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Secondary factors here are that: 1. There are no separate fuel tanks on the A-12/SR-71. The body of the aircraft is also the fuel tank. If there were internal
by bradknowles 3y ago
Secondary factors here are that:
1. There are no separate fuel tanks on the A-12/SR-71. The body of the aircraft is also the fuel tank. If there were internal fuel tanks separate from the body of the aircraft, then there wouldn't be any leaks. But then that would add weight and bulk that they couldn't afford.
2. The fuel they're burning is JP-7, which is so hard to ignite that it will put out a match, or if dumped on a fire, it will put out the fire. You have to get it to much higher temperatures for it to ignite. So, leaks that do happen at low temperatures (on the ground, early in the flight envelope, etc...) just aren't that big of a deal. There's not many things that would be able it ignite the fuel when it leaks at those times.