Xref: utzoo rec.aviation:12947 sci.space.shuttle:2579
Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!csd4.milw.wisc.edu!marque!carroll1!dtroup
From: dtroup@carroll1.UUCP (Dave Troup)
Newsgroups: rec.aviation,sci.space.shuttle
Subject: Re: SR71 to be retired October 1st, rumors regarding SR-71
Message-ID: <320@carroll1.UUCP>
Date: 16 Mar 89 00:06:30 GMT
References: <524@gonzo.UUCP> <1475@petsd.UUCP> <13987@elroy.Jpl.Nasa.Gov> <976@nbife.NBI.COM> <1993NU052179@NDSUVM1>
Reply-To: dtroup@carroll1.UUCP (Dave Troup)
Organization: Carroll College-Waukesha, WI
Lines: 31

In article <1993NU052179@NDSUVM1> NU052179@NDSUVM1.BITNET writes:
>
>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!


	You are correct, the skin of the '71 looks like a congrued surface. As
	the skin heats up during flight, it expands and smoothens out. Some of
	the designers had joked that they were attempting to make a Ford
	Tri-Motor do Mach 3. If you take a look at a '71 just after it has
	refuled, you will notice that the upper surfaces are wet, wet with
	fuel. Also when you see it on the ground, the 'wetmess' around the
	craft is also fuel. Danger is low being that the fuel has a real high
	flashpoint, and has to be mixed with another (very corrosive but
	nameless to this individual) substance for use in the engines. 

	On another note, the concord also 'stretches' out when in a high speed,
	high altitude flight profile.

	If anyone wants anymore info on the '71 or other beasties, let me know,
	I have quite an extensive library on military aircraft.

	l8r...

-- 
"We got computers, we're tapping phone lines, knowin' that ain't allowed"__         _______  _______________    |David C. Troup / Surf Rat                  
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