The Pic of the Day

Pic of the Day: SR-71 Blackbird, A Profile in Speed

The gone but not forgotten Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird takes flight at sunset on its way to making a Mach 3.2 thunder run.

A left-side view of a Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird taking off at sunset from Beale Air Force Base in California. The Blackbird may be retired from active service, but it is certainly not forgotten. The strategic reconnaissance aircraft could operate at an altitude of 85,000 at Mach 3.2, essentially allowing it to outrun any surface-to-air threats.

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Image courtesy of the 9th Reconnaissance Wing Public Affairs Office.

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