Apple TV was really really sure I wanted to watch "Mayday" and I wasn't sure why.

[vaurora@mstdn.social]

Apple TV was really really sure I wanted to watch "Mayday" and I wasn't sure why. Okay, Ryan Reynolds in a Cold War comedy, that's kind of my thing...

Then I saw the lovingly computer animated SR-71 BLACKBIRD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_SR-71_Blackbird

[julf@mastodon.social]

@vaurora Interesting case: https://www.twz.com/25205/declassified-us-honors-swedish-pilots-for-escorting-stricken-sr-71-to-safety-during-cold-war

[lkanies@hachyderm.io]

@vaurora such an amazing feat of engineering. A plane so good only satellites could be better.

[jpf@mastodon.social]

@vaurora nerd snipe status: direct hit

[rmd1023@infosec.exchange]

@vaurora
I am suddenly way more interested in this. Gotta love a fabulous piece of engineering.

[ook@hachyderm.io]

@vaurora it could have done with more SR-71 content and the fact Ryan got to go straight up as navigator on a mission over Russia with no training was questionable

[vaurora@mstdn.social]

@ook maybe there's a directors' cut with more SR-71 content

[vaurora@mstdn.social]

OMG I thought the animators were using artistic license, but the SR-71 exhaust actually looks like that

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File%3APratt_%26_Whitney_J58_ground_test.jpg

[mbpaz@mas.to]

@lkanies @vaurora sat imagery was actually worse.

[benh@mastodon.scot]

@vaurora

Ooh inspired by Gerry Anderson

https://thunderbirds.fandom.com/wiki/Thunderbird_2

[teacher_rick@mastodon.nl]

@vaurora Classic:

https://youtu.be/8AyHH9G9et0

[mjj@mstdn.dk]

@vaurora The Blackbird is wildly fascinating. Even with the age it has, it looks futuristic.

[sima@chaos.social]

@vaurora mach diamonds

[nettings@mastodon.social]

@vaurora @jon Ha! This out-of-context timline coincidence is solid gold:

[vaurora@mstdn.social]

[screaming] "It is a common misconception that the planes refueled shortly after takeoff because the fuel tanks, which formed the outer skin of the aircraft, leaked on the ground."

"The fuel was used as a heat sink for the rest of the aircraft to cool the pilot and the electronics."

Every time I read about the fuel system on the SR-71 I shriek internally. How did they even conceive of this!

[photovince@mastodon.social]

@vaurora I’ve seen SR71 take-off footage with the exhaust plume before, but how that glowy bit stays structurally sound is beyond me…

[slothrop@chaos.social]

@vaurora perfectly safe, I’m sure

[ginabythebay@hachyderm.io]

@vaurora using jet fuel as a coolant. Can’t think of anything that might go wrong with that

[dr2chase@ohai.social]

@vaurora mentioned to a former colleague that when I visited the Boeing Museum, I stood on tip-toes so I could touch the SR71. She (ex-NSA), with an enormous grin, says, "I've sat in the cockpit!"

[vwampage@xoxo.zone]

@vaurora The plane is SO WILD and SO COOL!!!!