Flight Simulators/FLIGHTSIM.ISO/flghtsim/planes/pl_sr71/sr71.doc

Text File | 1992-11-01 | 8KB | 187 lines

        Lockheed SR-71A Blackbird       Rod Conklin 76525, 3706



Aircraft Features:

      Detailed Fuselage with Markings from an actual SR71.

      Detailed Landing gear.

      Navigation Lights at Dawn, Dusk, and Night.

      Flight Model capable of 2100+ MPH at 85,000+ Feet

      Does not require AAF to use the Aircraft


  (Now, if you don't want to read all this statistical junk I've written,
   jump to the bottom of this text for some useful stuff about how to
   use the plane.  Otherwise, feel free to read on).



Files In This Package:


             SR71____.SIM  - The actual aircraft simulator and description
             SR71____        files for use with FS4. Place these in your
                             Flight Simulator directory and select the
                             aircraft using option "E" off Menu 1.

             SR71.MOD      - A mode file starting you out at Meigs field
                             with a view of the aircraft exterior.  This
                             MOD requires that the SR71____ files be in
                             your Flight simulator directory when you
                             select it.

             SR71.SC0      - If you have SEE04, you can use this as a
                             scenery object to place in your own scenery.
                             It is fairly large (7000+ bytes) so several
                             copies of it in one scenery file might not
                             be practical.

             SR71.AFX      - This is the packed aircraft for use with
                             Mallard/Bao's AAF.  You can use SR71____.SIM
                             as the source sim, just rename it to SR71-REF.SIM.


Aircraft Specifications And History:


             Aircraft Type:  Tandem-seat strategic Reconnaissance aircraft

             Powerplant:     Two Pratt & Whitney J58-1 Turbojets producing
                             32,500 Lbs of thrust each.

             Performance:    Maximum Speed: 2189 MPH (+),
                             Ceiling: 85,000 Feet (+),
                             Range: 3,300 Miles.

             Weight:         60,000 Lbs empty.

             Dimensions:     Wingspan: 55 Feet 7 Inches.
                             Length:   107 Feet 5 Inches.
                             Height:   18 Feet 6 Inches.
                             Wing Area: 1,800 Square Feet

      The SR-71 first flew in 1964.  The plane was designed by a team
heading by Kelly Johnson at Lockheed's "Skunk Works" facility as a
response to an Air Force requirement for a high-speed interceptor and
reconnaissance aircraft.  The interceptor function was later dropped
and the aircraft assumed it's primary role of a high-altitude photo-
reconnaissance platform.  It successfully carried out this role for
over 25 years and was just recently retired.

      The aircraft still holds several high-altitude and high-speed records.
In fact, the SR-71 that was given to the Smithsonian Institute set a
speed record on its last flight from California to Washington D.C.

      Information Source:

      Some personal knowledge

      Great Aircraft of the World, Published by Chartwell Books, Inc. 1992.
                                   and Produced by Marshall Cavandish LTD.

Design Notes:

    I have attempted to create a flight model for this aircraft that
comes close to the real thing.  Since particulars about the aircraft
are not readily available (some information is still classified) I had
to guess at the handling, stall speeds, etc.  What I have ended up with
is a plane that will climb at 9000 FPM and cruise at 85,000 feet at
2200 MPH.  The handling will feel closer to that of a commercial jet
because I had to use the "Heavy" option in the Flight Simulator to
get the capacities I needed for weight, fuel, thrust, etc.  Actually,
one might imagine that, in an aircraft this fast, you might not want
to make any sudden hard turns or attempt snap rolls.  At mach 3, any
sudden movement of the stick would probably be fatal!  If you wish to
modify the flight model, take care to save the original sim file.  I
noticed that during testing the Jet parameter was reset to "PROP" somehow
when I save the SIM file.  I haven't been able to find the cause of this
as yet.  The values in the SIM file do not match the actual aircraft
specifications.  To get the high and low speed performance close to
what they should be, I had compromise the settings.  The wingspan,
weight, and other factors were modified in response to how the aircraft
felt rather than being close to the real specifications.  I suspect
the Flight Simulator was not designed to handle this type of plane well
so coming up with a SIM file took a great deal of trial and error.
If any actual SR71 pilots download this, I would be interested in
any comments they care to give (humourous or otherwise).



Flying The Flight Simulator Version Of The SR71:



 SR-71 Characteristics (Flight Simulator Version):

      (All values are approximate)

      Takeoff Rotation Speed:   140 Knots

      Stall Speed Clean:        110 Knots

      Stall Speed Landing Configuration: 95 Knots

      Best Rate-Of-Climb: 8000 FPM

      Ceiling:  90,000+ Feet

      Top Speed:  2200 MPH +

      Best landing Speed:  150-160 Knots with Full flaps.

      Runway Requirements:  Can be used on 4000' runways (like Meigs)
                            but landing requires thrust reversers on full
                            (and dragging your feet on the ground).


      These are some hints that I came up with during testing that might
      help you enjoy flying the plane:

      1) Use gentle moves on the stick, especially at high speeds.  The
         autopilot is recommended at cruising speeds (2100) because even
         small corrections are hard to make.

      2) The EFIS panel is highly recommended also because the only
         speed reference you have is the ground speed indicator on the
         EFIS panel.  I used that indicator with winds set to zero to
         come up with a general idea of the crusing speeds.  Also, I
         have included thrust reversers on the Aircraft to make stopping
         easier (the actual plane uses a drag shute) and they are only
         available on the EFIS panel.

      3) The aircraft is hard to turn and slow down at speeds over Mach 2.
         Setting the throttle to zero and applying the spoilers is the
         best way to slow down and come down from altitude.  Turns at
         2100 MPH require a large area  -- I used most of Lake Michigan
         to turn south for a landing at Meigs!

      4) It is best to keep speeds down below 700 (IAS) at lower altitudes
         because high speeds cause pitch instability.  I am not sure
         whether this is caused by the Flight Simulator flight model or
         if it is a real world problem.  I have heard that the Concord
         has problems with high speeds at lower altitudes.

      5) The real aircraft apparently uses Elevons (a combination of
         Ailerons and Elevators) at various settings instead of flaps
         during landing, so you won't see any exterior movement when
         the flaps are set on the Flight Simulator version, but the
         flaps are very necessary (in combination with occasional use of
         the spoiler) to get the aircraft slowed and stabilized for
         landing.