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Insight · Aerospace

The secret materials that made the SR-71 Blackbird

How the A-12 and SR-71 survived Mach 3.2: beta titanium alloys, high temperature composite edges, functional black paint and fuel that doubled as coolant.

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SR-71 Blackbird at speed through cloud, digital render

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An aircraft made entirely from carbon fibreInsightThe race to build 100 aircraft a month: can composites keep up?15 June 2026Profiled metal roof sheet with rust and corrosion along its cut edgeGuideWhat does cut edge corrosion look like and how do you fix it?23 February 2026Solar panels installed across a flat roofInsightThe UK’s Warm Homes Plan: a rooftop revolution for roofing & solar installers4 February 2026Finished liquid-applied waterproofing on a flat roof with upstandsGuideLiquid-applied roofing specification: the Allbase technical approach26 January 2026Roofer kneeling on a large flat roof with roof outlets in the foregroundGuideUnderstanding roof specifications: a practical guide for UK projects21 January 2026Wet industrial resin floor with a spill beside a drainage channelGuideSlip resistance in resin floors21 January 2026Roof surveyor in a hard hat using a tablet on a flat roofInsightRoofing specification trends as we head into 202620 January 2026Aerial view of a retail 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panels behind wildflowers on a green roof, with the title Sustainable Roofing Trends for 2025InsightSustainable roofing trends in the UK for 202511 February 2025What is Bio Solar Green Roofing?GuideWhat is bio-solar green roofing?28 January 2025Aerial view of commercial buildings with solar panels on their roofsGuideWhy a roof condition survey is essential before installing solar panels3 January 2025Solar panel mounting rails installed across a large metal roofGuideCan solar panels damage industrial roofs? 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