The SR-71 Blackbird's Fuel Was So Special That the Air Force Built a New Tanker for It

Harrison Kass

23 January 2025

5 min

PME All levels

BLUF

Due to operating at Mach 3, missiles could be outrun but, air-to -air refuelling required every 90 minutes. The KC-135Q tanker developed specifically for heat resistant fuel is an example of US Cold War innovation.

READ: The SR-71 Blackbird's Fuel Was So Special That the Air Force Built a New Tanker for It

References

National Interest: High factual reporting
COLLECTIONS/The Runway (airforce.gov.au)
RAAF RUNWAY: RATIONALE GUIDELINES LEARNING OUTCOMES ETC)

The SR-71 Blackbird's Fuel Was So Special That the Air Force Built a New Tanker for It

BLUF

References

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