On Thu, 24 Jul 2003 16:27:58 -0400, "Lawrence Dillard"
wrote:

Dear ng:

Can anyone supply details on NASA's flight profiles when using the
Blackbird? I am interested in confirming/denying a report I heard/read to
the effect that to economize on fuel use, NASA would climb the Blackbird to
a given height, dive it through the "sound barrier" then continue to
accelerate while climbing to operational altitude. If true, could someone
detail the height at which the dive began? Thanks.

That's the dipsydoodle and the USAF started it. You can go supersonic
flying straight and level (i.e. no dipsydoodle) but you'll be out of
fuel fairly quickly. The dipsy just lets you make potential energy
cheaply and then turn it into kinetic energy.

Mary

--
Mary Shafer Retired aerospace research engineer

"A MiG at your six is better than no MiG at all."
Anonymous US fighter pilot