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Lockheed Martin Developing Successor To the SR-71 Blackbird

Posted by samzenpus on from the next-in-line dept.

Zothecula writes "When the last SR-71 Blackbird was grounded in 1998 it was a double blow. Not only did aviation lose one of the most advanced aircraft ever built, but also one of the most beautiful. Lockheed Martin's Skunk Works has now revealed that it is building a successor to the Blackbird: the SR-72. Using a new hypersonic engine design that combines turbines and ramjets, the company says that the unmanned SR-72 will be twice as fast as its predecessor with a cruising speed of Mach 6."

3 of 160 comments (clear)

  1. this possibly means one of two things.. by spoot · · Score: 1, Interesting

    the sr72 already exists or lockheed martin wants the press and public buzz for funding.

  2. Re:this possibly means one of two things.. by WillAffleckUW · · Score: 3, Interesting

    This is a correct assumption.

    Basically, the automatic cutbacks coming up mean all military spending will be cut in half.

    All of it.

    Lockheed Martin (which I used to own, and even bought and sold option in - yes, made tons of cash) has frequently had the Cheneys on their board, and other individuals determined to drag the US into the Two Permanent Wars Always era, when the correct response is to end overseas wars of foreign aggression and let the Middle East rot.

    Solve that and there is no budget deficit.

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    -- Tigger warning: This post may contain tiggers! --
  3. Re:this possibly means one of two things.. by Lumpy · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I agree, I wish they would just take the military budget for Air Conditioning and give it directly to NASA. it would triple our space research funding.

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    Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.