SR-71 Blackbird Engine, in the San Diego Museum Workshop

DSC-RX100M3

ƒ/1.8

8.8 mm

1/30

500

…. a tech marvel, in the basement of the museum where they do restoration work, with astronaut Ed Lu. This is the Pratt & Whitney J58 engine from 1962

So many creative details, like the conical nose cone at he front of the engine: I learned that it moves forward (manually by the pilot!) to reduce the air intake as speed climbs, because the air can’t be supersonic when it hits the blades.

4 responses to “SR-71 Blackbird Engine, in the San Diego Museum Workshop”

jurvetson

Mar 14, 2019 at 7:49 pm

And looking in the rear, much of the thrust came from the bleed fed into the afterburner: We are go flight

Reply
pegleg000

Mar 15, 2019 at 3:51 am

It’s hard not to love the SR-71 ….. the golden age of aviation (as far as we know?)

Reply
pegleg000

Mar 15, 2019 at 3:59 am

Is the Sea Dart still at the museum? Another classic, if not successful aircraft.

Reply
precious amount

Apr 5, 2019 at 1:41 pm

Wonderful image, Mr. J. I’m admiring the capscrews and safety wire. Aircraft hardware is beautiful. Rhetorical question: I wonder if the person who stamped 397 onto that cap is allowed to talk about their work on this engine.

Reply

SR-71 Blackbird Engine, in the San Diego Museum Workshop

4 responses to “SR-71 Blackbird Engine, in the San Diego Museum Workshop”

Leave a Reply to pegleg000 Cancel reply