BLACKBIRD IN TROUBLE – At Mach 3, all emergencies are serious

One of the 9th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron Blackbirds is seen flying up to the designated altitude on an early morning practice photo mission out of its home base in California. The SR-71 was capable of flying at an altitude of over 16 miles. (Photo by Denny Lombard/Lockheed)

As the jet age emerged after World War II, it became a rat race between Russia, England and the United States as to who had the most effective fighter interceptor. This was especially important to the Russians because they had always put their emphasis on defense. In this realm, it was about even, with the U.S. always dominant in long range bombers. However, in the early 1960s, Lockheed’s Skunk Works came up with a reconnaissance...

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