Speed wasn't the SR-71's only feature — it could reach an altitude of 85,000 feet and higher. This is more than twice the average cruising altitude of a passenger jet, which offers advantages.

NASA released video footage of the SR-71 Blackbird, the high-altitude recon aircraft capable of reaching speeds over Mach 3. More from Military & Defense A triangle pointing right which indicates ...

Dane Penland / NASM, SI The two-seat cockpit of the SR-71, an aircraft designed for stealth, was a tight fit for the crew, who wore bulky spacesuits designed for their high-altitude missions.

The SR-71 “Blackbird” broke the world’s record for sustained altitude in horizontal flight in 1976 when it flew at Mach 3.3 (times the speed of sound). As of 2025, no fighter or proposed ...