Behold The Legendary SR-71 Blackbird - Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum, Nebraska

One of the most incredible vehicles man has ever assembled, and I got to see it and touch it in person here in Nebraska.

I am an Army veteran, and we got to play with some cool stuff. But this...this is in a league of its own.

If you are unfamiliar with this feat of engineering, here are some fast facts for you on the SR-71 Blackbird, built by Lockheed Martin.

The SR-71 Blackbird's first flight was in 1964 and is considered the fastest plane that ever took flight. The fastest this plane has ever been "officially" tracked is 2,193,13 mph. On aper, the plane was designed to reach speeds of Mach 3.4 or 2,500 mph.

The Blackbird derived its name from multiple sources. It was insanely stealthy with an extremely quiet cockpit. Pilots have gone on record to say that "you could hear a pin drop". Another contributing factor was that it wore roughly 60 pounds of black paint to dissipate heat, which was a huge benefit and the exterior of the plane would reach around 1,000 degrees in flight.

The plane is made of titanium. Matter of fact, the plane requires so much titanium that the American government (CIA) created fake companies globally to buy the metal from USSR and enemies of the United States. Due to this titanium "skin" that "stretched" in flight, the plane was notorious for leaking fuel while on the ground. Luckily, the fuel mix had such a high flash point that it would not ignite even when hit with an open flame.

The computer and navigation system for the SR-71 was often referred to as "R2-D2" and was extremely powerful. With its side-scanning technology, it could map terrain and disrupt enemy communication at a 45 degree angle from the plane. The navigation system could detect 61 stars in broad daylight, while on the ground! The camera system was also pphenomenal being able to show car license plates from 80,000 feet below traveling in excess of 2,000 mph.

During its 25 years in service, over 4,000 missiles were shot at the plane. All were unsuccessful. The pilots and crew members, (who had to be between the ages of 25 and 40, had to be married and emotionally stable) didn't have much for countermeasures...they just sped up and the missiles just couldn't keep up.

There were only 32 Blackbirds ever built before it was retired by NASA in 1999 and today it remains one of the most iconic and technologically advanced aircraft ever assembled on this planet

If you haven't seen one of these planes, you need to make it a point and see on in person. It is unbelievable.

SR-71 Blackbird Tribute Video :

All facts brought to you by https://www.historyinorbit.com/15-fascinating-facts-about-the-sr-71-blackbird-the-fastest-plane-on-earth

Jacob A. Billett, M.B.A
CEO Billett Enterprises, Inc.

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