SR-72 Darkstar – The Top Gun: Maverick ‘Mach 10’ Plane Is ‘Real’
Story by Brent M. Eastwood • Yesterday 1:17 PM
More than 100,000 people at an air show in California were able to see the new mockup of the SR-72 Darkstar spy plane, which was featured in the blockbuster movie Top Gun: Maverick (it hit Mach 10 in the movie). The Hollywood version of the Darkstar sat beside the SR-71 Blackbird in October at the Aerospace Valley Open House and Air Show at Edwards Air Force Base, California. The SR-72 is known as the “Son of Blackbird,” so this was a generational public relations moment for the Darkstar program and Lockheed Martin Skunk Works.
Doubling down on speed The SR-71 in its heyday was an ultra fast, high-flying machine, but the stealthy SR-72 might eventually reach speeds of Mach-6, nearly twice the velocity of the SR-71. The Darkstar will be unmanned and capable of gathering the intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance data expected from a spy plane, but it might also have ground strike features.
Mix that with hypersonic flight, and you have a noteworthy craft for the U.S. Air Force.
Lockheed has developed a combined cycle dual-mode engine that has ramjet features. Dual mode means that a turbine engine cycle provides thrust from takeoff to Mach-3, at which point the ramjet takes over to reach Mach-6. The idea is to outrun enemy warplanes and air defenses.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/sr-72-darkstar-the-top-gun-maverick-mach-10-plane-is-real/ar-AA151pnH?ocid=msedgntp&cvid=404ba1c9f5c34d7e91eee6164f190278
