National Security Journal on MSN

Mach 3 discovery: An SR-71 Blackbird pilot could see 3.5 trillion more stars at 80,000 feet than anyone on the ground

SR-71 Blackbird pilot David Peters said that flying the SR-71 at 80,000 feet over the Korean DMZ out of Kadena Air Base on a ...
The National Interest

Why Was Flying the SR-71 Blackbird So Dangerous?

The SR-71 could cruise at speeds exceeding Mach 3 and at altitudes exceeding 80,000 feet—both of which represent performance extremes. At such extremes, the airframe generated heat, which posed ...
The National Interest

Fifty Years Later, the SR-71 Blackbird Is Still the Fastest Plane Ever Built

The Blackbird’s operational record was impeccable. Known as one of the most awe-inspiring achievements in the history of aviation, Lockheed Martin’s SR-71 Blackbird was the pinnacle of twentieth ...
The Aviationist

New York to London in a Flash: A Look at an SR-71 Record Flight

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. Stationed at Beale Air Force Base (AFB) California ...