SR-71: The Complete Illustrated History of the Blackbird, The

SR-71: The Complete Illustrated History of the Blackbird, The World's Highest, Fastest Plane

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At the height of the Cold War in 1964, President Johnson announced a new aircraft dedicated to strategic reconnaissance. The Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird spy plane flew more than three-and-a-half times the speed of sound, so fast that no other aircraft could catch it. Above 80,000 feet, its pilots had to wear full-pressure flight suits similar to what was used aboard the space shuttle. Developed by the renowned Lockheed Skunk Works, the SR-71 was an awesome aircraft in every respect, and it took the world by storm.
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The SR-71 was in service with the U.S. Air Force from 1964 to 1998, when it was withdrawn from use, superseded by satellite technology. Twelve of the thirty-two aircraft were destroyed in accidents, but none were ever lost to enemy action.
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Throughout its thirty-four-year career, the SR-71 was the worldâ€™s fastest and highest-flying operational manned aircraft. It set world records for altitude and speed: an absolute altitude record of 85,069 feet on July 28, 1974, and an absolute speed record of 2,193.2 miles per hour on the same day. On September 1, 1974, it set a speed and time record over a recognized course between New York and London (3,508 miles) of 1,435.587 miles per hour and an elapsed time of 1 hour, 54 minutes, 56.4 seconds.
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SR-71 covers every aspect of the SR-71â€™s development, manufacture, modification, and active service from the insiderâ€™s perspective of one its pilots and is lavishly illustrated with more than 200 photos.
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Country USA
Brand Zenith Press
Manufacturer Zenith Press
Binding Hardcover
ItemPartNumber 9780760343272
ReleaseDate 2013-05-12
UnitCount 1
UPCs 752748343276
EANs 9780760343272

Country	USA
Brand	Zenith Press
Manufacturer	Zenith Press
Binding	Hardcover
ItemPartNumber	9780760343272
ReleaseDate	2013-05-12
UnitCount	1
UPCs	752748343276
EANs	9780760343272

SR-71: The Complete Illustrated History of the Blackbird, The World's Highest, Fastest Plane

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