Blackbird Gunship/Missile Carrier idea

[Cobra]

hey Guys, i just got done surfing Google when an Idea came to me! What If the SR-71 was used Not to Carrier a Drone but a Cruise Missile? or as the Basis for a Very Nasty Gunship Conversion? would Either one work or be more a 'Gerry Anderson' style WHIF? these were some Ideas that I'd been Reluctant to Voice until now! What Say You? Thanks for looking. Dan

[coolpop6307]

I think that would be a cool idea.

[McColm]

Has anyone thought of a seaplane version?

[seadude]

If I remember correctly, the F-12B proposed bomber version was designed to carry 3-4 SRAM missiles.

[Diamondback]

Bomber version was B-12, woulda had a rotary SRAM launcher in the gooseneck behind the cockpit and four Sparrows in the chine bays. Airpower or Wings magazine reprinted the original engineering sectional side-view back in the '90s... though I think a D-21 adapted into a long-range ALCM coulda worked well too.

[dragon]

The problem with the gunship version is that the SR-71 is too fast.  That is why the C-130 makes a wonderful gunship, the ability to loiter and "rain hell from above".

Now I do remember a novel from several years ago, where an SR-71-like aircraft was used to launch a Space Shuttle as a hypersonic transport.

[Diamondback]

And I recall a Star Trek novel where the cover depicted an SR with warp-engines installed in the nacelles instead of J58s... I also saw mention somewhere, I think in Ben Rich's book, about a proposal to put an SR on a Shuttle stack in place of the orbiter.

[Cobra]

Diamondback,the Star Trek Novel with the SR type Shuttle was Called 'Traitor Winds'! i have that Novel! could you picture an SR-71 in 'Thunderbirds'? Dan

[lenny100]

the other novel is called "shuttle" by david c onley isbn number 0708820875 just picked up a copy in a junk sale of 10 pence