SR-71|The World's Fastest Air Breathing Aircraft

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The SR-71, the world’s most advanced strategic reconnaissance aircraft, was delivered to the Strategic Air Command of the United States Air Force in January 1966.

The SR-71 flew at more than three times the speed of sound at altitudes in excess of 80,000 feet (approximately 15 miles high). Three times the speed of sound (Mach 3) is more than 2,000 miles per hour or about 3,100 feet per second. By comparison, the muzzle velocity of a .30-06 rifle bullet is only 3,000 feet per second. The Strategic Air Command’s 9^th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing at Beale Air Force Base, CA, operated the SR-71.

The SR-71 out-performed all other reconnaissance aircraft. The aircraft was used during periods of military hostilities and in other situations in which U.S. military forces was confronting foreign military forces.

In September 1974, an SR-71 sped from New York to London and from London to Los Angeles to establish two world speed records. The first new time was on Sept. 1, when Maj. James V. Sullivan, pilot, and Maj. Noel F. Widdifield, reconnaissance systems operator, flew the aircraft 3,461 miles from New York to London in less than 1 hour and 55 minutes. The ground speed, which averaged 1,807 mph, cut nearly three hours off the previous time record set by a British F-4K fighter in 1969. For seven days following the speed run, the SR-71 was on display at the Farnborough International Air Show in Farnborough, England. This marked the first public showing of the aircraft. On Sept. 8, the SR-71 was flown to Royal Air Force Station Mildenhall to prepare for its return home and another speed record attempt.

On Sept. 13, 1971, Capt. Harold B. Adams, pilot, with Maj. Williams C. Machorek, reconnaissance systems operator, flew the SR-71 across seven time zones from London to Los Angeles in a race with the sun. The 3-hour, 47-minute flight established a record over the 5,431-mile route. An added aerial refueling over the longer distance produced a slower ground speed of 1,436 mph, but the aircraft arrived (by California time) almost four hours before its London-time departure.

In July 1976, over the western part of the United States, the SR-71 set several new absolute and world-class records. The first record-setting flight came early in the morning of July 27, when Maj. Adolphus H. Bledsoe Jr., aircraft commander, and Maj. John T. Fuller, reconnaissance systems operator, flew 2,029 mph over a closed circuit course. Flying 2,194 mph the next day, a second SR-71 surpassed two records. Capt. Eldon W. Joesz, aircraft commander, and Maj. George T. Morgan, reconnaissance systems operator, set world absolute and class speed records over a 15 to 25 kilometer straight course. That same day, Capt. Robert C. Helt, aircraft commander, and Maj. Larry A. Elliot, reconnaissance systems operator, flew to 85,069 feet to set records for sustained horizontal flight.

The record flights not only provided valuable training experience, but also focused attention on American technology and strategic deterrent power. For their record-setting flights, the pilots received the De La Vaulx medal given by Federal Aeronautique Internationale. The medal is awarded to individuals for establishing absolute world records for highest performance without regard to size of aircraft or power plant.

P&W J-58 Jet engine

The SR-71 is powered by two Pratt & Whitney J-58 turbo jet engines. Each engine is housed in a large nacelle, mounted away from the pencil-shaped fuselage on either side of the aircraft’s delta wing. When preparing for a flight, crewmembers report to the wing’s unique physiological support division for a preflight physical, high protein meal and several briefings on weather and special mission characteristics. Once this was completed, they were helped into their special flight gear by division technicians who would stay with them until they were aboard the SR-71 and plugged into its systems.

Supersonic missions are continually flown over parts of the United States to test the aircraft and its systems and to maintain crew proficiency. Missions include air refueling over corridors approved by the Federal Aviation Administration. Care is taken in choosing these paths to avoid highly populated areas where possible.

On March 6, 1990, the SR-71 set a cross-country record of 68 minutes, 17 seconds from Oxnard, CA to Salisbury, MD. Setting three additional speed records en route, the aircraft covered the 2,404.05-mile journey at an average speed of 2,110 mph. This Blackbird, tail number 972, was being delivered to the Smithsonian Institution’s National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC for permanent display.

On Oct. 15, 1964, the Department of Defense announced that Beale would be the home of the new, supersonic reconnaissance aircraft, the SR-71 “Blackbird.” The 4200^th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing activated on Jan. 1, 1965. The new wing received its first aircraft, a T-38 Talon, on July 8, 1965. The first SR-71 did not arrive until Jan. 7, 1966. On June 25, the 9^th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, that began as the 9^th Observation Group in 1922, and its 1^st Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron activated as the 1^st Aero Squadron in 1913, replaced the 4200^th. The first U-2 arrived from Davis-Monthan Air Base on July 12, 1976.

What Happened to it?

SR-71 assigned to NASA for research

In Jan. 26, 1990, budget restrictions forced the retirement of the SR-71. In 1994, Congress appropriated funds and directed the Air Force to recommission a small fleet of SR-71’s – two A models and one B model – to be operational by September 1995. The aircraft are assigned to the 9th Reconnaissance Wing’s Detachment 2 at Edwards Air Force Base, CA.

Ten other Blackbirds are on permanent display at air bases and museums around the country. These aircraft can be seen at: the Air Force Museum, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Oh; Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska; March Field Museum, March Air Force Base, CA; Beale Air Force Base, CA; United States Air Force Plant 42, Palmdale, CA; Edwards Air Force Base, CA; Robins Air Force Base, GA; Eglin Air Force Base, FL; and Lackland Air Force Base, TX.

Cool Facts; Cool Aircraft

Designers with papers and a slide rules did not design it on a supercomputer like aircraft today.
The original reason this aircraft was retired was its operating costs: at around $200,000 dollars per hour.
In just two hours it could survey a county the size of France, something the existing reconnaissance platforms cannot do.
There is no practical defense system capable of stopping it.
The technology involved in this aircraft is so great that it was even the world’s first stealth plane! The SR-71’s unique stealth shape has earned it the nickname “Habu” after a Japanese Cobra-like snake, which it resembles.
Its engines, on full afterburner are powerful enough to create a diamond shaped shockwave that is 125 feet long.
At altitudes upwards of 80,000 feet and a maximum speed of Mach 3.5, it is the highest flying, fastest jet powered aircraft on the planet.
Because Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works designed this system before there were navigation satellites, it uses a stellar navigation system which is stored in a computer, which has the location of sixty stars, and it locks onto stellar formations to find its location over the earth.
Designed in 1956-1958, the designers had to start from scratch due to its high performance requirements.
President Clinton used the now unconstitutional Line Veto Power to completely cut the SR-71 out of the budget and ending its service life permanently.