The SR-71 'Blackbird' is the fastest and most advanced manned operational aircraft ever built. Is was designed by the legendary Clarence L. 'Kelly' Johnson and the Lockheed 'Skunk Works'. It still holds the absolute world speed record and the record of highest sustained flight at altitude. All information quoted here is from a declassified article published in 1979 unless otherwise stated. The 'Blackbird' first flew in 1962 and made the XB-70 'Valkyrie' instantly obsolete. The XB-70, longer in development, used honey-combed stainless steel in its construction, the only material available at the time that could withstand the temperatures generated at Mach 3 flight. The 'Blackbird' is 95% titanium. The 'Blackbird' started as the YF-12, a long-range interceptor and was modified to the SR-71, a long-range reconnaisance aircraft. The aircraft has a two-men crew, a pilot and a reconnaisance systems operator (RSO). It became operational on 7 January 1966 at the 9th Strategic Recon Wing at Beale AFB, California. Once the aircraft was designed the Skunk Works set out to find or develop material for its construction. Much of the material used on the Blackbird is still classified. The SR-71 is powered by two engines, also developed in secrecy. They are Pratt & Whitney J-58 (JT11D-20)single-spool afterburning turbo-ram jet with a fourth stage bleed bypass which ducts air into the afterburner. They are designed to operate in continuous afterburner at altitudes above 80,000-ft. and are the only engines tested for 150 hrs. in continuous afterburner. The engines are officially rated 30,000-lbs. sea-level static thrust in maximum afterburner (other publications have estimated it as high as 34,500-lbs.), the horse power equivalent of the Queen Mary for each engine. 93% of the skin and structure are titaninium, exhaust ejectors are of Hastelloy, and the ejector throat ring is of Rene 41. Airconditioning and plumbing is aluminum, the hydraulics are steel. The engines consist of three propulsion system components,the inlet, the engine, and the ejector. Here are some figures that indicate how much these components contribute to the thrust generated at speeds indicated: Mach 2.2: Inlet-13%; engine-73%, ejector-14%. Mach 3.0+: Inlet-54%; engine-17.6%, ejector-28.4% At cruise speed the fuselage skin reaches steady state temperature in 11 minutes and the rest of the structure in 35 minutes. The aircraft length increases by one foot during cruise speed. Here are surface temperatures of various parts of the fuselage during flight: Middle of the wing, close to 500F Leading edges and the inside of the inlet 800F Wing and fuselage temperatures are between 450F to 500F External skin temperatures in the afterburner and ejector section are 900F to 1,200F Speed and altitude: 2092-mph; set over a closed 1,000km course on July 27, 1976. World Absolute and World Class Altitude for Horizontal Flight - 85,069-ft. Dimensions: Lenght: 107.4-ft. Width: 55.6-ft. Ground height: 18.5-ft. Take-off Weight: 172,000-lbs (Jane's Aircraft Recognition Guide). Wing Area: 1,800-sq. ft. It carries 80,000-lbs of fuel (12,300 gal). The picture was taken at Nellis AFB, Las Vegas, Nevada during the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the U.S. Air Force becoming a separate branch of the Services and was later scanned. Thank you for viewing and commenting on my recent uploads, Sig...