Of the 32 Lockheed SR-71s built, 18 airframes survive today – as Jamie Ewan details…
The brainchild of one aviation’s greatest minds, Clarence Leonard ‘Kelly’ Johnson, the radical curves of Lockheed’s SR-71 served no less than six US presidents. It was, and still is, the world's fastest manned air-breathing jet to ever fly. Said to be one of man’s greatest achievements, the Blackbird, – often dubbed the ‘Habu’ or ‘Lady in Black’, still to this day remains, the pinnacle of aviation technology developments during the tense days of the Cold War. Such was its ability, the Blackbird streaked through hostile airspace across the globe gathering vital (and often world changing) intelligence with near impunity. The Blackbird could, and did, fly faster than a bullet. As a result, no Blackbird was ever lost or damaged due to hostile action - despite, as it is often said, 4,000 missiles having been fired at the SR-71 during its operational service. Above the door of one SR-71 detachment read the sign: “Though I Fly Through the Valley of Death I Shall Fear No Evil For I Am 80,000 Feet and Climbing”. Of the 32 Lo…
