The SR-71 Blackbird
One of the most sophisticated members of the Blackbirds family, the SR-71 (along with the A-12 and YF-12), was created by a team of Lockheed personnel under the direction of Clarence “Kelly” Johnson, who was vice president of Lockheed’s Advanced Development Company Projects at the time. Known as the “Skunk Works,” this unit is now called Lockheed Martin.
Beginning in the late 1950s, the A-12 reconnaissance aircraft—which made its first flight in April 1962 and remained classified until 1976—served as the model for the Blackbird. The YF-12A interceptor variant was first made public by President Lyndon Johnson on February 29, 1964, which was more than six months after it made its first flight. On December 22, 1964, the SR-71’s maiden flight was accomplished.
The Blackbird was built to reach altitudes of up to 85,000 feet and cruise at “Mach 3+,” which is more than three times the speed of sound, or more than 2,200 miles per hour.
The incredible speed of the SR-71 Blackbird
Therefore, it should come as no surprise that the aircraft has broken multiple speed and altitude records during its history due to its incredible flight characteristics. Pilot David Peters of the SR-71 shares this amazing story to give a perspective on the astounding speed the famed Blackbird could reach:
‘We were TDY to Det. 1 at Kadena AB, Okinawa. One of the birds was scheduled for swap out and my backseater, Ed Bethart, and I were to fly it home. The replacement came in on Friday and we were to leave Saturday morning. So, in true Habu tradition, we welcomed the incoming crew and went to a happy hour Friday evening at the officers’ club.
A true story
‘We got up Saturday morning and got ready to go home. Departure was scheduled for 1000. Everything went well and we departed right on time. Headed out to do a pass through the Korean DMZ, then into the tankers in the Sea of Japan. Good refueling and climb out, headed for the Sea of Okhotsk and the Kamchatka peninsula of Russia and from there to more tankers off of Adak in the Aleutian Islands. Another good refueling and on to Beale AFB, California.
‘We arrived with a low approach, pulled up into a closed pattern, and landed. Following de-suiting and debrief we deposited our classified flight documents, jumped in a car, and arrived at the officers club for Friday night happy hour at 1630 17 1/2 hours before we left Kadena.
‘Try that in any aircraft other than the SR-71. Besides, this is actually a true story.’
Check out Habubrats SR-71’s Twitter profile and Born into the Wilde Blue Yonder’s Facebook page for further Blackbird photos and stories.
Photo by David Peters and U.S. Air Force