The suggestion of exceptionally large carrier aircraft prompts a practical objection involving the SR-71 Blackbird. Its tanks are described as leaking their special fuel on the ground, with the aircraft's behavior changing as it heats in flight. On a carrier, fuel leaking across the ship would be an immediate handling concern. The example makes the aircraft's support requirements part of the question of whether it belongs aboard a ship.
Notable Point · 4:12:50-4:13:26
The SR-71 fuel-handling problem in a giant-carrier proposal
The Blackbird's ground fuel leakage is raised as a shipboard handling constraint when discussing unusually large carrier aircraft.