What will happen with the SR-71?

Question

It was the fastest plane in use until the '60s. Do u think it could make a comeback & what would it be used 4?

Answer 1

The program was canceled because it became a logistics nightmare. Many spare parts were not being made anymore. Keeping a very small area of a company open to supply aged electronics, indicators, etc. became extremely expensive.

Several of my friends worked in the loggy support detachment for the SR71 at Norton AFB, and they all lost their jobs around 1990 and came back to work on the C141.

It was sad, but the USAF couldn't support old programs like that and also buy new aircraft at the same time.

Answer 2

The military use of the SR-71 is over or so they say. All the military SR-71's have been retired with some going to museums. NASA is still using their SR-71's for research.

Answer 3

What do you mean fastest plane until the 60's?  I would like someone to show me an airplane in operation today that can beat the SR-71's officially classified speed of Mach 3+.  The bottom line on the SR-71 is it is too expensive to operate given the threat we face today AND the availability and capability of other recce assets (satellite, UAVs, "other").  The SR-71 is a Cold War product, and was worth it at the time, but no longer is.  But, as a speed platform, there is no other aircraft currently in known operation that can "go faster" than an SR-71.

As far as future use, it would be great for high-speed/high altitude test platforms, but it's recce days are gone.

Answer 4

The SR-71 was in use far beyond the 1960's.  We operate no aircraft faster than the Blackbird at this time.

Answer 5

Destined for museums or NASA research.

Overshadowed by satellite technology.

Answer 6

They have about 5 SR-71s in Edwards Airforce Base that they claim "if needed" could be ready in 3 weeks. They are capable of still being in service why they cancled them i dont know. They are a remrkable aircraft and was a legend of aircraft history.

Answer 7

my first guess would be nasa research

Answer 8

In my opinion it will be back.

Its an awesome plane and when the need arises the military always brings back what they have "retired"

example: gulf war they brought back into service battle ships.

Definitely an awesome jet though.

Answer 9

There is probably a replacement.

We'll hear about it when it's retired...maybe.

Answer 10

probably not... we have faster planes now

Answer 11

there testing a nother kind of sr-71 type of aircraft at area 51 look it up on en.wikipedia.org/wiki/area_51