The Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird

YouTube.com

Lockheed+SR-71+Blackbird+by+aeroman3+is+marked+with+CC0+1.0

Source: Haggerty, Michael/Tech. Sgt.

“Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird” by aeroman3 is marked with CC0 1.0

By: Zekarias Delelegn, Journalist

The Lockheed SR-71 blackbird is a high altitude, long range, and Mach 3+ aircraft which was designed by Clarence L. “Kelly” Johnson and manufactured by the Lockheed Aircraft Corporation.

It would cost about 33-34 million dollars to make this aircraft.

This aircraft is concluded to be the fastest in the world because in a flight done in the 1990’s, Joseph Vida and ED Yielding set a speed record by flying from Los Angeles to Washington, D.C, in under 65 minutes.

It was reaching speeds of Mach 3.3, which is more than 3,500kph (2,100mph).

Since it flies that fast, it creates heat that is from 600 to 900 degrees Fahrenheit. It can fly 85,000 feet (16 miles) high up.

It’s made up of unique materials that help it withstand the speed and heat when flying and also help it get back on the ground and stop safely.

RELATED STORIES:

https://artsandculture.google.com/exhibit/the-fastest-jet-aircraft-in-the-world-smithsonian-national-air-and-space-museum/RAIyfPwMMyO-IQ?hl=en

https://airandspace.si.edu/collection-objects/lockheed-sr-71-blackbird/nasm_A19920072000

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_SR-71_Blackbird#Design