[Article publié initialement le 18 avril 2024]
There are many legendary aircraft in the world, some large, others fast, others still heavy… However, among these aeronautical marvels, one particularly left its mark on the second half of the 20th century. Thanks to its design, its performances and above all its records, the SR-71, nicknamed “Blackbird”, occupies a unique place in the pantheon of aeronautical excellence.
The iconic product of the US Air Force will have marked its time and the collective spirit thanks to its unique prowess and a legendary design of which only 32 examples were produced between 1964 and 1998.
The SR-71 Blackbird, the plane that surpassed them all
At the end of the Second World War, a climate of international tensions set in, lasting nearly five decades between the Western and Eastern Blocs. On one side, the Soviet bloc with Russia and its allies, and on the other, the United States accompanied by part of Europe.
The Cold War begins, dividing the world between these two superpowers. Espionage and intelligence then become commonplace for both sides, leading to a top priority on improving military technologies.
It is in this context that the SR-71, developed in the wake of the famous U-2 aircraft, took flight for the first time in the mid-1960s with its famous black adornment.
The “Blackbird”, manufactured by the famous American manufacturer Lockheed, would rise to the rank of reference among “spy planes”. The tasks of surveillance, stealth, espionage and reconnaissance seemed simple in theory, but the technical feats required to design such a device were undeniable.
The Blackbird, the supersonic plane with record speed
If the posterity of this spy plane, which was only released in series in around thirty copies, is still guaranteed in 2024, it is not for nothing. Regularly highlighted in the world of pop-culture (the famous X-Men plane), and particularly in video games with the saga Call of Duty (Black Ops – 2010), the SR-71 Blackbird marked its time. And while speed should not be confused with haste sometimes, Lockheed's design went against the adage.
The black bird, which we would translate as “blackbird” here, could have a record speed for such a device: 3500 km/h or Mach 3. A supersonic which had the luxury of reaching two capitals, New York and London, in less than 120 minutes in 1974. That's shorter than The Lord of the Rings – The Fellowship of the Ringto give you an order of magnitude. The black plane was simply unreachable for possible surface-to-air or air-to-air missiles.
A plane with other crazy features
Because yes, going fast is good, but the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird, its full name, had other prodigious capabilities for its time. It could weigh 65 tonnes when fully loaded, with a wingspan of 16.94 meters and a length of 32.74 meters.
It carried with it two turbo ramjet engines with afterburner, but it was very greedy and sometimes had to be refueled several times during a flight. But one (another) feat of which he was capable was to fly at an altitude of nearly 20,000 meters with a ceiling estimated at 5 km more. Crazy. The idea with the Blackbird was simple: fly higher and faster than everyone in the military world of the time.
With an unwavering passion for local news, Christopher leads our editorial team with integrity and dedication. With over 20 years’ experience, he is the backbone of Wouldsayso, ensuring that we stay true to our mission to inform.
