Fly high - fly fast!

Lionel WIJESIRI

In the late 1950s, both the United States and the Soviet Union started building bombers and fighters capable of speeds of 3,200 km/h (2,000 mph) or more, but most of these projects were scrapped because the political leaders in both countries thought that new surface-to-air missiles (SAMs) would be able to shoot them down.

The only survivors of this era were the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird spy plane and the Mikoyan MiG-25 fighter, which were both flown in the 1960s and remain the fastest military airplanes ever built.

SR-71

Designed for reconnaissance, the SR-71 has had a long and distinguished career in the service of the US military and intelligence communities. Now, the SR-71 continues to serve in a program of aeronautic and scientific research by NASA.

This aircraft can fly more than 2,200 mph (that’s Mach 3+, or more than three times the speed of sound) and at altitudes of over 85,000 feet.

Such operating environment makes the aircraft an excellent platform on which to conduct research and experiments in a variety of areas in aerodynamics and atmospheric studies.

The speed of the SR-71 generated so much friction going through the atmosphere, that extremely high temperatures were generated. That heating caused the airframe of the aircraft to become stronger with each flight.

Although it’s hot exhaust made it very visible on radar, the SR-71 was actually designed using stealth technology. It was even painted with a special radar absorbing formula. Rather than an aluminum

outer skin, the SR-71 used titanium, that better handled the extreme heat.

The engines of the SR-71 are a combination of turbo jet and ram jet. They become more efficient as speed increases.

The Blackbird first took to the sky on Dec. 22, 1964. Its first mission was flown in March of 1968 and its last missions were in 1998. The SR-71 Blackbirds were decommissioned by the U.S. Air Force in 1990.

On September 1, 1974, SR-71 established a still standing trans-Atlantic speed record of Mach 2.68, going from N.Y. to London in less than 115 minutes.

MiG-25 Foxbat

In the 1950’s Russia, too, perceived a threat originating from bombers of the United States flying at high altitudes and at speeds in excess of 2,000 mph. The MiG-25 was the response to the threat.

On March 6, 1964 the MiG-25 prototype first took to the sky. In 1969 a reconnaissance MiG-25 became operational with the interceptor following in 1972.

On Aug. 31, 1977 a MiG-25E piloted by Alexander Fedotov set a “zoom” absolute altitude record by pushing the plane to maximum speed, then climbing, trading speed for altitude.

After the engines flamed-out the plane continued in a sort of ballistic trajectory to an altitude of 123,523.58 feet. The aircraft then dropped to a lower altitude where the engines were restarted.

This Aircraft received NATO designation as “Foxbat.” It had a maximum speed of 3 200 km/h with a Service ceiling 24 000 m.

Since 1980 to 1982 all Soviet operational MiG-25s were improved and the improved aircraft received absolutely new electronic equipment. A total of about 1,190 were built until production ended in 1984. It remains in limited service in Russia and the air forces of several other nations.

Although capable of high speeds and altitudes, the MiG- 25 is limited by its short range with lack of in-air refueling and a lack of maneuverability in close combat. The red-line speed of the MiG-25 is limited to less than maximum to prevent engine overheating.

MiG-25 aircraft subsequently were replaced with the new generation Mig-31 similar purpose aircraft. High altitude fighter interceptor aircraft MIG-31 made its first flight in 16th of September 1975.

It was intended to counteract against strategic reconnaissance aircrafts, strategic bombers and long-range cruise missiles. The MiG-31 “Foxhound” was first time exhibited in 1991 at Paris Air show.

After Lockheed SR-71 retirement MIG-31 became fastest serial production aircraft. Fighter was based on well recommended air superiority fighter MIG-25. It had a maximum speed 3 000 km/h at a altitude of 22,800 km.

F-15 Eagle

The F-15 Eagle is an American-built all-weather tactical fighter designed to gain and maintain air superiority in aerial combat. It first flew in July of 1972. The F-15 can climb to 30,000 ft. in around 60 seconds.

As of 2005, the F-15 in all air forces has a combined runs record of 104 to zero losses in air combat. To date, the air superiority version of the F-15 (F-15A/B/C/D models) has never been shot down by an enemy aircraft (which some dispute), although some F-15s have been claimed by surface-to-air missiles of the Syrian Air Force.

A derivative of the aircraft is the F-15E Strike Eagle, a highly successful all-weather strike fighter entered service in 1988.

F-15 has a maximum speed of 2.5 mach with a altitude of 60,000 feet. F-15s took part in Operation Desert Storm, patrolled the Iraq no-fly zone, supported NATO operations in Bosnia and have played a major role in the Iraq War.

F-111 Aardvark

Nicknamed ‘Aardvark’ because of its long, slightly upturned nose, the F-111 was a multipurpose tactical fighter bomber capable of supersonic speeds. The aircraft was one of the more controversial aircraft ever to

fly, yet it achieved one of the safest operational records of any aircraft in

USAF history and became a highly effective all-weather interdiction air craft. The

F-111 provided many firsts. It was the first production aircraft with variable swing wings that could be swept back or brought forward to increase efficiency.

It also had the first terrain-following radar, allowing it to fly at night at high speeds and low altitudes, as well as the first crew escape module.

The aircraft was produced in seven different variants with the first production aircraft delivery in October 1967 and the last delivery in September 1976. F-111’s are no longer in the Air Force inventory but were a major part of the fighter force for many years.

The F-111 has a maximum speed of 2.5 mach and a maximum altitude of 60,000 feet.

What of the future? The last decade has seen some significant developments in military flight technology, which suggest that many of the established measures of acceptable capability (including speed) are now marginally relevant.

If we project ourselves 25 years ahead, it is clear that given current trends in technology, a competitive military aircraft will need to have an advanced sensor suite, a low probability of intercept radar, a good measure of stealth and sufficient sustained supersonic manoeuvring.

How well the currently available fighters fit this paradigm, only the time will tell.

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