Lockheed SR-71 BlackbirdLockheed SR 71 Blackbird airplane model. Developed for the USAF as reconnaissance aircraft more than 30 years ago, SR 71s are still the world's fastest and highest flying production aircraft. The aircraft can fly more than 2200 mph (Mach 3+ or more than three times the speed of sound) and at altitudes of over 85,000 feet. For its reconnaissance mission, the aircraft was outfitted with an advanced synthetic aperture radar system [ASARS I], an optical