ADVANCED LUBRICANTS From A Spy Plane.

Advanced Materials & Processes,  November, 2001  by Joaquim, Manuel E.

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The Blackbirds were officially retired because they are expensive to maintain and fly. Several have been brought out of retirement for various research projects, because no other aircraft can match their performance. In 1970, when the super-performance SR-71 Blackbird spy plane was being developed at Lockheed's Skunk Works, designers faced a significant obstacle: No lubricant could withstand the operating temperature of 315[degrees]C (600[degrees]F) in the plane's engines, two Pratt and Whitney J-58 axial-flow turbojets with afterburners.

Fortunately, Monsanto was able to develop ...

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