Reconnaissance Collection: The SR-71 Blackbird

History of the SR-71 Blackbird

The SR-71 Blackbird has an extraordinary legacy as one of the most advanced and daring aircraft ever built. Originally developed in the early 1960s by Lockheed's secretive Skunk Works team, the Blackbird’s story began with the A-12, a high-speed, high-altitude reconnaissance plane designed for the CIA. First flown in 1962, the A-12 was capable of Mach 3+ speeds and could fly above 60,000 feet, but evolving military needs soon led to a more powerful and versatile version: the SR-71.

Introduced in 1964, the SR-71 included a second seat for a Reconnaissance Systems Officer, carried more fuel, and featured advanced stealth measures to reduce its radar visibility—among the earliest uses of stealth technology. Specially designed shapes and radar-absorbing paint made the aircraft nearly invisible to enemy radar, giving it the ability to fly deep into hostile airspace without being intercepted.

Built mostly from titanium to withstand extreme heat generated by flying over three times the speed of sound, the SR-71 operated at altitudes up to 85,000 feet. It relied on two powerful Pratt & Whitney J58 engines that operated in afterburner mode for most of the flight. Because of this, missions often required multiple in-air refuelings.

From 1966 to 1990, the SR-71 conducted critical reconnaissance during the Cold War, collecting high-resolution images and electronic data over enemy territory with unmatched speed and safety. It set multiple speed records—including a coast-to-coast flight in under 68 minutes—and became legendary for its performance and design. Only 32 were ever built, and their contributions to national security remain partly classified. Though retired in 1990, the SR-71 remains a marvel of aerospace engineering and a powerful symbol of innovation during one of the tensest periods in global history.