The SR-71 was once nearly taken out: The F-35 Lightening II and F-22 Raptor are widely considered to be the best fighter jets to ever fly the skies. These formidable fifth-generation airframes possess ...

In 1972, US planners used SR-71 Blackbird reconnaissance flights to send covert signals to American prisoners held in North ...

On July 26, 1968, an SR-71 Blackbird was cruising over Northern Vietnam when the aircraft's Reconnaissance Systems Officer (RSO) noticed the “R” light illuminate on his panel. This warning indicated ...

During the early days of the Cold War, the U.S. relied on the U-2 as its reconnaissance airframe. Designed for the Central Intelligence Agency, the U-2 “Dragon Lady” was flown over the Soviet Union.

The Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird is a visitor favorite at the National Air and Space Museum's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center. Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum Lieutenant Colonel Ed Yeilding shot ...

The SR-71 is perhaps the most iconic Cold War spy aircraft, famous for many record-setting flights. Seemingly impervious to loss by enemy defenses, a dozen Blackbirds were lost to accidents. On July ...

The SR-71 is one of the U.S. Air Force's most prolific aircraft. Other than looking like a futuristic aircraft military model lovers have built for decades, it was designed and built in secret by the ...