Afterburner
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An afterburner is an additional combustion component used on some jet engines, mostly those on military supersonic aircraft. Its purpose is to increase thrust, usually for supersonic flight, takeoff,
A US Navy F/A-18 Hornet being launched from the catapult at maximum power
SR-71 Blackbird in flight with J58 engines at maximum power, with numerous shock diamonds visible in the exhaust
Rear part of a sectioned Rolls-Royce Turbomeca Adour. The afterburner with its four combustion rings is clearly seen at the center.
The plenum-chamber-burning Bristol Siddeley BS100 engine had thrust augmentation at the front nozzles only.
Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird
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The Lockheed SR-71 "Blackbird" is a retired long-range, high-altitude, Mach 3+ strategic reconnaissance aircraft that was developed and manufactured by the American aerospace company Lockheed Corporat
Afterburner
…take-offs, assisting catapult launches from aircraft carriers, and during air combat. A notable exception is the Pratt & Whitney J58 engine used in the SR-71 Blackbird which used its afterburner for prolonged periods and was refueled in-flight as part of every reconnaissance mission. An afterburner has a limited life…
Lockheed SR 71 Blackbird
SR-71 Blackbird assembly line at Skunk Works
Tandem cockpits
No-step areas are outlined in red on the SR-71A at the Museum of Aviation, Robins AFB. Operational aircraft had the words NO STEP to indicate to which side of the line the warning applied.