American aerospace engineer Clarence 'Kelly' Johnson was responsible for many of the aircraft's innovative concepts. The SR-71 was developed as a black project from the Lockheed A-12 reconnaissance aircraft during the 1960s by Lockheed's Skunk Works division. It was operated by both the United States Air Force (USAF) and NASA. The Lockheed SR-71 ' Blackbird' is a long-range, high-altitude, Mach 3+ strategic reconnaissance aircraft developed and manufactured by the American aerospace company Lockheed Corporation. The raised second cockpit is for the instructor.
For other uses, see SR-71 (disambiguation).Īn SR-71B trainer over the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California in 1994.
