Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird - The World's Fastest Jet

The Lockheed SR-71 was an advanced, long-range, Mach 3.36 strategic reconnaissance aircraft. The SR-71 was the fastest and highest flying production aircraft in the world.

The first flight of an SR-71 took place on December 22, 1964, at Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale, California. The first SR-71 to enter service was delivered to the 4200th (later, 9th) Strategic Reconnaissance Wing at Beale Air Force Base, California, in January 1966.

From the beginning of the Blackbird's reconnaissance missions over enemy territory (North Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos) in 1968, the SR-71s averaged approximately one sortie a week for nearly two years. By 1970, the SR-71s were averaging two sorties per week, and by 1972, they were flying nearly one sortie every day.

On July 28, 1976, an SR-71 broke the world record for its class: an absolute speed record of 1905.81 knots (2,193.17 mph, 3,529.56 km/h), and an "absolute altitude record" of 85,069 feet (25,929 m).
The SR-71 also holds the record for flying from New York to London in 1 hour 54 minutes and 56.4 seconds, set on September 1, 1974.

The decision to build the Blackbird's structure using 85% titanium and 15% composite materials was a first in the aircraft industry. The advances made by Lockheed in learning to deal with this material have been used in subsequent high-speed aircraft such as most modern fighters.
The Pratt & Whitney J58-P4 engines used in the Blackbird were the only military engines ever designed to operate continuously on afterburner, and actually became more efficient as the aircraft went faster. Each J58 engine could produce 32,500 lb (145 kN) of static thrust.

The Blackbird was one of the most magnificent military jets ever developed. The aircraft has played an important
military role in international conflicts for over twenty-five years.

The United States Air Force Strategic Air Command had SR-71 Blackbirds in service from 1966 through 1991.