Tag Archives: SR-71

SR-71 Blackbird Set Four New Speed Records The Day Before Its Retirement

SR-71 Blackbird Set Four New Speed Records The Day Before Its Retirement

Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird No reconnaissance aircraft in history has operated globally in more hostile airspace or with such complete impunity than the SR-71, the world’s fastest jet-propelled aircraft. The Blackbird’s performance and operational achievements placed it at the pinnacle of aviation technology developments during the Cold War. When the Blackbird …

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World’s Fastest Cold War SR-71 Blackbird Spy Plane Was Almost Brought Back For War On Terror

World's Fastest Cold War SR-71 Blackbird Spy Plane Was Almost Brought Back For War On Terror

SR-71B – Mach 3 Trainer in Flight at Sunset – Courtesy Photo NASA The Lockheed SR-71 “Blackbird” is a long-range, high-altitude, Mach 3+ strategic reconnaissance aircraft that was operated by the United States Air Force. It was developed as a black project from the Lockheed A-12 reconnaissance aircraft in the …

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Why The Faster Soviet SA-2 Surface-to-air Missile Was Never Able To Shootdown SR-71 Blackbird

Why The Faster Soviet SA-2 Surface-to-air Missile Was Never Able To Shootdown SR-71 Blackbird

The Lockheed SR-71 “Blackbird” is a long-range, high-altitude, Mach 3+ strategic reconnaissance aircraft that was operated by the United States Air Force. It was developed as a black project from the Lockheed A-12 reconnaissance aircraft in the 1960s by Lockheed and its Skunk Works division. American aerospace engineer Clarence “Kelly” …

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F-12 Fighter-Interceptor: What Could Have Been the World’s Fastest Ever Combat Aircraft

F-12 Fighter-Interceptor: What Could Have Been the World's Fastest Ever Combat Aircraft

YF-12A and YF-12C in flight formation at dawn – credits: NASA The Lockheed A-12 family, known as the Blackbirds, were designed by Clarence “Kelly” Johnson. They were constructed mostly of titanium to withstand aerodynamic heating. Fueled by JP-7, the Blackbirds were capable of cruising at Mach 3.2 and attaining altitudes …

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