To hkshooter and any other modelers wanting the latest, previously undisclosed, TOP SECRET information on the Blackbird,
I was just perusing some evil bay ads and came across some information of which I was not aware. Since evil bay is undoubtedly the most accurate, honest and undisputable source of detailed info, it MUST be true.
Two excerpts from the item description:
“VINTAGE WWII LOCKHEED SR-71A BLACKBIRD MODEL PLANE KIT”
“This twin-engine, supersonic jet fighter is carrier-launched and is armed with Sidewinder missiles, laser-guided bombs, FLIR pod and Vulcan cannon.”
Man that sounds like a versatile bird! I wonder if the kit includes an arrestor hook? At first I thought this might be the typical case of boilerplate item description ala “mint in box, never opened” (yeah right) but now that I’ve looked at the listing, I’m not so sure. Didn’t the 9th SRW fly off of the USS. Okinawa?
I can’t believe nobody knew about this “secret” role. Much to my dismay, this kit does not include the arresting hook. guess i’ll have to scratch it and some ww2 sidewinders!!!
Since we now know that Sidewinder missiles, LGBs, FLIR pods and the Vulcan cannon were available during WW-II, I guess we had all better take a more detailed look at photos of P-51s, P-38s, P-47s, etc and see if maybe we missed some armament options.
Imagine the look on the pilots face after locking up a Mig 29 and after firing a long burst from the Vulcan, only to be shot down by your own bullets[(-D]
I know what you’re saying about running into your own bullets, but I struggle to imagine it. I’m certainly not a gun expert, but I know that the 50-cal has muzzle velocity of ~Mach-2. So if you were flying an SR71 at Mach 3 and you fired a 50-cal round, wouldn’t the actual projectile be travelling at about Mach 5?
Sure it would slow down eventually, but it would have traveled a long way away from you before it slowed down 2-Machs to your aircraft’s speed.
However, I have read about an aircraft shooting itself down before. It was in a dive, if I recall correctly. Some 60’s or 70’s aircraft, but I fail to remember what it was. Must have been a very low-speed cannon projectile.
I think if a gun was going to put on the SR-71, it would HAVE to be a high-velocity rifle round, such as the 50-cal. The SR-71 would be a TERRIBLE gun platform for dogfighting with fighters. But maybe it could have be good at Boom and Zoom against Tu95 bombers?
Seems to me a real concern would be the Sidewinders. After they fire off, they’d stabilize at Mach 2 - 2.5 if they haven’t already disintegrated, and as you pass them at Mach 3 you’d really need to GO.
I wonder how the YF-12 was supposed to work. It sounds to me like it’s GAR-9B’s could run at Mach 4, which would put plenty of distance quickly behind it and the F-12.
I feel the need to note that the all allusive 1-48th Testors YF-12 has been spotted on Ebay. I’d bid on it myself but have decided that building the kit will probably be a one time job. To much I’d just have to change and more work than I ever care to put into this kit again.