5 SR71 Speed Records

Introduction to the SR71 Speed Records

The Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird is a supersonic reconnaissance plane that was developed in the 1950s and 1960s by Lockheed Skunk Works. The SR-71 is known for its exceptional speed, reaching over Mach 3.5 (around 2,193 mph or 3,529 km/h), making it one of the fastest air-breathing manned aircraft ever built. The SR-71 has set numerous speed records, and in this blog post, we will explore five of the most notable ones.

Record 1: Los Angeles to Washington D.C.

On July 7, 1976, an SR-71 Blackbird piloted by Major Brian Shul set a record for the fastest flight from Los Angeles to Washington D.C., covering a distance of approximately 2,299 miles (3,700 km) in just 1 hour, 4 minutes, and 20 seconds. This record-breaking flight demonstrated the SR-71’s incredible speed and agility.

Record 2: New York to London

Another notable record set by the SR-71 is the fastest transatlantic flight from New York to London, which was achieved on September 1, 1974. The SR-71, piloted by Major Randolph Harper, covered the distance of approximately 3,459 miles (5,564 km) in just 1 hour, 54 minutes, and 56 seconds, at an average speed of over Mach 2.1 (1,435 mph or 2,310 km/h).

Record 3: Coast-to-Coast Flight

The SR-71 also holds the record for the fastest coast-to-coast flight in the United States. On July 6, 1978, an SR-71 piloted by Major Brian Shul flew from Beale Air Force Base in California to Washington D.C., covering a distance of approximately 2,474 miles (3,981 km) in just 1 hour, 7 minutes, and 53 seconds, at an average speed of over Mach 3.2 (2,193 mph or 3,529 km/h).

Record 4: Altitude Record

In addition to its speed records, the SR-71 also holds the record for the highest altitude reached by a manned aircraft. On July 28, 1976, an SR-71 piloted by Major Brian Shul reached an altitude of 85,069 feet (25,929 meters), which is over 16 miles (25.7 km) above the Earth’s surface. This record-breaking flight demonstrated the SR-71’s exceptional performance and capabilities.

Record 5: Sustained Speed Record

The SR-71 also holds the record for the longest sustained speed at over Mach 3.2 (2,193 mph or 3,529 km/h). On July 7, 1976, an SR-71 piloted by Major Brian Shul maintained an average speed of over Mach 3.2 (2,193 mph or 3,529 km/h) for a period of 1 hour, 4 minutes, and 20 seconds, covering a distance of approximately 2,299 miles (3,700 km). This record-breaking flight demonstrated the SR-71’s exceptional speed and endurance.

🚀 Note: The SR-71's speed records are still unmatched today, and its exceptional performance and capabilities continue to inspire and fascinate people around the world.

In summary, the SR-71 Blackbird has set numerous speed records, including the fastest flight from Los Angeles to Washington D.C., the fastest transatlantic flight from New York to London, the fastest coast-to-coast flight in the United States, the highest altitude reached by a manned aircraft, and the longest sustained speed at over Mach 3.2. These records demonstrate the SR-71’s exceptional speed, agility, and performance, making it one of the most iconic and revered aircraft in history.

Related Terms:

• SR 71 Blackbird
• sr 71 blackbird cockpit
• sr 71 blackbird top speed km h
• SR 72
• Sr 71 blackbird engine
• Sr 71 darkstar