Homepage SR-71 Pilot explains why even though the Blackbird could attain Mach 3.5, at that speed serious damage to the aircraft might occur

SR-71A

In 1971 an SR-71 crew flew 15,000 miles, in 10 hours 30 minutes non-stop, in full continuous AB to see how many times the Blackbird could refuel before the liquid nitrogen gave out

Cold War Era / Losses and Aviation Safety / Military Aviation / SR-71 Blackbird / SR-71 Top Speed

SR-71 Pilot explains why even though the Blackbird could attain Mach 3.5, at that speed serious damage to the aircraft might occur

Linda Sheffield Miller

Jun 3 2023

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The story of the SR-71 Blackbird that pitched up and collided with a KC-135Q tanker during an air refueling over El Paso

Cold War Era / Losses and Aviation Safety / SR-71 Blackbird

When the SR-71 was getting low on gas, its crew members pressure suits started to warm up. So aboard the Blackbird the fuel was used as a heat sink. Here’s how.

Apr 23 2023

Linda Sheffield Miller

Here are the materials you should use instead of titanium to build a Blackbird Mach 3 spy plane today

Aviation History / Cold War Era / Military Aviation / SR-71 Blackbird

Here’s why SR-71 Blackbird Mach 3 spy plane’s titanium parts made in summer corroded while those made in winter didn’t

Jan 22 2023

Linda Sheffield Miller

Blackbird Pilot explains why the SR-71 had to refuel right after takeoff (and it’s not because it leaked fuel)

Aviation History / Cold War Era / Military Aviation / SR-71 Blackbird

“The left afterburner technique” and all the special problems that made SR-71 Blackbird air refueling challenging

Dec 4 2022

Linda Sheffield Miller

Cold War Era / Military Aviation / SR-71 Blackbird

Here’s why R2-D2, the SR-71 Astroinertial Navigation System, was essential for Blackbird mission

Oct 9 2022

Linda Sheffield Miller

The story of the SR-71 Blackbird crew that ‘gave the birdie’ to a French Air Force Mirage III pilot, lit the afterburners and outran him

Cold War Era / Military Aviation / SR-71 Blackbird

SR-71 Pilot tells the story of when his RSO Flipped Off a French Air Force Mirage III Pilot (Then They lit their Blackbird’s Afterburners and Outran him)

Jun 12 2022

Linda Sheffield Miller

Cold War Era / Military Aviation / SR-71 Blackbird

JA-37 Viggen pilot explains how he was able to carry out the first successful Swedish Air Force intercept of an SR-71 Mach 3 Spy Plane over the Baltic

Jan 16 2022

Dario Leone

SR-71 pilot tells the story of when he and his RSO set four speed records flying from L.A. to D.C. in less than 65 minutes during their final flight in the Blackbird

Aug 22 2021

Dario Leone

Military Aviation

How the defection of Viktor Belenko inspired Clint Eastwood’s Firefox

Apr 7 2019

Dario Leone

Aviation History / Military Aviation / SR-71 Blackbird

Half YF-12 and half SR-71: the story of “The Bastard,” the only SR-71C ever built

May 1 2018

Dario Leone

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SR-71A

SR-71 Pilot explains why even though the Blackbird could attain Mach 3.5, at that speed serious damage to the aircraft might occur

Thanks to our partners

When the SR-71 was getting low on gas, its crew members pressure suits started to warm up. So aboard the Blackbird the fuel was used as a heat sink. Here’s how.

Here’s why SR-71 Blackbird Mach 3 spy plane’s titanium parts made in summer corroded while those made in winter didn’t

“The left afterburner technique” and all the special problems that made SR-71 Blackbird air refueling challenging

Here’s why R2-D2, the SR-71 Astroinertial Navigation System, was essential for Blackbird mission

SR-71 Pilot tells the story of when his RSO Flipped Off a French Air Force Mirage III Pilot (Then They lit their Blackbird’s Afterburners and Outran him)

JA-37 Viggen pilot explains how he was able to carry out the first successful Swedish Air Force intercept of an SR-71 Mach 3 Spy Plane over the Baltic

SR-71 pilot tells the story of when he and his RSO set four speed records flying from L.A. to D.C. in less than 65 minutes during their final flight in the Blackbird

How the defection of Viktor Belenko inspired Clint Eastwood’s Firefox

Half YF-12 and half SR-71: the story of “The Bastard,” the only SR-71C ever built

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