Long before the iconic SR-71 Blackbird captured imaginations with its unmatched speed and stealth, the XB-70 Valkyrie was ...

The SR-71’s titanium airframe allowed it to reach Mach 3 and altitudes up to 85,000 feet, making it nearly untouchable. -However, mounting costs, specialized maintenance, and evolving missile ...

the iconic Mach 3 SR-71 Blackbird, remains one of the fastest planes ever flown operationally. When the U-2 reconnaissance aircraft was built, its designer Clarence L. “Kelly” Johnson already ...

What You Need to Know: The SR-71 Blackbird, a Cold War-era marvel, marked its final flight on October 9, 1999, after 25 years in service. With its Mach 3.32 speed and 85,000-foot altitude ...

On July 20, 1963, it achieved a sustained speed above Mach 3 at an altitude of 78,000 feet. Called the SR-71—SR for Strategic Reconnaissance—it first flew on December 22, 1964, piloted by ...

a dauntingly demanding aspect of the job was keeping the nose within one or two degrees of the prescribed angle—the only conditions under which the SR-71 was stable. At Mach 3, “you are ...

The SR-71 Blackbird is one of the United States' most recognizable and iconic aircraft. Its design is impressive, and while the U.S. only built 32, it remains a favorite of hobbyists and enthusiasts.

The SR-71 got hot at Mach 3, to the point where the average skin temperature was over 600 degrees Fahrenheit. As a result, 93 percent of the aircraft is made from titanium, which has better heat ...

Mike Hankins isn’t just the curator of the Museum’s Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird, he’s also a fan of the spectacular Mach 3 aircraft. In 1974, this Blackbird set speed records while flying to ...