Lockheed SR-71A Blackbird

On December 22, 1964 (just eight days prior to the ol'Kunnel's honorable discharge from the U.S. Air Force) the new highly classified Lockheed SR-71A Blackbird strategic reconnaissance aircraft made its first flight. The first time up, it exceeded 45,000 feet and 1,000 mph. Just ten months earlier, President Lyndon B. Johnson had announced the super-secret class of Mach 3 aircraft, the predecessors to the Blackbird. Although a series of aircraft were built simultaneously, including the A-11/12, the YF-12A and the SR-71, the Air Force concentrated its efforts on the SR-71.

The Blackbird had a distinguished history as a high-speed, high altitude reconnaissance aircraft, flying over nearly every hot spot in the world as events unfolded, providing essential information to our nation's leaders. The Air Force retired the Blackbird January 25, 1990, after 25 years of service, and over 65 million miles.

The SR-71 holds many records for speed and altitude, including four set on its last flight on March 6, 1990, when Pilot, Lt. Col. Ed Yeilding, and Reconnaissance Systems Officer, Lt. Col. J.T. Vida, delivered 64-17972 to the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum. Those records include a transcontinental mark, covering 2,404 statute-miles from Oxnard, California, to Salisbury, Maryland, in 68 minutes, at an average speed of 2,112 mph.

Visit the Lockheed SR-71A Blackbird Photo Gallery!
If you have any photos the Ol'Kunnel
would like to hear from you!

08:23 9/1/2004