How It Works-Amazing Vehicles

top-of-the-range photographic equipment for

the time, Blackbird captured images of the

ground from an altitude three times the height

of Everest. Although some were lost in

accidents, none were ever shot down or

captured by an enemy.

Now that this godfather of spy planes is out to

pasture, Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works

div ision is developing a faster, unmanned

successor, the SR-72 (nicknamed the ’Son of the

Blackbird‘). The engines will use a hybrid

system to reach hypersonic speeds, enabling

the aircraft to cross an entire continent in an

hour. The air friction of this speed alone could

melt steel, so the SR-72 is likely to be made of

composite materials, similar to those used for

space shuttles and missiles. It will need to be

capable of withstanding temperatures in excess

of 1,000 degrees Celsius and be sealed to stop

lethal air leaks.

The technology needed to take photographs

at this kind of speed will also be an incredible

feat, and the exact makeup of this aircraft’s

gadgetr y has not been confi rmed, or perhaps

even invented yet. What we do know is that it

won’t just be an obser ver. This new unmanned

plane w ill be armed to the teeth, launching

bombs to hit targets from altitudes of around 24

kilometres – up in the stratosphere.

Aerodynamics play a huge part in spy plane

tech – aircraft like the SR-72 need to be

designed to cope with stresses experienced

when travelling at such high speeds. The Son of

the Blackbird will need to be incredibly well

balanced to deal with the changes between

subsonic, supersonic and hy personic fl ight to

ensure that the craft is not ripped apart by the

shifting centre of lift.

However, the Global Hawk, for example (an

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle made by Northrup

Grumman) is nothing like how you might

Based upon the tried-and-tested body of

the Boeing 737-800 commercial airliner and

the wings of Boeing’s 737-900, the Poseidon

P-8 is an advanced maritime patrol and

reconnaissance aircraft. Featuring all

kinds of task-specifi c

technolog y, the P-8 is able

to fl y fast and low,

cruising above the sea

to seek out submarines

that can pose threats to

aircraft carriers.

Six extra body fuel tanks

extend the plane’s range to

fi nd the subs. Some variants of

the Poseidon P-8 model use

radar, a magnetic anomaly

detector and electronic

intelligence sensors to

monitor telecommunications and infrared

imaging to keep tabs on shipping. It can

also deploy expendable sonobuoys to act as

satellite sensors in the fi eld.

But that’s not all this spy plane can do.

With its strengthened fuselage, the

Poseidon also boasts missiles, mines and

torpedoes in its arsenal, making it ready to

aim, fi re and dispatch a rebel submarine if

ever required.

Boeing

Poseidon P-8

This sky-borne sub hunter scans the waters

for unwanted aquatic visitors

Engines

Two powerful, fuel-effi cient

CFM56-7B turbofan engines enable

a maximum speed of 907km/h.

Weapons bay

The belly of the plane hosts

fi ve stations for Mk54

torpedoes and mines.

Refuelling

This port makes aerial

refuelling possible, extending

missions beyond the range a

single tank provides.

Workstations

High-resolution workstations

operate seamlessly with the

craft’s radar, with all sensors

controllable from each station.

Multi-mode radar

Radar detects surface ships

and other aircraft, producing

ultra-high resolution images in

all weather conditions.

The SR-71 carried two crew

members, but its successor

is likely to be unmanned

MILITARY