SR-71

aircraft

Also known as: Blackbird, SR-71 Blackbird

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Last updated

July 14, 2026

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The SR-71 Blackbird was a reconnaissance aircraft developed by Lockheed's "Skunk Works" for the U.S. Air Force. It entered service in the mid-1960s and was designed for high-altitude, high-speed intelligence gathering. Unlike the U-2, which was limited to subsonic flight, the SR-71 featured a titanium airframe that allowed it to withstand the heat generated by flying at speeds of Mach 3. This capability enabled it to operate above 80,000 feet (24,000 meters). The SR-71 was retired in the 1990s, with its role largely taken over by spy satellites.1

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U-2
…Earth-orbiting satellites or the supersonic SR-71 Blackbird spy plane—but intelligence and military services consistently have found it useful because of its operational flexibility, excellent aerodynamic design, and adaptable airframe. In 2011 the USAF indicated that the U-2 was scheduled for retirement from service sometime after 2015, with many of its…
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…Earth-orbiting satellites or the supersonic SR-71 Blackbird spy plane—but intelligence and military services consistently have found it useful because of its operational flexibility, excellent aerodynamic design, and adaptable airframe. In 2011 the USAF indicated that the U-2 was scheduled for retirement from service sometime after 2015, with many of its…
Read More

military aircraft
Reconnaissance
…in the mid-1950s, and the SR-71 Blackbird, which came into service in the mid-1960s. The U-2, built of aluminum and limited to subsonic flight, could cruise above 70,000 feet (21,000 metres) for very long periods. The SR-71 had a titanium airframe to resist the heat generated by flying at Mach…
Read More
…in the mid-1950s, and the SR-71 Blackbird, which came into service in the mid-1960s. The U-2, built of aluminum and limited to subsonic flight, could cruise above 70,000 feet (21,000 metres) for very long periods. The SR-71 had a titanium airframe to resist the heat generated by flying at Mach…
Read More