SR-71 Blackbird

Lockheed's SR-71 Blackbird is one of the most iconic and famous jets ever built. Assembled in secret at Lockheed's Skunk Works, the Blackbird's vital statistics remain phenomenal, decades later. It holds the airspeed record for a manned jet aircraft, operated at an altitude other aircraft could barely touch, and was a marvel of technical engineering. Drawing on declassified material, leading SR-71 expert Paul Crickmore reveals the history of this fascinating aircraft, accompanied by a range of fantastic illustrations, photographs, and facts about the world's most secret spy plane.

During his time at the London Air Traffic Control Centre, Paul Crickmore received a unique introduction to SR-71 operations from RAF Mildenhall, Suffolk. Teaming up with Osprey, he produced the first detailed book to be published on the subject and, following the initial shutdown of SR-71 operations, an even more detailed book, Lockheed SR-71: The Secret Missions Exposed--now the standard reference work. He also authored the first detailed book about the F-117, with his wife, Alison.