Overview
- The SR-71 remains the fastest air-breathing, crewed aircraft, holding 1976 marks of 2,193.167 mph and 85,068.997 ft.
- Recent features draw on NASA research showing that at Mach 3.2 roughly 80% of thrust came from the inlet and ejector, with the J58 operating in a ramjet-like regime.
- Movable spikes and bleed systems positioned shockwaves and reduced turbine stress, enabling efficient cruise above 80,000 feet.
- Operational practice emphasized accelerating to outrun surface-to-air missiles, leveraging speed and altitude for survivability.
- Some pilots, notably Brian Shul, recount brief surges near Mach 3.5, a claim disputed by engineers citing a safe limit near Mach 3.2; a separate pilot narrative describes a single‑engine go‑around using one afterburner and redundant gear‑retraction hydraulics.