Key Points and Summary - The SR-71 Blackbird delivered unmatched Mach-3 recon, but its costs proved fatal. -Each flight hour ran $200,000–$300,000, driven by extreme maintenance, heat-damaged coatings ...

Key Points and Summary - SR-72 Could Soon Replace SR-71 As Fastest Plane Ever? Yes, the SR-71 Blackbird officially remains the fastest acknowledged crewed, air-breathing jet aircraft ever put into ...

Sleek, black and evil in appearance, the SR-71 Blackbird was THE masterpiece of Cold War engineering. Flying faster and higher than any fighter, this stealthy reconnaissance aircraft could snoop where ...