Titanium is an excellent material that is now in widespread use for the aerospace industry. It made big news in 1968 when the SR-71 Blackbird, the fastest aircraft ever to be built, made its debut. Titanium was the perfect metal used to build it because of its light weight, durability, high melting point and strength. Without titanium, the SR-71 Blackbird would literally melt out of the sky at top speed due to the extreme temperatures created by air friction!

Titanium has an unbelievable strength compared to other commonly used metals. Grade 2 Titanium has a yield strength about fifteen percent higher than 316 stainless steel. Grade 5 Titanium (Ti-6AI-4V) has a yield strength over three and a half times greater than stainless steel while still weighing only 56% as much.

Titanium is stronger, lighter, and corrosion free in the natural environment. This means that there are little or no maintenance and replacement costs. The use of this extraordinary metal in modern day planes makes them faster, lighter, and more fuel efficient.