Military Aircraft
Lockheed U-2 Dragon Lady
ICAO: U2
Overview
The Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird was a long-range reconnaissance aircraft designed for sustained high-speed flight. Introduced during the Cold War, it operated at extreme altitude and speed. The aircraft entered service in the mid-1960s.
Live Fleet Activity (SR71)
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Specifications
Units
- Engine
- 2 × Pratt & Whitney J58 JT11D-20J or JT11D-20K
- Engine type
- Jet
- Thrust
- 2 × 34,000 lbf · 151 kN
- Avionics
- Itek KA-102A 36–48, SIGINT and ELINT
- Wing tips
- No winglets
- Seats
- 2
- Crew
- —
- Cabin width
- —
- Cabin height
- —
- Cabin length
- —
- Exterior length
- 107 ft 5 in · 32.74 m
- Tail height
- 18 ft 6 in · 5.64 m
- Fuselage diameter
- 5 ft 3 in · 1.60 m
- Wing span
- 55 ft 7 in · 16.94 m
- Baggage volume
- —
- Gross weight
- —
- Empty weight
- —
- Max takeoff weight
- 172,000 lb · 78,000 kg
- Max landing weight
- —
- Max payload
- 3,500 lb · 1,600 kg
- Fuel capacity
- 12,200 gal · 46,300 L · 37,000 kg (Jet A)
- Max cruise speed
- 1,911 kt · 2,199 mph · 3,539 km/h
- Maximum speed
- —
- Cruise speed
- —
- Approach speed
- —
- Range
- 2,900 nm · 3,340 mi · 5,370 km
- Fuel burn
- 0.24 nm/gal · 0.12 km/L
- Ceiling
- 85,000 ft · 25,900 m
- Rate of climb
- 11,820 ft/min · 60 m/s
- Takeoff distance
- 5,400 ft · 1,650 m
- Landing distance
- 3,600 ft · 1,100 m
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Live fleet activity details
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Operational Context
Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird — high-speed strategic reconnaissance aircraft
The SR-71 first flew in 1964 and entered operational service in 1966. Developed from earlier A-12 designs, it featured a sleek fuselage and advanced materials capable of withstanding high temperatures. The aircraft was optimized for intelligence gathering at speeds exceeding Mach 3.
Powered by two Pratt & Whitney J58 turbojet engines producing approximately 32,500 pounds of thrust (144 kN) each with afterburner, the SR-71 cruised above Mach 3 at altitudes exceeding 80,000 feet (24,385 m). Maximum takeoff weight exceeded 170,000 pounds (77,110 kg). The aircraft carried specialized reconnaissance sensors rather than weapons.
The SR-71 conducted strategic surveillance missions worldwide until retirement in the 1990s. Its speed and altitude made interception extremely difficult. The Blackbird remains one of the fastest aircraft ever placed in operational service.
Sources and references used for research and fact-checking.