SR-71 Blackbird's First Test Flight

The Lockheed SR-71 "Blackbird" is shown here during its first flight on December 22nd, 1964, later achieving the world record top speed for a jet aircraft. It was designed by the brilliant Clarence "Kelly" Johnson and manufactured by Lockheed at the Skunk Works division, based on the Lockheed A-12 prototypes. It eventually became a long-range, Mach 3.5+ strategic reconnaissance aircraft, operated by the United States Air Force, NASA, and used as a spy plane for the CIA.

[MrCody]

From NY to London in less than 2hrs. WOW!

[Inspironator]

Standing next to this engine running at 100% power will make your chest cavity vibrate like a subwoofer playing a heavy base RAP song... Powahhhh!

[apieceofdirt]

Her speed number are incomprehensible. Mach 3.5+?? Damn!!!

[garrybaldy]

Concorde - most beautiful civilian aircraft of all time.

SR-71 - most beautiful military aircraft of all time.

[crafoo]

MIG-25 flew to 127, 000 ft and at ~3.2. Weird aircraft. Stainless steel skin.

[msmeyersmd]

Wow, the initial flight was up to 8, 000 feet. My cruise altitude in a 160 HP Cessna 172.
And up to 240 knots. Wow. That's Mach 0.37 on the first flight.
A Columbia/Cessna 400 with a turbo-charged 6 cylinder 310 HP 9:2air-cooled PISTON Engine and FIXED Tricycle Landing Gear. Built from 2004-2013. Has a Maximum Speed of 235 knots.
They were really pushing the envelope on the initial flight of that F-35 doppelgänger.

[aerofan]

The performance graphic, is a bit off. Mach 3.5 would be about 2, 300 MPH; 2, 700MPH would be Mach 4+.  According to the manual the highest allowable speed was Mach 3.3.  The aircraft could go faster, but only by risking structural damage.

[eatcommies]

I never knew TCB was used in flight to light the afterburners, I figured it was only used during start up.that green flame right before the afterburner comes on.

[HomeImProveMentHow]

From what I understand the diesel engines made this all possible