The SR-71 Blackbird, a marvel of engineering and innovation, remains unparalleled in speed even fifty years after its ...

These enabled the aircraft to reach Mach 3, which the SR-71 did regularly. Speed wasn't the SR-71's only feature — it could reach an altitude of 85,000 feet and higher.

In 1966, what was then Lockheed Corporation introduced an innovative new aircraft called the SR-71 Blackbird. The long-range, high-altitude aircraft was so fast that it could outpace missiles.

-Despite these results, when the Blackbird pilots dropped the rules, no fighter could match the SR-71’s Mach 3+ speeds and high-altitude dominance.

The U.S. Air Force first deployed the legendary SR-71 Blackbird in January 1966. Yet Britain had plans for a high-altitude, supersonic reconnaissance aircraft that could have flown as early as 1965.

The SR-71 has been a famous plane ever since its first flight. In 1982, Popular Mechanics finally got the story from the engineer's point of view.

The SR-71 Blackbird flies at extremely high speeds and altitudes, adding Aluminum to its tires can help to prevent damage during fast landings.

With a maximum speed of Mach 3.3, the SR-71 could outrun any plane or missile that was sent against it.