From the Archives: Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird Using Drag Chute During Landing
With a touchdown speed of approximately 155 knots (178 miles per hour) and a design landing weight of 68,000 pounds, the SR-71 had significant energy to dissipate upon landing. To assist with this, a massive drag chute was deployed after touchdown.
Topics Related To: AVIATION HISTORY
Airport Design: The Tangential Runway Concept
A novel airport design concept emerged in the 1940s, promising speed and efficiency, but ultimately failed to overcome regulatory and operational realities.
Boeing Airliner Concept – Open-Rotor Canard
In an effort to maximize fuel efficiency in new airliner designs during the 1980s, Boeing explored advanced technologies, including canard configurations and open-rotor turbofans.
The Schweizer RU-38B Twin Condor – A Shadowy Surveillance Aircraft Lost to History
Rare spy plane: A look at one of the most unusual covert aircraft ever flown by the US government and Coast Guard.
