SR-71 Blackbird

The SR-71 Blackbird was developed by Lockheed's Advanced Development Division, commonly called "Skunk Works," as a long-range strategic reconnaissance aircraft capable of flying at speeds over Mach 3.2 and at 85,000 feet. It made its first flight on 22 December 1964, was delivered to the Air Force in 1968, and flew its first operational mission on 21 March 1968 over Vietnam. The SR-71 accumulated many achievements, and the SRT1 program was considered a total success because the aircraft held all official airspeed and altitude records. An SR-71 set speed records from New York to London on 1 September 1974 at an average speed of 1,806.964 mph and from London to Los Angeles on 13 September 1974 at an average speed of 1,435.587 mph. On 27/28 July 1976, an SR-71 set an altitude in horizontal flight record at 85,068.997 feet, and on the same days set speed over a straight course and speed over a closed course records of 2,193.167 mph and 2,092.294 mph. On 6 March 1990, an SR-71 set a speed record from Los Angeles to Washington D.C., covering 1,998 miles in 1 hour, 4 minutes, 19.89 seconds, or 2,144.83 mph. This SR-71A, serial number 61-7959, known as "Big Tail," was rolled out on 16 August 1965 and was later chosen in 1975 to carry new sensor equipment in a nine-foot extension from the rear of the aircraft. "Big Tail" first flew on 3 December 1975; tests showed little performance loss but little advantage from the new sensor equipment, so the program was dropped. The aircraft was last flown on 29 October 1976 and is the only "Big Tail" in existence.

Florida · United States