Unofficially nicknamed the "Blackbird," the SR-71 was developed as a long-range strategic reconnaissance aircraft capable of flying at speeds over Mach 3.2 and at 85,000 feet. The first SR-71 to enter service was delivered in 1966 and due to politics, it was retired in 1990. However, the USAF still kept a few SR-71s in operation up until 1998, after a few were brought back to service in 1995. NASA's DFRC at Edwards AFB, CA flew the SR-71 from 1991 until the program was cancelled in late 2001. Visit the Blackbird Archive to learn more.
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3000+ Pages of Aviation Content
Welcome to SR-71 Online: An Online Aircraft Museum, home to more than two thousand military aviation photos (over 850 of which are of the Lockheed Blackbirds) and fact sheets on more than a dozen military airplanes. Moreover, this site has a Blackbird Archive, an in-depth look at the A-12, YF-12, and SR-71. It is also home to the SR-71 Flight Manual, a more than thousand page document now presented online for the first time.
This site is dedicated to the heritage of some of the most unique military airplanes. Most noteworthy are the Lockheed Blackbirds, B-2, F-117, F-22, XB-70, and YF-23. Also, this site features virtual tours of some aviation museums in the United States. These are just some of the reasons why this site is subtitled "An Online Aircraft Museum."
Hopefully, you will enjoy your stop at SR-71 Online. Accuracy and presentation are two main priorities that should be visible while you browse this site. So if you find any mistakes throughout this presentation, please report these errors so that future visitors will continue to have the best service possible. As this site grows, it will try to remain on a personal level with visitors. Feel free to write to the author, Paul Kucher, for any questions, comments, or complaints that you may have. Also, before you leave, be sure to sign the guest book.
