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Borkless from 112365365321 Since: Jan, 2011
#1: Feb 22nd 2011 at 5:04:17 PM

Some questions for a story I'm writing. Aliens invade in 1969, we beat them with Quasi '60s tech.

Could a modified X-15 be launched off the back of a Blackbird?
Could such a craft make orbit? (Assuming the landging gear, and all other un-needed weight is pulled, the pilot would eject and descend via parachute.)
How many nukes could such a craft carry?
Critiques welcome.

edited 22nd Feb '11 5:05:06 PM by Borkless

I don't always comment, but when I do, expect me to edit the crap outta it.
MattII Since: Sep, 2009
#2: Feb 22nd 2011 at 5:48:20 PM

it's possible that the SR-71 might just be able to make it off the ground, but you'd be better to use a B-52, because its unlikely you'd be able to get a laden F-15 up with a SR-71. Oh, and F-15s can't carry nukes, F-15Es can, but they weigh 3,000 lb more empty, and date from the 80s rather than the 60s (and there's no way in hell you could get one of them up with a SR-71).

carbon-mantis Collector Of Fine Oddities from Trumpland Since: Mar, 2010 Relationship Status: Married to my murderer
Collector Of Fine Oddities
#3: Feb 22nd 2011 at 5:54:52 PM

We're talking about this spunky fellow, right? I highly doubt it could really carry any armament. Might want to look into remote drones though, if I remember correctly there was a model developed that could piggyback off of the Blackbird, but it was never put into production.

MattII Since: Sep, 2009
#4: Feb 22nd 2011 at 6:31:20 PM

Crud WTF did I read it as F-15? Oh, and carbon-mantis hit the nail on the head, there's no way that thing can get anywhere near the edge of space with any sort of armament (hells, it only has a range of 280 miles to begin with), let alone a nuke.

Borkless from 112365365321 Since: Jan, 2011
#5: Feb 22nd 2011 at 8:37:41 PM

First, yes I mean a North American X-15
As for the nukes, I was thinking a few of these. Only One point five kilotons, but I believe F-89 carried six of them.

I was thinking a Blackbird for a mother ship because the Blackbird can already fly at the edge of space, and the X-15's rocket would need to do a lot less work.

In any case, I just want to know if it seems plausible, Rule of Cool will take over from there.

edited 22nd Feb '11 8:38:15 PM by Borkless

I don't always comment, but when I do, expect me to edit the crap outta it.
MattII Since: Sep, 2009
#6: Feb 22nd 2011 at 11:24:49 PM

Okay, the SR-71 could make it in terms of payload or in terms of fuel, but not both, they just weren't meant for that kind of lifting.

edited 23rd Feb '11 12:27:33 AM by MattII

Borkless from 112365365321 Since: Jan, 2011
#7: Feb 23rd 2011 at 3:25:46 PM

What if the SR-71 and X-15 were stripped down, and ariel refueling was involved?

I don't always comment, but when I do, expect me to edit the crap outta it.
MattII Since: Sep, 2009
#8: Feb 23rd 2011 at 8:27:02 PM

X-15 has no external refuelling port, so payload is still going to put a dent in its already rather minimal range. Honestly, you'd be better fitting the SR-71 with a bomb-bay than trying to make this work.

uberdude UBER from Behind you Since: Aug, 2010
UBER
#9: Feb 27th 2011 at 6:05:15 PM

If you think the SR-71 is too implausible you could use a XB-70 instead. Seeing as it was intended to be used as a mach 3 strategic bomber I don't see any reason it couldn't be modified to carry a X-15.

or is it?
FrodoGoofballCoTV from Colorado, USA Since: Jan, 2001
#10: Feb 27th 2011 at 6:52:06 PM

You could have the SR-71 as the launch platform if the spacecraft is smaller than an X-15. Here is an SR-71 carrying a D-21 drone / cruise missile which is too small for a pilot, but pobably not for a nuke.

Another option would be to use the Apollo space program or a large ICBM as the delivery vehicle.

Borkless from 112365365321 Since: Jan, 2011
#11: Feb 28th 2011 at 9:04:14 PM

An XB-70. Huh, that never occurred to me. That's way cooler

I don't always comment, but when I do, expect me to edit the crap outta it.
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