel would leak out while the
>"Bird" was on the ground.  The plane had to be fueled and gotten into
>the air and up to speed to heat the skin and close the leaks!  WOW!
>     I would have ignored this one if I hadn't heard it from more than
>one "knowledgable" source.  It sounds a bit dangerous ;-)
>     NU052179@NDSUVM1.BITNET (Eric M. Priewe)

They plug the gaps in the skin with tar (or expensive equivalent) before 
flight so it does not leak.  when the plane heats up it melts and  goes
away (leaving trailing flames???)  It is when the plane lands  that
fuel leaks out.  Every picture I have seen of the plane on the ground
has a puddle under the plane.



 Brynn Rogers    Honeywell S&RC        rogers@src.honeywell.com
           also try this new address -> nic.MR.net!srcsip!rogers