re: The CIA A12 (SR71 Blackbird eats its dust)

quote:

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All that tech and they can't figure out how to make the bastard no leak fuel while it's sitting on the ground.

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Here is the reason it leaks on the ground...

The plane generates a great deal of friction in flight due to the speed. The friction translates into heat which makes the air frame expand. I think I read somewhere the Plane is 2 feet longer in flight than on the ground. (really don't remember and I am too lazy to look it up...) Due to that amount of expansion, they had to design the seams and tolerances with that factored in. Hence, the plane leaks fuel sitting on the ground.

Ya cannot ignore Physics...