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| The Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird |
International Military - 'Top Gun: Maverick' is a film that features fighter jets in the story. Telling the story of a veteran pilot, Maverick, this film tells how fighter jets get involved in combat. Besides that, while Top Gun: Maverick was airing, there were fictional jets that seemed to steal the show. That is Darkstar, a jet that is described as having Mach 10 before finally failing to fly.
According to the Eurasian Times, the Skunk Works Division of Lockheed Martin released some details about the creation of the Darkstar hypersonic aircraft in the film. Lockheed Martin CEO James Taiclet has revealed the involvement of the legendary Skunk Works division in a LinkedIn post.
This is done after the film's premiere, the company has now created a web page dedicated to the mysterious Top Gun and Darkstar. "Lockheed Martin Skunk Works thrives on tackling seemingly impossible jobs, developing technologies for future challenges even before the need is identified," the website says.
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When the Top Gun: Maverick team goes to great lengths and remains true to Need for Speed Maverick, Skunk Works is their first call. With Skunk Works' expertise in developing the fastest aircraft known combined with the passion and energy to define the future of aerospace, Darkstar's capabilities can be more than just fiction, They can come true," he wrote.
Even though it's a fictional jet, Darkstar has succeeded in stealing attention with its several functions. Moreover, Darkstar is described as a sophisticated and fast hypersonic aircraft. However, is it possible for a fighter jet like the real Darkstar to exist?
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This can probably be seen from the Lockheed Martin SR 71 Blackbird. This aircraft is the fastest ever built, and since its retirement in 1998, the US military has longed for a worthy successor.
Quoted from 19fortyfive.com, The Lockheed Martin SR 71 Blackbird is one of the most legendary and iconic military aircraft of all time. This is based on the fact that 58 years after its invention and 23 years after its official retirement, it still remains the fastest air-breathing aircraft in the world. So, how fast is the SR-71 Blackbird?
Test pilot Jim Eastham managed to propel one to Mach 3.56, or just under 2,400 mph, for approximately 15 seconds while diving. This is as retired US Air Force Master Sergeant Jim Goodall (author of Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird: The Illustrated History of America's Legendary Mach 3 Spy Plane) noted.
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Jim said he lowered his nose a little to see if he could at least get to Mach 3.0. Out of nowhere Jim hit the good air and in a dive with good air he layered everything. He logged into his descendant profile and returned to the testing site.
Not only that, it is known that in July 1976, the SR-71 set not one but two world records. First, the absolute speed record of 2,193,167 mph, then the absolute altitude record of 85,068,997 feet. So, is there a successor to the SR-71?
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The answer is yes, namely the SR-72 which is also known as the 'Son of the Black Bird'. The aircraft is being developed at Lockheed's Skunk Works facility. However, it cannot be flown yet.
Reportedly, the aircraft will make its first flight in 2025 and its top speed is expected to be Mach 6.