The Lockheed SR-71 "Blackbird" is a retired long-range, high-altitude, Mach 3+ strategic reconnaissance aircraft developed and manufactured by the American aerospace company Lockheed Corporation. [ N 1 ] Its nicknames include " Blackbird " and " Habu ".

The original Blackbird was designated the A-12 and made its first flight on April 30, 1962. The single-seat A-12 soon evolved into the larger SR-71, which added a second seat for a Reconnaissance Systems Officer and carried more fuel than the A-12. The SR-71's first flight was on December 22, 1964.

The SR-71 was designed to fly deep into hostile territory, avoiding interception with its tremendous speed and high altitude. It could operate safely at a maximum speed of Mach 3.3 at an altitude more than sixteen miles, or 25,908 m (85,000 ft), above the earth.

Throughout its nearly 24-year career, the SR-71 remained the world's fastest and highest-flying operational aircraft. From 80,000 feet, it could survey 100,000 square miles of Earth's surface per hour.

Lockheed Martin Aeronautics SR-71 Blackbird Performance: Top Speed: 1910 knots / 2198 mph / 3537 km/h

Dec 14, 2021 · Here’s What You Need To Know: In spite of the plane’s unparalleled service record, it was simply too expensive for the U.S. Air Force to continue to run after the end of the Cold War. The SR-71...

The Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird spy plane flew more than three-and-a-half times the speed of sound, so fast that no other aircraft could catch it.

The Lockheed Martin SR-71 was the crown jewel of a class of long-range Strategic Reconnaissance aircraft used to gather intelligence on Soviet military deployments and other geopolitical interests [1].

Dec 12, 2023 · The SR-71 Blackbird was an extraordinary aircraft that was developed by Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works division for the United States Air Force (USAF). It first took to the skies in 1964, marking the beginning of a remarkable era in aviation history.

The SR-71 Blackbird resulted from a Cold War-era need for a high-speed, high-altitude strategic reconnaissance aircraft. This aircraft cruised at more than three times the speed of sound, which translates to just over 2,000 miles per hour.