SR-71 Aircraft - Blackbird

EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif.—The SR-71 flys at more than three times the speed of sound at altitudes in excess of 80,000 feet (approximately 15 miles high); for example, three times the speed of sound (Mach 3) is more than 2,000 miles per hour. Congress appropriated funds and directed the Air Force to recommission a small fleet of SR-71s, two A models and one B model. The aircraft were assigned to the 9th Reconnaissance Wing’s Detachment 2 here before retirement. (U.S. Air Force photo)