The Power of Pizza: Fueling Construction of the Mach 3 Flying, SR-71 Blackbird Fighter Jet

by Maya Carlin, Warrior Contributor, Weapons

While America’s F-35 Lightning II and China’s Chengdu J-20 fighter jet platforms are widely recognized today as formidable fifth-generation fighters, both airframes are outpaced by a jet that was introduced more than five decades ago. The SR-71 “Blackbird” is perhaps the most notorious Cold War airframe in existence.

Created by Lockheed Martin’s “Skunk Works,” the long-range, high-altitude, strategic reconnaissance fighter could operate at speeds in excess of Mach 3.0 (three times the speed of sound). Comparably, the F-22 Raptor can reach speeds of 2.25 – still a very impressive capability but not quite as speedy as its predecessor.

Besides its unmatched pace, the Blackbird became recognizable for its unique exterior including its black titanium shell. Surprisingly, the U.S. has the Soviet Union to thank for this component.

A brief history of the SR-71 Blackbird

Back in the 1950s, the CIA first approached Lockheed Martin to design an airframe that could operate in the USSR’s airspace without being detected. When a U-2 spy plane was shot down by a surface-to-air missile by the Soviet Air Defense Forces In 1960, the CIA’s inquiry became even more significant. 

Specifically, the U.S. needed an airframe speedy enough to surpass the Soviet’s interceptors and missiles. Lockheed’s A-12 reconnaissance airframe became the basis for the Blackbird’s design.

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