Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird
The Lockheed SR-71 "Blackbird" is a retired long-range, high-altitude, Mach 3+ strategic reconnaissance aircraft developed and manufactured by the American aerospace company Lockheed Corporation. The SR-71 has several nicknames, including "Blackbird" and "Habu". The SR-71 was developed as a black project reconnaissance aircraft during the 1960s by Lockheed's Skunk Works division, initially as a bomber variant of the Lockheed A-12, requested by Curtis LeMay, before the program focused solely on reconnaissance. American aerospace engineer Clarence "Kelly" Johnson was responsible for many of the aircraft's innovative concepts. The shape of the SR-71 was based on the pioneer "stealth" Lockheed A-12, with its reduced radar cross-section, but the SR-71 was longer and heavier, to allow for more fuel, and a two-seat cockpit. After the SR-71's existence was revealed to the public in July 1964, it entered service in the United States Air Force (USAF) in January 1966. In 1989, the USAF retired the SR-71, largely for political reasons, although several were briefly reactivated during the 1990s, before their second retirement in 1998. NASA was the final operator of the Blackbird, using it as a research platform, until it was retired again in 1999. During missions, the SR-71 operated at high speeds and altitudes, allowing it to evade or outrace threats. If a surface-to-air missile launch was detected, the standard evasive action was simply to accelerate and outpace the missile. Mission equipment for the plane's aerial reconnaissance role included signals intelligence sensors, side looking airborne radar, and a camera. On average, each SR-71 could fly once per week due to the extended turnaround required after mission recovery. A total of 32 aircraft were built, with 12 lost in accidents, and none lost to enemy action. Since its retirement, the SR-71's role has been taken up by a combination of reconnaissance satellites and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). A proposed UAV successor, the SR-72, is under development by Lockheed Martin, and scheduled to fly in 2025. In 1974, on two separate flights, the SR-71 set the record for highest sustained flight, and also the fastest flight time between London and New York. In 1976, it became the fastest airbreathing manned aircraft, previously held by its predecessor, the closely related Lockheed YF-12,. As of 2024, the "Blackbird" still holds all three world records.
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