Space Tiger Hobbes Posted November 4, 2013 Share Posted November 4, 2013 (edited) http://theaviationist.com/2013/11/01/sr-72-unveiled/ http://www.aviationweek.com/Article.aspx?id=/article-xml/awx_11_01_2013_p0-632731.xml Edited November 4, 2013 by Space Tiger Hobbes Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bigasshammm Posted November 4, 2013 Share Posted November 4, 2013 Shirley there's no way they can launch ordnance at Mach 6?! Looks a lot like the shuttle replacements they tossed around. I take it this will be manned and have to question at this point what's the use for an aircraft like this? Satellites, drones, and newer bombs and missiles mean less of a need for this type of aircraft no? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
toadwbg Posted November 4, 2013 Share Posted November 4, 2013 (edited) One requirment: PAINT IT BLACK Edited November 4, 2013 by toadwbg Quote Link to post Share on other sites
FAR148 Posted November 4, 2013 Share Posted November 4, 2013 Is there a need for an aircraft like this? And how much is this going to cost taxpayers? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
CorsairMan Posted November 4, 2013 Share Posted November 4, 2013 Is there a need for an aircraft like this? And how much is this going to cost taxpayers? ha ha! Oh... that's a good one. Sigh. Yeah - those are two very good questions that industry lobbiests and their fully funded political office holders really don't care about. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RiderFan Posted November 4, 2013 Share Posted November 4, 2013 Shirley there's no way they can launch ordnance at Mach 6?! Apparently there is. And don't call me Shirley. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Joe Hegedus Posted November 4, 2013 Share Posted November 4, 2013 (edited) "Unveiled?" They didn't "unveil" anything - they released a few drawings of something that they want to build, at taxpayers' expense, that may or may not be something that can be built and successfully operated, and affordable. My $0.02 is that it looks like a Lockheed pipe dream... Edited November 4, 2013 by Joe Hegedus Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ChippyWho Posted November 4, 2013 Share Posted November 4, 2013 (edited) And it's not even April 1st! That thing looks more like a second generation space shuttle than an airplane; there is also something of a Luft '46 sub-orbital design about it...looks cool in a minimalist way, but as mentioned, can anyone afford this kinda plaything these days? :wacko:/> Edited November 4, 2013 by ChippyWho Quote Link to post Share on other sites
habu2 Posted November 5, 2013 Share Posted November 5, 2013 It's a second generation X-30 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jay Chladek Posted November 5, 2013 Share Posted November 5, 2013 I could see a need for such an aircraft. Satellites for one have the limitations of well known orbits. The X-37B Orbital Test vehicle which pretty much has been revealed to be an intelligence asset may have the capability of changing orbits, but that doesn't hide the fact that amatuer spacecraft watchers can usually pin down its orbit within a few days of it being changed. One thing we've lacked since the SR-71 is the capability for overflight on relatively short notice. Granted satellite imagery had gotten to the point where the it matched what the SR-71s systems could do when the SR was finally retired, but it still had some limitations. As for strike capability, something like this wouldn't even need to carry explosive warheads. Just drop off a kinetic kill vehicle of some sort and let it go penetrating a high value target at high mach speeds and let the energy released on impact do the damage. Besides, a manned system would have excellent advantages over drones, which COULD be jammed. And at the speed and altitude this one is capable of flying at, could anything short of a particle beam kill it? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Johnopfor Posted November 5, 2013 Share Posted November 5, 2013 "Unveiled?" They didn't "unveil" anything - they released a few drawings of something that they want to build, at taxpayers' expense, that may or may not be something that can be built and successfully operated, and affordable. My $0.02 is that it looks like a Lockheed pipe dream... Affordable? Anything's affordable when your not footing the bill......... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rapier01 Posted November 5, 2013 Share Posted November 5, 2013 "Unveiled?" They didn't "unveil" anything - they released a few drawings of something that they want to build, at taxpayers' expense, that may or may not be something that can be built and successfully operated, and affordable. My $0.02 is that it looks like a Lockheed pipe dream... You are quite correct, sir. http://news.usni.org/2013/11/05/lockheed-martin-sr-72-plane-paper Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TaiidanTomcat Posted November 5, 2013 Share Posted November 5, 2013 a manned system No new built recon platform of any type will have a human in it. Especially at altitudes and speeds that make escape impossible, expensive, or impossibly expensive. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TaiidanTomcat Posted November 5, 2013 Share Posted November 5, 2013 "Unveiled?" They didn't "unveil" anything - they released a few drawings of something that they want to build, at taxpayers' expense, that may or may not be something that can be built and successfully operated, and affordable. My $0.02 is that it looks like a Lockheed pipe dream... "unveiling" concept art isn't the same thing? :D Quote Link to post Share on other sites
pookie Posted November 6, 2013 Share Posted November 6, 2013 (edited) Absolutely PATHETIC. You mean to tell me, that since 1962 (51 years ago) when the A12 first flew and after trillions of dollars spent on black projects, THAT is the succesor to the SR-71? HA! The director of Skunkworks himself said a long time ago, that we now have the technology to take ET home. There are USA built aircraft right now, that all of us reading this forum won't live long enough to know about. Edited November 6, 2013 by pookie Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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