The U.S. Air Force flew a reconnaissance jet from the mid-'60s through 1990 that set a few long-standing speed and altitude records early in its service life.
The National Interest on MSN
Why Did the US Air Force Retire the SR-71 Blackbird?
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.
National Security Journal on MSN
The Mach 3 SR-71 Blackbird Spy Plane ‘Broke All the Rules’ Thanks to Titanium
In one of the greatest ironies of the Cold War, the U.S. had to secretly buy the titanium needed to build the Mach 3+ SR-71 ...
Watch the impressive engineering in this in-depth tour of the SR-71 Blackbird's jet engine and you'll see an extraordinary reconnaissance aircraft that still impresses despite taking its first flight ...
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