The SR-71 Blackbird reached a record speed of 2,193 mph and flew at altitudes over 85,000 feet, making it the world’s fastest and highest flying production aircraft, according to the science museum.

Workers move an engine housing of the SR-71 Blackbird into the Science Museum of Virginia Tuesday, January 26, 2016. It will later be assembled for an exhibit on speed.

What made Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird so unique What made the SR-71 so unique wasn’t just how fast it could go, but how long it could maintain that speed. While its Soviet rival, the MiG-25R, could ...

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen The Paramount/DreamWorks film Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, was filmed in part at the Udvar-Hazy Center. It features the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird as Jetfire, ...

In the case of Blackbird 61-7972, which was selected for preservation at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum, it ...

The SR-71 was so quick that it remains the fastest air-fed plane ever built — even today. With a top speed of Mach 3.3, the Blackbird could outrun missiles that might try to shoot it down.

During testing, the SR-71 achieved Mach 3.4, more than triple the speed of sound. Flying at altitudes of up to 85,000 feet, no surface-to-air-missle could get close to downing an SR-71.

Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago—Chicago, IL An educational experience for the 21st century, the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago pairs top-notch displays with interactive ...

Aviation buffs and industry experts estimate that the SR-71 Blackbird out-flew more than 4,000 missiles during its several decades in service. The U.S. Air Force’s SR-71 remains one of the most ...

When Lockheed built the SR-71 Blackbird, they built it out of titanium, which could withstand the enormous heat. But titanium is expensive and difficult to work with. Instead, MiG went with steel.