SR71A REFERENCE INFORMATION
Revised Aug 11, 2010
For standard procedures, see the Checklists tab.
Speeds vary widely depending on temperature,
pressure, altitude, wind, takeoff weight,
runway length, runway slope,
and runway conditions.
Pilots calculate speeds and fuel load
using complicated charts and tables.
The speeds below are approximations.
All specifications assume no changes to dynamics or
default loading as provided in distribution.
FS9/X FLIGHT DYNAMICS OPTIONS
ALL SET TO MAX REALITY and IAS option set
(not "true".)
!!!! DO NOT EXCEED: !!!!
-> +5.5 deg pitch above 60Kft or Mach 3 (high drag/dynamic stall)
-> Mach 3.45 (overspeed)
-> 530 KIAS (overspeed)
-> Under 300 KIAS near Mach 3+ cruise (dynamic/compressor stall)
-> Less than 6100 RPM over Mach 1.5 (compressor stall)
-> 427C CIT
!! AVOID: !!
-> Under 365 *KEAS* while descending above Mach 1.5
-> COG out of published limits
-> Static temps at cruise warmer than -50C or
colder than -75C.
-> Atmospheric Pressure under 29.45
-> Speed/COG with level Pitch Trim
more nose down than -1.5 (rear heavy)
Slow down, climb or pump forward if trim warning.
-> Less than 0 deg AOA level cruise
-> Derich OFF in warm temps or high mach
---- MISC SPEC ----
Typical Static Temp operating range at 80Kft:
-50C to -75C
Note: Mach Cruise outside this range will have
noticable impact on eng power and fuel efficiency.
Total Flight Simulator aircraft weight
with full fuel:
172,000 lbs.
Thrust at sea level:
32,500 lbs static.
45,000 lbs W/AB.
Fuel Rate Idle:
4K-6K lbs/hr
Fuel Rate (Full AB Take-off):
40-50K lbs/hr
Fuel Rate Cruise:
35K - 40K lbs/hr
---- FLIGHT LIMITS and BALANCE ----
Max Taxi Speed:
40 MPH(35 KIAS)
Min Take Off Runway length: 9,000ft.
(full weight with reheat)
The minimum permitted takeoff run and landing
distance available is 2,000m (8,000 feet).
Min land Runway length: 7000ft @MLW
Typical Take off distance (45K lbs fuel):
4,800ft
Max Climb from Take Off:
10,000ft/min (AP)
Normal Cruise Speed (Vc):
400 KIAS/350 KEAS (Mach 3.2) @ 80,000ft.
Typical Cruise RPM: 7050-7150
Descent Speed:
365 KAES while above Mach 1.5
VMO - Maximum Operating Speed (KIAS):
500 KIAS (450 KEAS)
vL - Design Limit Speed:
3600 KEAS (520 KIAS)
MMO - Maximum Operating Speed (Mach)
.65 - 1.07 Mach (5,000' - 32,000' MSL)
1.75 - 2.0 Mach (44,000' - 50,000' MSL)
3.32 Mach (51,000 - 85,000' MSL)
vL - Design Limit Speed (Mach):
M3.45
Dynamic Mach Stall:
Speeds near Mach 3 but below 280 KIAS
Note: Panel Warning when above Mach 2.6 but
below 300 KIAS.
Compressor Stall:
Under 300 KIAS while above Mach 1.5
Under 350 KEAS while descending.
Eng RPM under 6100.
VLA - Lowest Authorized Speed (level):
175 KIAS (5,000' - 20,000' MSL)
Min Turn Speed:
220 KIAS (level)
G Limits (no eng spike):
+3.2
-1.9
Note: Use of engine spike increases
G force damage sensitivity by ~ 5%
Flight AOA Limits:
Max below 25K ft</b> = 18 deg
Max Subsonic 25K+ ft = +10 deg
Max Supersonic 25K+ ft to 70K ft = +8 deg
Max Supersonic 70,000+ ft = +6 deg
Max Turbulent penetration speed (subsonic):
350 KEAS
Typical Subsonic Climb Speed:
400 KEAS
Climb abort speed:
350 KIAS
Minimum AOA during climb:
.5 deg @ M2.6, never below zero when faster.
Typical Supersonaic Climb:
350 KEAS Hold or 400 KEAS Hold
COG:
Modeled MAC in FS2004 = 60.5 ft (wing + foward fuselage chine).
Typical range: +17 to + 24
Max at cruise: +25% (automatic system peaks +24.6%)
Max Take off and land: 22 %
Max below Mach 0.9: +24%
Min COG above Mach 1.8 and 11,570 lbs fuel: +17%
Min below Mach 1.8 and 11,570 lbs fuel: +14.5
Mach 3.30 = 24.3 % MAC
Ideal COG Table:
Gross Weight lbs %
130-140K 20-22
120-130K 22-24
90-120K 24+
---- ENGINE ----
Spike:
Subsonic to Mach 1.7 = spike full forward (F5)
Mach 1.7 to Mach 2.2 = position 1 (1 tap F7) 25%
Mach 2.2 to Mach 2.7 = position 2 (1 tap F7) 50%
Mach 2.7 to Mach 3.18 = position 3 (1 tap F7) 75%
Mach 3.18+ = position 4 100% Full Aft
(1 tap F7 full engine retraction/flaps deploy)
EGT:
Max start temp= 565 C (near 95 deg F static)
Target Optimum performance EGT:
775 deg F - 805 deg F
Normal Cruise Range: 780 - 820C
Continuous Limit: 830C
Emergency Zone Start = 805 C | up to 15 minutes
Emergency Zone Limit = 845 C |
Red Zone : 900 C up to 2 minutes
950 C up to 15 seconds
Note: Panel warnings at 845C and 900C
Optimum Descent EGT:
700C (1,292 F)
Max Inlet Temperature (CIT):
427C (801F)
Typical M 3.2: ~ 350 C
Max Eng RPM:
7450
Oil Pressure:
Min: 35 PSI
Normal: 40-60 psi
Max Oil Temperature:
177C
Max Gear Retraction/Extension/Down Speed:
350 KAES/320 KIAS/Mach 0.7
---- TAKE OFF ----
Maximum authorized takeoff weight:
172,000 lbs.
V1 - Generalized Runway Decision Speed:
150 - 160 KIAS
VR - Generalized Rotation Speed:
180 (minimum) - 220 KIAS
V2 - Generalized Engine Failure Screen Speed:
190 - 220 KIAS
Take Off Speed (MLW):
220 KIAS (+10 deg pitch)
200 KIAS 22% COG 58,600 lbs fuel.
180 KIAS 45K lbs fuel.
---- LANDING ----
Normal Landing Weight:
10,000 lbs fuel or less
Minimum Landing weight:
5,000 lbs fuel
Max T&G - Touch and Go weight:
22,000 lbs fuel
MLW - Maximum Landing Weight:
215,000 lbs (40,000 lbs fuel)
AP GS track is very unstable at this weight.
VREF - Target Landing Speed (KIAS):
Fuel lbs Appr Spd TD Spd
<= 10K 175 155
20K 185 165
25K 190 170
30K 195 175
40K 205 185
Landing Threshold Angle of Attack:
9.5 degrees (Att Ind pitch.)
10.5 AOA
Max Threshold AOA:
+14 (tail strike)
Max Manouver AOA:
+8 on turns (225 KIAS) +9 on final.
Max Landing Sink Rate:
8 FPM
Touchdown Throttle Setting:
Idle
Landing Crosswind Limit:
35 Knots @ 90 degrees
Drag chute is activated with "/" spoiler key.
Pre-arm: shft-/
Flight not possible while activated.
Max Chute Deploy Angle:
10 deg
Max Chute Deploy Speed:
210 KIAS
Chute Deploy Timing:
On Mains Contact
Chute Deploy Time:
5 seconds
Chute Deploy force:
0.5G
No Power Glide (80K ft Mach 3.2):
375KIAS @ -11,600 ft/min
6 minutes to 10Kft (102nm)
Dipsey Doodle (modified for FS9/FSX):
After refueling, set AT hold for speed Mach .9,
engage AB and set climb rate to 2000 ft/min.
Between 30K-32K ft increase ATspeed bug to 405.
Passing M0.95 and 32Kft set AT bug for 440 and
reduce climb to 500ft/min.
When passing M1.05. slowly increase climb to
+1500 until M1.15 then increase climb to
desired rate using 400 KEAS or 450 KEAS.
Real world tanker descent (assumes M3.2 80Kft):
After starting descent, switch to KIAS Hold
and slow gradually until crossing KEAS and click
KEAS Hold.
Tanker is expected 100 miles this side
of runway.
-Set descent alt (target) in AP for tanker alt.
-Gradually set initial dec rate to 4500, Mach 3.2.
-Crossing -2500 ft/min on VSI disengage AB.
-Follow published descent profile for alt and distance
to target.
-Typical descent rates are -4500 to -6200 ft/min.
-Below Mach 1.50 maintain 400 KIAS.
Typical Descent Target Profile:
Land/Refuel
Distance: Alt: Spd:
395/308 90Kft M3.2/365 KEAS
325/238 80K M3.2/365 "
285/190 74K 365+ KEAS
268/170 70K 365 KEAS
220/116 60K 365
188/70 50K 365
163/40 40K 400 KIAS
150/00 35K 380 KIAS, M0.90 cruise, or M0.85 for tanker
--- If using tanker, start rondevous operations. ----
-Typical landing final approaches start 20 miles out 4,000 ft
above runway altitude.
NOTE: For explanations of speeds used on this tab,
see "V-speeds" in the Glossary section of Help.