The discussion centers around the dark streaks observed on the wings of the SR-71 aircraft near the engine, exploring the cause and implications of these markings. The scope includes technical explanations related to aircraft design and fuel systems.
Participants generally agree on the cause of the dark streaks being related to jet fuel leakage, but there are varying levels of detail and additional information presented without consensus on all aspects.
There are unresolved assumptions regarding the specifics of the aircraft's design and fuel system, as well as the implications of the historical reference to the coal slurry powerplant.
Antiphon said:That's jet fuel leaking out of the seams. The SR-71 was designed to "seal up" at full speed through thermal expansion at Mach 3+. It has no fuel tanks in those sections of the wings. The fuel is stored directly in the bulkhead to save weight.