How Fast is SR-71 Blackbird?

#shorts Meet the Lockheed Martin SR-71 Blackbird, the fastest operational aircraft ever.
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[@disciple15]

I have loved the mighty SR-71 since I was a kid in the 70's.

[@dananorth895]

Alien tech

[@JuliusCeaser_]

Should’ve said since you were a kid in 71

[@robertonavarro7713]

I saw one parked in Palmdale, California together with a U2.

[@kendallbedford2523]

Why did they retire it from the airforce

[@LordEmperorHyperion]

Mig31 shoots down SR-71 anytime , no more U2 missions over Russia otherwise the Americans risked WW3 in which we all lose.

[@faatman42]

Fun fact, there have been more American astronauts who flew missions than there were pilots who flew the SR-71

[@thickoc4539]

My cold war vet dad always says this. 🇺🇲

[@jeremiah4267]

They were freemasons and they didn't fly anything anywhere.

[@skysky-sn7xt]

Fun fact: I was proudly the one who flew the original 1st blackbird in 87 nttv aviation back 90"

[@fabyanserrano00]

​@@skysky-sn7xt nope

[@cat_clan_leader]

​@@skysky-sn7xt mhm

[@cadillaccasper]

My grandfather was an engineer at Lockheed for the SR71, P38 lightning and the Apollo program in NASA.

[@BigBoss-sm9xj]

i would be very proud to that a cool grandpa like that

[@xXtuscanator22Xx]

My great grandfather was on the Manhattan Project as one of the lead scientists

[@asurajitsu]

@@xXtuscanator22Xx💀

[@xXtuscanator22Xx]

@@asurajitsu By lead I don’t mean like lead lead but he was def on the big team of them and yeahhh when I found that out I was like damn my fam fr part responsible for like 260k deaths

[@pleasesubtomespookston]

“The father of the dark star” no because the dark star isn’t an actual flying aircraft, Lockheed Martin worked with the producers of TGM to create a life sized scale of it so they could taxi it out using a tractor and then green screen the tractor out.

[@vincentbearinger2242]

What I like is when the Blackbird flew from New York to LA it arrived a couple hours before it even left

[@geoffreyjohnson3454]

I never thought about that.. ingenious!!

[@JCDofNYC]

I once flew the Concord from London to NYC. The flight left Heathrow at 12 noon GMT, and arrived at JFK in NYC at 10:30 AM, an hour and a half BEFORE it left! No jet lag on that trip!

[@paw0960]

@@JCDofNYC well yeah, thats how timezones work

[@JCDofNYC]

@@paw0960 really, I had no idea.

[@josephhedgecoe]

​@@paw0960 thanks captain obviuos

[@mastergecko1178]

A plane designed in the 1960s that still looks like it’s from the distant future

[@benaiahwright937]

Designed, engineered, and manufactured.

[@etan5716]

Aliens bro aliens 😂

[@ringo196]

It was designed in the late 50 the A12 code named oxcart, Kelly Johnson and the skunk works

[@washingtonheberpintos2421]

It is from the future it came through time window back in the 60s just don't tell anyone ok?

[@thomasdaum1927]

It was designed shortly after the Roswell New Mexico incident !

[@feeberizer]

I got to see the Blackbird at an airshow decades ago. It was on static display for the show, but I came back the next day to see it's engines started, see it take off, and then do 2 flybys over the runway. Even at slow speed my chest was rattling. What a rush!

[@Dark_Knight_USA]

Greetings: assuming they could have opened it up, and that low, about Mach 3 the busted pavey would have knocked U down

[@mikefolts4658]

I first saw it in 66 at Kadena, then 76-77 at Kadena. I got to check one out, even got into the cockpit, seeing almost everything.

[@mikefolts4658]

What's pavey ?

[@v4d3rm4n]

Still one of the most beautiful planes

[@barrygolden9823]

I saw one in person when I went to one of the Smithsonian museums. It was the first thing you saw when you walked in. My jaw dropped!!! She was big and beautiful...

[@gumegoz2012]

American made

[@Tar-Numendil]

There's one here in Utah at the Hill Aerospace Museum. I've seen it at least 6 times.

[@XB10001]

​@@gumegoz2012using Soviet titanium. 'merica the bestest [sic]..🙄

[@Tar-Numendil]

And it's still one of mankind's most beautiful creations.

[@charlesmyers9765]

Yeah, it could out run the rotational speed of the earth, by 1000mph I believe.

[@ramashretiwari3056]

Great post Ji

[@PFPTHEGREATEST]

Fuckin. Stunning.

[@jano7772]

yaah, a "beautiful" made to kill. Feel proud...

[@Tar-Numendil]

@@jano7772 The Blackbird was not made to kill. It didn't even have weapons.

[@chamalkariyakarawana676]

I had the privilege of seeing the SR71 fly at the 50th anniversary of the U S Airforce show. It was an impromptu decision and no one knew . Imagine the roar and cheer when the spectators seeing the SR71 coming from the right .... we went crazy. And turning and coming back with a high speed pass. Omg it was the best airshow ever. Thanks to everyone helped it happen.(bcos at that time the SR 71 Was out of service)

[@codyhilton1750]

What is amazing is that it was developed in the 50's.

[@CandiedPage]

Not really , What is amazing is anything built today that is able to be built to last as long . That was an era of progress, which really stopped at the start of 2000. Elon musk has put us at 10 percent of level , 2020 we should have been to Mars , that was me in 2000 thinking of 2020s . Millionaires from fart KZbin videos wasn’t even at the worst case , IQ has dropped sadly .

[@MarkSmith-js2pu]

And with slide rules. Plus we had to deceive USSR to get the titanium ore out of Russia AND learn how invent the tools to shape and work that metal. Kelly Johnson and all those at The Skunk Works, 👏👏👏🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@markchidester6239]

Makes you wonder what's going on that we don't know about.

[@uwirl4338]

​@@CandiedPage See, I normally wouldn't agree with the utter mess of ignorance and baseless conspiracy your comment is, but after reading it, I actually agree with the last part. IQ has definitely dropped, you're pulling down the average my guy.

[@mv9787]

Yes they started development in the late 50s

[@Pendragon667]

"She’s ugly on the ground, leaks like a sieve, but up around Mach 1, the seals all expand, she dries up, leans into the wind and flies like a bat out of hell"

[@bonnieplasha4684]

Tommy Lee Jones in Space Cowboys! ❤❤

[@crazyralph6386]

And it still looks remarkably high tech in todays world? Kelly Johnson was a pure genius, and patriot.

[@hyattgotti3052]

Yes yes yes

[@damogranheart5521]

The plane was love at first sight!

[@ThePuzzleman1990]

Let's not forget Ben Rich . "We now have the means to send ET home!"

[@DaNinja60]

I remember a model of the SR-71 I had as a kid. Still one of the most beautiful aircraft in existence.

[@bh.rippleeffect]

My brother had that same model.

[@bh.rippleeffect]

That was over 50 years ago.

[@DaNinja60]

@@bh.rippleeffect His was probably better than mine. Mine was lime green see-thru plastic. Not sure where I got it or what happened to it.

[@bh.rippleeffect]

it did look like the actual aircraft and it was black.

[@Rick-or2kq]

The MIG 25 got the US's attention with a top speed about Mach 3 and a ceiling of 70,000 ft. It was considered the king of interceptors.

[@1A_B_C1]

This plane was way ahead of it's time. It amazes me how technology was so advanced at that time.

[@ruthnoya8424]

Thank WW2 for the explosion of technology in the late 1940s +

[@xXtuscanator22Xx]

@@ruthnoya8424Agreed! War is an awful thing, but god damn does it breed insane technological advancements

[@Tzar10000]

No computers just slide rules an engineering. 😊

[@musicbeginner]

Now, ask the DEI hiring to design and build a wonder like SR71. Trust me, the result will be the same as 737MAX.

[@JorgeGarcia-lw7vc]

I fell for the clickbait, expecting a head to head comparison with the MiG-25 and MiG-31.

[@Julian-i9n2q]

😂😂😂

[@Frank-jb9cs]

My grandmother work on this awesome SR71 they gave her a ride for her retirement love you grandma 👵.

[@michaelscott33]

My brother in law is an engineer at Lockheed Martin and worked with Paramount and Tom Cruiss to design the Darkstar used in Top Gun Maverick. They returned the plane after the movie was finished filming and now it remains on display for the public to view at their facility in Fort Worth, Texas.

[@jean-jacquescortes9500]

Yeah ! 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@Isaiah-53-777]

Someday I'll go to Texas never been west of the Mississippi

[@SkidzFPV]

Got to see the SR-71 in person at the Pima air and space museum. Absolutely incredible aircraft, the engines alone are a masterpiece of engineering.

[@Mustang-bk4ns]

And that was the 70's?? With computer power growing exponentially we probably have fantastic technology today right?

[@hoghogwild]

@@Mustang-bk4ns 70's, engine design began mid-late 50's. First flew early 60's.

[@-BUGZ-]

Crossing the entirety of the U.S the long way in just barely over an hour is INSANELY impressive. You had me there.

[@bobbymorgret]

The only aircraft never to be shot down by enemy fire AND it has been used in many different conflicts. Rest in Peace Kelly Johnson

[@ИгорьМанерко-и3х]

Миг 31

[@animaltvi9515]

There are lots of planes never to have been shot down by enemy fire.

[@bobbymorgret]

​@@animaltvi9515 Such as???

[@ruskiessuck3337]

@@bobbymorgret B1?

[@ruskiessuck3337]

B2?

[@jimtownsend7899]

Used to watch them take off out of Kadena, Okinawa. It was usually at night, so all you could see were the two blue cones of afterburner going up at a 70 degree angle and disappearing into the night in mere seconds.

[@texaswunderkind]

My dad was refueling them with his KC-135. That's why I was born there.

[@duanejohnson9798]

I saw the black bird on kadena in 1967. The Okinawans called it the Habu. It had to cool down before landing. My sons met 2 pilots and checked out the cockpit. 😊

[@crowfoot7355]

Quite a site I used to travel from camp Hanson to kadina to get a glimpse.

[@itshendo6475]

Nowhere near as cool as watching the P3’s take off from Kadena.

[@jimtownsend7899]

@@itshendo6475 I could have been in one of those. That was my job for 20 years!

[@tomupchurch4911]

3.2 is what they'll admit...I saw an interview with one of Kelly Johnsons guys recently & he said 4.6 in an emergency. Holy shit.

[@yxmichaelxyyxmichaelxy3074]

The MiG-25 Foxbat could reach Mach 3.2. It was clocked flying across Israel at that speed to the astonishment of the Americans. They were not even aware of the aircraft yet such was Soviet paranoia about their secrets. The Soviets developed the BMP 30 years before the USA became aware it even existed.

[@kevinjasper6620]

​@@yxmichaelxyyxmichaelxy3074propaganda

[@rg20322]

@@yxmichaelxyyxmichaelxy3074 Ahhh yes but they could only do that in a very short window and not cruise. They maybe could do that with afterburners for a couple of minutes and then you have no fuel.

[@yxmichaelxyyxmichaelxy3074]

@@rg20322 Why did they burn so much fuel? Hint: with what is the entire plane constructed?

[@Steve-yo4ld]

​@@yxmichaelxyyxmichaelxy3074 That may be true. However, the SR71 is the only aircraft ever built to be flown in constant after burner! Fighter Jets can only sustain after burner for a specific time, depending on altitude and fuel on board!

[@A1KX100]

64 minutes across the US is insane! Like, I need footage of that. I need to see it.

[@ryanmccarthy8625]

If there is footage of that flight, then the only possible way to view it would be with a super high speed camera. Even so, it's probably kept under wraps for national security purposes.

[@chopperchopper1418]

Watch the documentary with a funny pilot talk and the pictures , one bad ass pic shows oil leaching over the wings. It has to, or it would blow up . 🫡

[@2dronetek2]

I want to see onboard camera footage.

[@Siouxperman]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/f33SoWaBo5h9hZosi=SgAHEbeTC5O8zbW4 KZbin vid of the trip from west to east.

[@BedTimeStories-New]

You would need a cameraman flying in a blackbird for tht lol

[@aaronatkinson1049]

One of the most beautiful machines in history.

[@ljpeeters3148]

looking mean enough to say that.funn

[@damogranheart5521]

On the tarmac in the rain, she was downright sexy. The leather seat was a work of comfortable art.

[@StormRaid417]

I had a toy SR-71 as a kid and I flew that bird all over my room😢 I miss it so much

[@patrickmcgrath5411]

"FASTER THAN A SPEEDING BULLET..."❣️👍

[@bonnieplasha4684]

Literally!!

[@Tzar10000]

@@patrickmcgrath5411 a 306 round. Producing more power than 21 locomotives.

[@steve4158]

Considering the year it was built, it was a technological marvel. New methods of machining had to be developed as titanium was used for much of the plane.

[@hoghogwild]

Yes, approx 93% of the structure is made of titanium alloys. As such new ways to mark, melt, meld and test these titanium fantastics. Something like a simple metal marker could cause stress corrosion in the area. If I'm not mistaken, and I could very well be mistaken, but the "Sharpie" brand TEC or Trace Element Certified" marker is a low halogen series that's safe for titanium alloy work. less than 200 ppm of chloride halogens. There's videos online showing the heating and forming of the skeleton of the airframes. The pieces are so large that a forklift was used to reposition the massive titanium forgings between forge strokes. When the finally dispoed the Blackbird stuff there was titanium of all sorts that was sold as scrap. There were 3 main titanium alloys used in their construction. Work like this emboldened designers to make some very strong titanium parts. The F-14 wing box is titanium and used the largest vacuum electron beam welders in the world at the time. Save thousands of pounds over a steel bolted wing box. The electron beam welders, each the size of a small house made a fairly indestructible wing box. Grumman had 3 such electron beam welders. Lessons learned from F-111 and the problems with wingbox durability??. The F-14 could carry the same missile load as the F-111B, but do so at a 10,000 pound advantage. Then drop the heavy launch rails and mount 4 AIM-7 semi recessed ubder the fuselage and be a decent dogfighter. Titanium comprised 25% of the Tomcat's structure, but also added greatly to its cost. Learning to work with titanium was very important to Lockheed and aerospace in general.

[@katsimmons1065]

Used to live out in Palmdale and Lancaster, where I lived use to watch the B-52 test fly around and you could see the pilots and wave at them. But that SR-71 Blackbird is one amazing airplane. It can almost take off straight up in the air.

[@R463R]

They started development in the 1950’s. Who knows where we may actually be technologically in aviation today.

[@gr8crash]

The AF requested the SR71 in 1962

[@lescoburandun1457]

Ya I’m thinking all those ufos pilots have seen moving all crazy and defying physics probably are man made

[@icer1249]

planes are actually getting built slower now. SR-71 and Concordes are retired, fighter jets are built with stealth rather then speed in mind. Jets from the 70/80s are faster then modern jets.

[@R463R]

@@gr8crash the inception of the Oxcart Program was in 1957, and was the beginning of the early design phases to the development of the airframe. I was referencing the starting date of development, but you are correct with the first flights resulting from the program took place in 1962.

[@R463R]

@@icer1249 yeah, I think my head was in the clouds thinking more related to the propulsion systems, but you are correct on all accounts.

[@andrewsimons1213]

"It flew high enough to see the stars" Thank goodness for that 😅

[@davemcgrath6764]

My brother-in-law actually got to pilot one in the 70’s!! Col. R.E. Sprinkel if you don’t believe me. We have pictures which he displayed proudly on his mantle. What an honor!!

[@gr8crash]

He didn't get to really "pilot it", he got a VIP ride. Still awesome regardless

[@OGTj1]

But, the SR-71 wasn’t the first of its kind. What was? It’s predecessor: the mighty A-12 (aka: archangel).

[@diegok2245]

People forget about the a12 and it’s little drone cousin

[@Tornado2409]

Elon's son

[@demnbrown]

​​@@diegok2245 heck I wish they would have proceeded with the x.25

[@diegok2245]

@@demnbrown Please enlighten me. I want to learn more about this prototype

[@gr8crash]

@@diegok2245 that was the M21, the 3rd variant. It launched the D21.

[@prasanth2601]

Sr 71 has to be the most beautiful looking aircraft ever. I wish it's successor looks and performs even better than that

[@kainsanderson1445]

I was always partial to the b-2 stealth bomber myself

[@demnbrown]

Check out the on in dayton ohio at the air force museum

[@kainsanderson1445]

@@demnbrown I got to study the one in Huntsville Alabama at Redstone arsenal

[@StormyWolf66]

It is officially stated its speed was Mach 3.2, though, after the conversations with these pilots, they indeed pushed their SR-71s to Mach 4. (I think it was stated as Mach 3.2 to throw off the enemies who thought they knew best)

[@петровалексей-ю2о]

Что же автор не указал махи Миг 25 ? Наверно так же что бы всех сбить с толку!!!

[@jonathanisernhagen6515]

I have heard 3.3+. I've never heard anyone claim 4.

[@rotkev]

SR71 Blackbird and F4 Phantom are my favs.

[@kenanacampora]

Sr71 Oxcart is my favorite.

[@Norton1531]

Man, you have excellent taste. 👍🏻

[@donb7474]

Flew them both!😊

[@Norton1531]

@@donb7474 Is this internet bullshit?

[@donb7474]

@@Norton1531 It is not BS. 480 hrs SR 1300+ F-4

[@allenr316]

The 3 coolest planes I know of... SR-71, F-14, and A-10. All of them are awesome. :)

[@Norton1531]

F-16 is very pretty.

[@mr.emaaejae6058]

And don't forget the F-22 Raptor and F-35.

[@johnjames5842]

Always loved the tomcat, it's classic , but I have a soft spot for the f16 , I grew up down the road from Lockheed, got to get within 20 yards of a stealth fighter as a kid once, so cool.

[@johnjames5842]

​@@mr.emaaejae6058the f35 and f22 programs are a complete failure when compared to f14, f18, f16 , insanely expensive, tons of problems, reliability problems, parts shortages , software problems, the DOD froze the f35 program, theres 100 new f35 that nobody will buy, not even the us military, just sitting because the computer shuts off and has to be rebooted during flight, it's a pos

[@allenr316]

@@johnjames5842 Nice. :)

[@americandowninbrazil]

Fun fact: my grandfather (Hartley Soulé) was an engineer for NASA and he designed the first plane (the Bell X1) to break the speed of sound! He also invented the wind tunnel.

[@jummyran]

What’s crazy more then anything is it’s age. Yet it’s still one of the most advanced planes out there.

[@edwardburlas1110]

It's retired and in museums

[@andynorth3016]

Decades ahead of it's time!!

[@jummyran]

@@andynorth3016 true

[@jummyran]

@@edwardburlas1110 yes but the fact holds. What’s scary is what they have replaced it with

[@edwardburlas1110]

Is that why it's been retired for years ?

[@mr.emaaejae6058]

One main impressive piece of information that should have been included in this video: If it fired missiles or bullets, it moves so fast it flies right into them shooting itself out of the air.

[@eileenweeks1815]

Amazing simply amazing. I don't know if that is a good thing or bad thing? I guess it depends what it was developed for. 🤔🤔🤔

[@mr.emaaejae6058]

@@eileenweeks1815 For that reason they used it as a high altitude bomber.

[@kitmoore9969]

Plane flies at 2000mph. Bullet flies at 500mph. Gun is already flying at 2000mph cos it's attached to the plane. Therefore bullet flies at 2500mph.

[@joewoodchuck3824]

It's (secret) successor must be even more amazing.

[@DElkan]

Modern satellites have made spyplanes obsolete.

[@joewoodchuck3824]

@@DElkan Have they? Is a satellite easy enough to be maneuvered into a idealized location? I also point out that spy aircraft can fly at any altitude lower than ~14 miles. Can a spy satellite camera compete with that at a MINIMUM 600 miles (realistically closer to 1,000 miles) altitude? Can an advanced camera be installed on a satellite say, tomorrow as can be done with a ground based airplanes? Can a satellite fly under clouds if an image is needed NOW?

[@demnbrown]

​@@joewoodchuck3824 generally yes considering you have an array of satellites

[@Dan86130]

​@@demnbrown ^

[@kelvin595]

​@@DElkanwe haven't armed satelites have we?

[@user-od6gi4lz8t]

The ANS of the SR-71 was so powerful that it was able to track the stars as soon as it was out of the hangar! ❤

[@Dicksereked]

For something that was made half a century ago it is still such a gorgeous machine

[@xXtuscanator22Xx]

Bro from LA to DC in just over an hour is fucking absurdly fast.

[@Vichkaization]

И сколько это км? Ну, мне просто нп хочется карту открывать.... Уверена, это не лучший вариант 😅

[@raymondpexton5440]

It goes faster than mach 3.2

[@disciple15]

The narrator said cruise speed of mach 3.2, not top speed of mach 3.2.

[@honkbob]

Top speed was more or less limited by the air inlet temperature which was a max of 427 C. Fastest I've seen confirmed was Brian Schull's statements when he flew to observe the bombing damage vs. Qadhafi/Libya in the 1980's was mach 3.55, and over 105,000+ ft to evade the AA missiles. The high speed was allowed b/c of the very cold air at the time, along with lower fuel levels for the altutude.

[@raymondpexton5440]

3.2 was cruising speed, top speed is classified, I ask them if a pheonix missle could catch the SR71 they said never catch us, I said the missle goes mach 5 they then said top speed classified

[@honkbob]

@@raymondpexton5440 Nothing is classified on the Blackbird anymore. Top speed is limited by the inlet temp of 427C. They may have said that but nowhere near mach 5 with what is known today.

[@raymondpexton5440]

@@honkbob if you only knew what you were talking about.

[@markchidester6239]

The one that made the record from LA to DC did it on it's last flight and is now on display at the Air and Space museum at the Dulles airport. Free to get in and worth taking a flight just to see it. Amazing museum. There is a space shuttle, a Concord, many military jets and prop planes.

[@barrygolden9823]

I have been there twice!!!

[@feeberizer]

I got to see the Concorde take off at Heathrow in London back in 1980. Even sitting in a 737 waiting to take off, the Concorde was so loud my chest was rattling and I had to plug my ears. Yeow!

[@xmo552]

Where

[@jwolf75638]

This aircraft is freakin awesome! I've loved it since learning about it in 1970.

[@Scudboy17]

"Do you even read my Christmas list?!?"

[@SamAx57]

I got that reference lol

[@Podzalupkin420]

A man of a culture

[@bantacommander8744]

Good to see Jetfire is still getting some love.

[@all4humanityplz]

Human Jets: Mach 4! 🤔 ETs UFOs: Speed of thought!😲🤤😘👽🛰🤗

[@charlesmyers9765]

It's a damn shame this bird no longer flies.

[@theboshow9697]

I'm sure a good portion of retired aircraft are still airworthy like the sr-71 just in case we need them

[@LieMac]

Theres way better in secret, like the TR-3B

[@peterlarsen7779]

Coolest aircraft _EVAH!!_ 👍👍👍

[@Williameagleblanket]

Habu. My favorite jet. Thanks goes out to Skunkworks for designing the Blackbird. 🇺🇸

[@edwardgatey8301]

Saw an SR-71 hanging in a museum in Kansas Cosmospehere. Beautiful plane, even when gutted. Saw a B2 bomber flying in Missouri, same solar eclipse trip!

[@seanhenderson2498]

I wish they didn’t have to retire this aircraft and just upgrade it. A very cool aircraft. 👍

[@talkingrock7011]

The maintenance cost was a million dollars per flight

[@Daywalker_27]

The objective of this plane was to get intel without endangering the lives of pilots, at the time that meant flying higher and faster. Now they use drones and satellites

[@thomassullivan1676]

Look at tr3b craft

[@mpondachongo1138]

There are cheaper and safer ways to gather Intel nowadays. The A-10 just like the SR-71 is going to be retired because the role they filled is no longer needed.

[@thomassullivan1676]

Nasa bought 6 sr71...yrs back...low level atmosphere tests....

[@karenward267]

I was a kid in the UK when my mother, driving us to my grandparents in Hampshire, pulled over onto the side of the motorway, and we watched the Blackbird land at Farnborough for the annual airshow. She had just broken the transatlantic airspeed record that still stands to this day.

[@w.allencaddell6421]

This is like Speedy Gonzalez, a little mouse, out running not only Sylvester the cat, but all cats.

[@johnprudent3216]

Still the King in my book

[@kainsanderson1445]

Yeah it still holds the record for the fastest jet powered aircraft iam not sure about the highest flight but speed for sure only thing faster are rocket powered one time use aircraft

[@DonGoldstein-b7q]

Proud to say my Dad was one of the engineers on the Blackbird. Highlight of his career !

[@cicadasbuzzbee]

This SR71 toy was my favorite toy when I was a kind in the 70s

[@Slinger43]

This beautiful man made wonder was built over 60yrs ago & it's still the baddest muther on the block!! Everytime we need to get in & out ultra fast, they pull this aircraft out of it's mothballs & "Boom" we're outta wherever before they even knew we were there! 💪🇺🇲👍 USA1

[@jdmmons6839]

Missiles need SR-71❌️ SR-71 need missiles✅️

[@keck4022]

My absolute favorite aircraft

[@reactex9235]

“With a cruise speed of Mach 3.2” Dumbledore said calmly.

[@peasantsarerevolting9343]

That is a horrible estimate of it's true top speed. The plane would grow about 16 inches at speed so fuel fasteners would be left loose because the heat would expand and tighten the fasteners. once it reached an altitude where it could start the mission the plane would then need to be refueled via tanker. Landing the plane would require a considerable amount of time as well, usually a corkscrew type flight pattern until it could land on the runway.

[@otaviom6480]

​@@peasantsarerevolting9343 a cruise speed is not a top speed Even then i highly doubt it could go past Mach 2 without engaging the afterburner (cruise speed usually refers to how fast a jet can fly without the afterburner, hence the term "supercruise" given to aircraft able to break the sound barrier without using the afterburner)

[@peasantsarerevolting9343]

@@otaviom6480 okay... Um... Sure, I'll agree. But I never said anything to the contrary. I only stated what could affect the total time it took to fly from point "A" to point "B", even fair well cost to cost flight. Cheers...

[@otaviom6480]

@@peasantsarerevolting9343 yes i know, i was just pointing out that cruise speed refers to non-afterburning top speed, I'm sort of glad that you agree with my point, though.

[@peasantsarerevolting9343]

@@otaviom6480 Sounds good, peace mate.

[@guntherultraboltnovacrunch5248]

"It flew high enough to see the stars" Amazing, considering I can see the stars right now out my bedroom window.

[@walterkoziol3822]

This was a violent work of art.

[@SeanNyte]

The Blackbird captivated my interest as a child... I remember being able to see one at the Aerospace Museum in Pensacola, Florida...

[@peggymiller3045]

There's also one at Udvar-Hazy (the Smithsonian's second air & space museum in Chantilly, VA).

[@jackbarman7063]

There is an M21 in a museum in Washington state.

[@neildewitt2869]

The public will never know how fast this bird can fly. They tell you a number but its way more than that!

[@ahartley3529]

The SR71 stands as a testimony to American technology-in the late 50s even. To this day nobody else could match this engineering feat

[@danielsaeger7303]

that sr-71 is at the udvar hazy air and space museum.

[@barrygolden9823]

I have been there twice and saw it. They also have one of the four remaining space shuttles on display. That thing is HUGE!!!

[@cjaylk]

Mach 3.4 has officially been recorded & some pilots have reported it achieved beyond 3.5m

[@gr8crash]

No one has reported above 3.5, mostly because they are still alive

[@BaberhamLincoln1]

How cool was the SR-71?? So cool that in 4th grade everyone’s dad was a Blackbird pilot.

[@Mtlmshr]

No one hardly talks about its little/big brother the A12!

[@tzarius78]

A12 with missles too

[@dallasyap3064]

Bcoz its service was limited. Despite flying faster and higher than the SR-71, it was more vulnerable to being shot down, which is why it was retired just 2 years after service introduction.

[@justinmccoy7167]

SR71: "projectile incoming!" *pilot slams throttle Pilot: "whelp, that was easy"

[@timacrow]

The coolest looking airplane ever.

[@burgerbandit3646]

First time I ever saw that beautiful aircraft was in Call of Duty: Black ops when I was like 10 years old. Special moment for me.

[@jdway3542]

I lived close to Edwards AFB int the 60's, 70's, and 80's. We saw all kinds of 'things' being flown. The SR-71 was always my favorite!

[@Redbikemaster]

Considering she's called the Lady in Black and the Queen of Speed, I'd say it's the mother of Dark Star lol. Such a beautiful plane

[@nathanklecker428]

It’s crazy that the mig 25 can actually come close to the sr71s speed

[@gr8crash]

Gotta love brute force

[@johncarnes9803]

The Russian pilot that defected with the 25 n flew to Japan he said it’s nothing compared to the 71

[@Nbmstr2000]

​@@johncarnes9803 because the pilot didn't know about the speed of the SR 71 that's why he said that

[@keithbell6104]

comparing the a mig 25 or 31 is like comparing a moped to a corvette

[@johncarnes9803]

@@Nbmstr2000 he said it couldn’t catch the 71 cause it was too fast n flew too high I’m aware I’ve read the article on it don’t know why you’re telling me something I already said but whatever

[@poohead8022]

Kelly johnson and his team were stellar

[@hawaiianpunch6534]

It's such an old plane but the design is timeless .

[@Boyso5407]

Still the greatest airplane design of all time.

[@Raceboy66.2]

this monumental piece of technology is what really got me into super sonic aircraft and beyond when i first saw it as a historical standing at the Smithonian Air & Space Museum in DC as a kid. youd think something like this wouldn't be a early 50s important piece of technology but it was.

[@ddavis235]

Beale AFB in California has a decommissioned one on base that you can walk right up to, touch, and walk under it.

[@dallasyap3064]

Still looks way ahead of its time. The Blackbird is one of the most or probably the most legendary airplane ever built.

[@MrTangent]

Still amazed Tom Cruise not only piloted an aircraft over Mach 10, but survived the disintegration of it! He is truly one of, if not THE best pilots who have ever lived!

[@kwgm8578]

Maybe not. When he dies, he "wakes up" again after a certain amount of time. I saw it in a movie -- it must be true!

[@Stryker_1]

Realistically he would have gotten evaporated by the sheer speed when the aircraft disintegrated at mach 10

[@MrTangent]

@@Stryker_1 Not Tom Cruise though. He is probably the only qualified pilot who could-and did-survive such an accident.

[@SpecialTeams]

@@MrTangent Hell Yeah Brother

[@Stryker_1]

@@MrTangent Realistically Tom Cruise would be flying something cooler than the Darkstar

[@CIA-Agent-87]

Fun fact: the rivets holding it together were slightly loose, since the heat generated from the drag would expand the panels and rivets.

[@deezynar]

Top speed was faster than a bullet.

[@theidiotictroublemaker2281]

Every single jet fly at a speed of sound which most bullets doesn't achieve

[@r.yuksel9774]

​@@theidiotictroublemaker2281 Most rifle calibers will have a speed of 800 meters per second or higher which is Mach 2.3+, so no.

[@deezynar]

@@theidiotictroublemaker2281 Many bullets are supersonic. The SR-71 is a little faster than a fast bullet.

[@user-pk3eo6pq6m]

​@@r.yuksel9774 most jets at the time could go around Mach 3 it was just not for long a couple of minutes actually because they were not built for cruising at those speeds

[@r.yuksel9774]

@@user-pk3eo6pq6m Most jets can't go Mach 3 at all, it's only a few. Most can go Mach 2-2.5 and that's only when they are clean(no external weapons or fuel).

[@star-stuff]

I think they only made 32 of them too. I'm sure I remember reading that in a book when I was about 9 years old, or nearly 30 years ago!

[@SiFiGamer2016]

*Fun Fact:* The same aircraft was used in "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen". This became Jetfire, a former Decepticon that became an Autobot.

[@christopherfriend7402]

Need to get the whole matter-anti-matter warp drive thing figured out. Then there are the mining rights for the dilithium crystals to worry about. So much to do. So little time.

[@lastnamefirstname7950]

This aircraft expands 6” in flight, and has special fuel so it won’t boil during flight.

[@BrokenandRestored]

Exactly! When it landed, fuel was dripping out of it's "orifices" and the maintenance was a night-mare. However, it was dealt with. Quite impressive for a 60+ year design.

[@karipaturketo5438]

Im the same i wake up in the morning. Find ive expended as well . 7".1😒

[@patraic5241]

There was an incident with the sr71. One took off cruised for 15 minutes and developed engine problems. It took 2 1/2 hours to get back to base sub sonic. What a machine.

[@freddiebierce-lk9mw]

The only one that ever did it, got away with it… Blackbird

[@D.satyagraha]

the difference between driving at supersonic speeds and firing missiles at hypersonic speeds. you can enjoy your coffee more without the sensation of supersonic boom

[@Randy-o1u]

Designed and built is the 1950’s, and 60’s, it still holds the records for altitude and speed. Absolute perfection!!

[@blurglide]

OMG- Tom Cruise fictional aircraft and a voice actor who has no ideas what he's saying! Faaaaabulous!

[@darkofthearmy]

The SR-71 blackbird was a manned reconnaissance aircraft utilised by the US Air Force and broke the speed record and is the fastest aircraft to date. The SR-72 Darkstar is a proposed unmanned replacement to the SR-71 which was featured in Top Gun Maverick, but with a cockpit. Please double check your sources and make sure that you know the difference between the SR-71 and the SR-72.

[@blurglide]

@@darkofthearmy The Tom Cruise aircraft is fictional. I know what an SR-71 it, and it has nothing to do with the work of fiction "Maverick"

[@Mrbushbtalls837]

@@darkofthearmy “Darkstar” is fake, the SR-72 UAV is real though. Plus there’s major differences in the SR-72, then the fictional Darkstar

[@Dont14-r4k]

​@@Mrbushbtalls837 correction, the sr-72 is currently not even flying (that we know of). The concepts are real, and darkstar is probably one of their More sophisticated concepts (like a-12 was the concept for the sr-71). Both of those aircraft are technically "fake" as both do not exist, yet (again that we know of).

[@joejackson73]

China thought Tom Cruises fictional hypersonic aircraft was real enough that they moved spy satellites over the filmsite to get pics.

[@Nic7320]

Currently, the official speed of all SR-71s is zero... because NONE are fliying.

[@Comfy_Bed]

currently that is, but are we talking about current times?

[@garyjimenez3690]

Sorry but the pics from the China CHINA balloon were taken from this very plane. And yes they still in service. Shhhhh don’t tell the others.

[@garyjimenez3690]

This plane out flew a missle that was shot at it and it went vertical and the missle just stopped and ran out of o2 and this plane watched it fall back to earth that’s how fast it goes

[@DriveLaken]

​@@garyjimenez3690 I never heard about an SR-71 going vertical to avoid a missle.

[@DriveLaken]

​@@garyjimenez3690 I've heard stories of it being at its "max" speed of Mach 3 plus, with a missle gaining on it, and the pilot pushed the throttle down and it slammed him back in his seat with the acceleration, leaving the missle behind, easily. The pilot said he could have kept accelerating, but didn't because it wasn't necessary. Mach 3.2 was not the SR-71 top speed.

[@theitguy2731]

The SR-71 flew around the entire globe....in 59 minutes.

[@nagaviper1169]

Sexiest bird ever.