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Blackbird

Short answer: The Lockheed SR-71 'Blackbird' is a retired long-range, high-altitude, Mach 3+ strategic reconnaissance aircraft developed in the 1960s by Lockheed's Skunk Works from the earlier A-12. It first flew in 1964 and was operated by the US Air Force.

Its standard tactic against surface-to-air missiles was to accelerate and outrun them, and no SR-71 was lost to enemy fire. It set the absolute speed record for an air-breathing crewed aircraft, 3,529.6 km/h (2,193.2 mph), in 1976, which still stands. The Air Force retired it in 1998 and NASA flew its last in 1999. The footage shows SR-71s in flight and on the ground, with the presenter.

VideoWrite-up1 sources

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What should you know about Blackbird?

Quick facts. Each one stands alone and has a stable ID you can cite.

  1. The SR-71 is a retired Mach 3+ reconnaissance aircraft.

    DD-117-F01 · Write-up · Exhibit A (Mach 3+)

  2. Lockheed developed it in the 1960s from the A-12.

    DD-117-F02 · Write-up · Exhibit B (Skunk Works)

Video transcript: Blackbird: No Crewed Jet Has Officially Flown Faster Than the SR-71

The Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird held the title of the world's fastest aircraft for several decades. DID YOU KNOW? Developed in the 1960s, this reconnaissance aircraft could reach speeds exceeding Mach 3 over 3x the speed of sound. Its incredible speed allowed it to outrun and evade enemy missiles during reconnaissance missions, making it a crucial asset during the Cold War. Even today, the SR-71 remains an iconic symbol of advanced aerospace engineering and high speed flight. NOW YOU KNOW!

Burned-in captions, read frame by frame (see transcript.md) · 25.9s Reel ·

Video coming soonBlackbird · Instagram Reel
Blackbird: No Crewed Jet Has Officially Flown Faster Than the SR-71 Instagram Reel · · 25.9s

The write-up

No crewed jet has officially flown faster than the SR-71. It cruised above Mach 3 at about 85,000 feet.

  1. Exhibit A

    Mach 3+

    The SR-71 is a retired Mach 3+ reconnaissance aircraft.

  2. Exhibit B

    Skunk Works

    Lockheed developed it in the 1960s from the A-12.

  3. Exhibit C

    Outrunning missiles

    Its tactic was to accelerate away from missiles.

  4. Exhibit D

    1976 record

    It set the air-breathing crewed speed record in 1976.

  5. Exhibit E

    Retired

    The Air Force retired it in 1998; NASA in 1999.

Questions people ask about Blackbird

How fast could the SR-71 fly?

Over three times the speed of sound.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (Mach 3+) · Wikipedia: Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird

Who built it?

At the Skunk Works.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (Skunk Works) · Wikipedia: Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird

How did it avoid missiles?

Acceleration.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit C (Outrunning missiles) · Wikipedia: Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird

When did it set its speed record?

3,529.6 km/h.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit D (1976 record) · Wikipedia: Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird

When did the Air Force retire it?

NASA's last flew in 1999.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit E (Retired) · Wikipedia: Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird

Test Your Knowledge

All quizzes →

5 questions, all from this case file. Answers are revealed instantly.

  1. How fast could the SR-71 fly?

    1. Mach 3+
    2. Mach 1
    3. Mach 10
    4. Subsonic
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Mach 3+ Over three times the speed of sound. Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (Mach 3+) · Wikipedia: Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird

  2. Who built it?

    1. Lockheed
    2. Boeing
    3. Airbus
    4. Sukhoi
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Lockheed At the Skunk Works. Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (Skunk Works) · Wikipedia: Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird

  3. How did it avoid missiles?

    1. By outrunning them
    2. With armor
    3. By hiding in clouds
    4. It didn't
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. By outrunning them Acceleration. Source: Write-up · Exhibit C (Outrunning missiles) · Wikipedia: Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird

  4. When did it set its speed record?

    1. 1976
    2. 1964
    3. 1998
    4. 2010
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. 1976 3,529.6 km/h. Source: Write-up · Exhibit D (1976 record) · Wikipedia: Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird

  5. When did the Air Force retire it?

    1. 1998
    2. 1976
    3. 1964
    4. 2015
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. 1998 NASA's last flew in 1999. Source: Write-up · Exhibit E (Retired) · Wikipedia: Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird

Cite this case file

Easterling, Marcus. "Blackbird." The Detail Department (DetailEnjoyer), case file DD-117, last updated Dec 12, 2023. https://detailenjoyer.com/case/blackbird/

Permalink: https://detailenjoyer.com/case/blackbird/ · Last updated

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Cite a single fact by its ID, for example DD-117-F01 → https://detailenjoyer.com/case/blackbird/#DD-117-F01

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