johnnypopper1964

[johnnypopper1964]

[johnnypopper1964]

[johnnypopper1964]

[johnnypopper1964]

[johnnypopper1964]

[johnnypopper1964]

[johnnypopper1964]

[johnnypopper1964]

[johnnypopper1964]

[johnnypopper1964]

[johnnypopper1964]

[johnnypopper1964]

[johnnypopper1964]

[johnnypopper1964]

Was the additive A-50 used by the CIA and the Air Force on their Blackbirds?

Dr. Richard Bissell, the CIA’s Special Assistant for Planning and Coordination, who was managing the program, was so worried about this particular issue, (hiding the plume of the afterburner) that he had considered calling for the scrapping of the entire development of a U-2 successor. ( it was a high priority for the CIA to disguise the A-12 as much as possible. The A-50 additive option is what pushed the CIA into giving the contract to Lockheed instead of Convair) Linda Sheffield

That’s where the cesium additive, which eventually became known as A-50, came in an idea that Lovick claims saved the A-12 program.

The basic principle behind this is a concept known as “plasma stealth.” In the simplest terms, this involves creating a cloud of plasma, or ionized gas, around some or all of an object. The plasma then absorbs electromagnetic radiation, such as radar waves, preventing them from reflecting. There are multiple ways to generate the required plasma Lovick’s idea was to inject an alkali metal, via a fuel additive, into the extremely hot exhaust streams, where the heat would turn it into an ionized gas. The question remains today did they use it or not? There is evidence pointing in both directions. Also, was this additive used in the SR 71?

I think this is highly possible as they converted KC 135s to be able to carry the additive with some degree of safety. The segregated fuel system on the KC-135Q tankers, which the Air Force eventually re-engined with ( A-50 ) CFM56s to create the KC-135T variant, would have largely eliminated the concerns about the additive finding its way into the tanker’s engines for any reason. KC-10 Extenders, which also supported the Blackbirds later in their service life, also could keep the JP-7 separated from the aircraft’s fuel load.

My father, Butch Sheffield a Pioneer in the SR 71 program in his notes. Discussed the additive and admitted that it could’ve been toxic to humans.

This picture shows an A-12 flying over Area 51 in Nevada or nearby that area. What is being emitted from the back of the A-12 is a combination of JP-7 fuel and heat exhaust it was not just dumping fuel. The other photo is a picture of the J 58 engine in a test mode which shows how much energy and power was emitted from the engines of the A-12 and the SR -71 that were hard to disguise but was possible with the additive A-50.

If nothing else, though, the development of the A-50 additive is another intriguing and very obscure part of the story of the A-12, as well as its successor, the SR-71, much of which remains unknown to this day, and it also offers intriguing insights into the dawn of stealth technology.

@Habubrats71 via X

[johnnypopper1964]

[johnnypopper1964]

North American F-86 Sabre