Missiles were fired, but none ever hit. In over 4,000 launches, the SR-71 Blackbird outflew them all—at 83,000 feet and Mach ...

Later, this was upgraded to the S1030 Full Pressure Suit. The older S901 evolved through several improved models into the S1030 suit, which was developed in the 1970s for SR-71 Blackbird operations.

During the aircraft’s nearly 25 years in service, the SR-71 set numerous speed records, and on July 28, 1976, a Blackbird reached an impressive 2,193.167 miles per hour. Flying at roughly 36.55 ...

The death of Jim Zwayer is the only fatality of an SR-71 crew member during the program. Two weeks later, Weaver was back in the cockpit of an SR-71. Lockheed SR-71 test pilot Bill Weaver.

Some Key Facts The SR-71 could fly at Mach 3.2 (around 2,100 miles per hour). So, Blackbird was not hypersonic as its anticipated successor, the SR-72, is set to be. Instead, it was a supersonic ...

The SR-71 Blackbird is easily one of the world's most iconic aircraft. They first took to the skies in the 1960s, and by the turn of the century, they were retired. Nowadays, you can only find SR ...

The EMC’s signature hand crank was forged from the secret fuselage of the Blackbird spy jet. Urwerk Urwerk melted down the fuselage and used the aeronautical material to craft the bezel and hand crank ...

In 1976, reconnaissance officer George Morgan, left, and pilot Eldon "Al" Joersz set the world aviation speed record in an Air Force SR-71 Blackbird spy jet. Their record -- 2,193 mph -- still stands.