Page 2 - Sr 71 News Today

Fanboys of the Lockheed SR-71 "Blackbird" are very quick to note that even after more than four decades the high-speed reconnaissance aircraft maintains a number of high-speed records. But if the developers at Hermeus have their say, those records will be broken by the Quarterhorse.

The Navy and Air Force recently recreated a renowned photo from the 1970s to make a point about the national asset that is the R-2508 test range in southern California.

While aviation experts and military buffs widely recognize the SR-71 Blackbird as one of the most sophisticated platforms to fly, less is known about its possible successor: the SR-72 “Son of Blackbird.”

Unfortunately, the wreckage of a twelfth Lockheed D-21 is now on display at the Chinese Aviation Museum in Beijing. It serves as a testament to the failure of the program.

The SR-72 was a bit of a hit in the recent Top Gun: Maverick movie. But is the plane a real thing or is it just another fictional plane we all will dream about? 

What if the SR-71 Blackbird came out of retirement like a hall of fame quarterback to save the day after 9/11? That almost happened.

Before the SR-71, there was the A-12, a high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft that was built for the United States Central Intelligence Agency. 

In fact, when the SR-71 streaked by, SAMs could barely lock on to target, and if they did the Blackbird was already out of range. This allowed it to outrun and evade over 4,000 enemy missiles that were fired at it over the years.

Nicknamed after an illegitimate child, the SR-71C was, remarkably, two separate SR-71s pieced together. It made some history. 

In July 1976, an SR-71 even set two world records – one was an absolute speed record of 2,193.167 mph while the other was an absolute altitude record of 85,068.997 feet.