Just an observation on the passing of time...

[Serk]

[scooperhsd]

Don't see that tailhook on the F35

[Moonshot_1]

Went from that in 1941 to this in 1964.
Still aint got no better.



https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_SR-71_Blackbird

Some excerpts from the wiki article

The first flight of an SR-71 took place on 22 December 1964, at USAF Plant 42 in Palmdale, California, piloted by Bob Gilliland


The SR-71 designation is a continuation of the pre-1962 bomber series; the last aircraft built using the series was the XB-70 Valkyrie. However, a bomber variant of the Blackbird was briefly given the B-71 designator, which was retained when the type was changed to SR-71

Now it is Valkyrie related!

[msb]

When you actually take some time to sit down and think about it (I find myself doing that more often these days) there are many such comparisons that drive the point home...time sure has flown by in a hurry while we've been on this earth. I just don't have the same perception today about the 80's being that much "in the past", as I did about the 40's and even the early 50's being in the past back when I was in my 20's.

[Jess from VA]

Planes look remarkably better over the decades.

But boy I sure don't. 

[carolinarider09]

Not directly related to the topic but.....

When I worked in Michigan for Consumers Power Company (Midland Nuclear Power Plant being constructed 1977 - 1979), I was briefly an Assistant Shift Supervisor.

One of the people/gentlemen working under me (think that is the correct term we were all sort of equal), said he flew on the SR-71.  Said that if they were allowed to document their actual altitude achievable , he would have been eligible for "Astronaut" wings. 

I never questioned him on the issue but just looking it up now, you have to reach an altitude of 250 miles to get those wings. 

The SR-71 always impressed me, especially the stories about system leaks until they got into the air and at speed so that things warmed up enough to seal up..

[Jess from VA]

The titanium plane stretched at speed, and the fuel leaks stopped.

Never equaled as an airplane, and replaced it's mission with satellites and cameras. 

[scooperhsd]

Not directly related to the topic but.....

When I worked in Michigan for Consumers Power Company (Midland Nuclear Power Plant being constructed 1977 - 1979), I was briefly an Assistant Shift Supervisor.

One of the people/gentlemen working under me (think that is the correct term we were all sort of equal), said he flew on the SR-71.  Said that if they were allowed to document their actual altitude achievable , he would have been eligible for "Astronaut" wings. 

I never questioned him on the issue but just looking it up now, you have to reach an altitude of 250 miles to get those wings. 

The SR-71 always impressed me, especially the stories about system leaks until they got into the air and at speed so that things warmed up enough to seal up..

I don't think the SR71 could go THAT high (250 miles), but I have my figure in mind what it COULD do, more or less...

I do know that one of the early F15 Eagles  (considerably lightened  and the pilot in a pressurized suit) made ground to 100,000 feet faster than any plane ever had before ( and also the 10K, 20K, 30K, 40K 50K and 60K) records along the way - this was the Streak Eagle project that McDonnell Douglas  and the Air Force did to set those records - all in one flight.
Even a production F15 is no slouch....

[John Schmidt]

When stationed at Ellsworth AFB back in the late 50's, we had some top brass guy come in for his monthly flight to keep his flight pay going. A B-58 was in one of the hangers for some repair, not assigned to the base but had to RON due to some problems. The brass asked if he could take it out for a test/check ride on the repairs and given the OK. When he came back some time later some of the paint was scorched and was asked just where he went and how fast. He just smiled and said "as fast as it will go" but didn't offer any more details. The a/c is supposedly listed at somewere around 1400mph top speed, to which he said "bullshit." I watched one race a T-33 that flew along side the runway, the B-58 let off the brakes just as the 33 passed....and beat if off the end of the runway. I have no way of knowing how fast the 33 was going but it was a pretty good clip.

[cookiedough]

I am thinking the early 80's are closer to the early 2021's some 40 years apart vs. the 80's vs. 1940's.    then again,  the technology and computers, vehicles,  and even internet now are well above the early 80's, so I could be wrong? 

[Reb]

he F35 has some amazing technology in the cockpit, along with the integration of the pilots helmet.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0eS0ujOPE8s

[scooperhsd]

he F35 has some amazing technology in the cockpit, along with the integration of the pilots helmet.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0eS0ujOPE8s

The F35 and the F22 (and probably the later versions of F/A18, F16, and F15) are almost "supercomputers in the sky". Any newer planes in the future are likely to be even more so.

[Bigwolf]

he F35 has some amazing technology in the cockpit, along with the integration of the pilots helmet.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0eS0ujOPE8s

The F35 and the F22 (and probably the later versions of F/A18, F16, and F15) are almost "supercomputers in the sky". Any newer planes in the future are likely to be even more so.

I would leave out the word “almost”.

Bigwolf