Leaving the airspace above New York City at 2,455 miles per hour, SR-71 tail number 64-17972 would set a transatlantic speed record on Sept. 1, 1974.

The SR-71 did not simply fade into a museum corner; it left service with the same aura of speed and mystery that defined its entire career. Its retirement years were framed by record-setting dashes ...

When the Blackbird entered service with the Air Force in 1966, it was simply too advanced for existing fuel and navigation systems. Few machines have captured the public’s imagination like the SR-71 ...

Curator Dik Daso describes the pressure suit worn by SR-71 crew. Learn more about the Lockheed SR-71A Blackbird on display at the National Air and Space Museum's ...

The SR-71 is perhaps the most iconic Cold War spy aircraft, famous for many record-setting flights. Seemingly impervious to loss by enemy defenses, a dozen Blackbirds were lost to accidents. On July ...

Summary and Key Points: The SR-71 Blackbird, an iconic Cold War spy plane, was retired in 1999, but its legacy as a symbol of American technological superiority remains strong. -Despite being replaced ...

The SR-71 Blackbird, the fastest aircraft ever built, was ultimately done in by the Air Force’s most notorious and intractable enemy: budget cuts. The Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird remains one of the most ...