Air Power Series>1:72 die-cast display model>SR-71>HC1301

General Background

The Lockheed SR-71 “Blackbird” was a revolutionary long-range, high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft developed in the 1960s by Lockheed’s Skunk Works under Clarence “Kelly” Johnson. Designed for extreme speed and stealth, it could cruise at Mach 3.2 at altitudes above 85,000 feet, making it virtually untouchable by enemy defenses. Its sleek, futuristic design evolved from the A-12, and it carried advanced sensors, cameras, and radar for intelligence-gathering missions. First revealed in 1964 and entering service in 1966, the SR-71 became a Cold War icon, flying missions over Vietnam, North Korea, Cuba, Libya, and along the Soviet Union’s borders.

Despite its demanding maintenance and limited sortie rate, the Blackbird set numerous records, including the fastest transatlantic flight and the title of fastest airbreathing manned aircraft, which it still holds today. Retired by the U.S. Air Force in 1989, briefly reactivated, and finally retired in 1999 after NASA’s research use, the SR-71’s role was eventually replaced by satellites and UAVs. Its enduring legacy lies in its unmatched speed, altitude, and engineering brilliance, symbolizing the pinnacle of Cold War aerospace innovation

Specifications :

Units Build:	32 Aircraft
Crew:	2 (pilot + reconnaissance systems officer)
Dimensions
Length:	107 ft 5 in (32.8 m)
Wingspan:	55 ft 7 in (16.9 m)
Height:	18 ft 6 in (5.6 m)
Wing Area:	167 m² (1,798 sq ft)
Weight:
Empty:	67,500 lb (30,600 kg)
Maximum Takeoff :	172,000 lb (78,000 kg)
Performance
Power Plant:	2 × Pratt & Whitney J58 (JT11D-20) turbojet engines
Thrust:	34,000 lbf (151 kN) each with afterburner
Maximum speed:	Mach 1.97 (~1,227 mph / 1,971 km/h)
Range:	3,250 mi (5,230 km)
Service Ceiling:	85,000 ft (25,900 m)
Rate of Climb:	11,820 ft/min (60 m/s)
Payload:	3,500 lb (1,600 kg) reconnaissance equipment
Armament:	None (relied on speed/altitude for defense)