Exploring the legacy of the Blackbird SR-71 – the fastest Cold War spy plane

The SR-71 Blackbird, a sleek and silent marvel of Cold War aviation, stands proudly in museums across America.

In 1976, it was the fastest air-breathing manned military jet ever built, achieving a world record of 2,193.2 miles per hour, a record it maintains today.

The Blackbird performed reconnaissance for the US Air Force for more than 30 years, flying its first operational missions over Vietnam, before going on to gather crucial intelligence during the 1973 Yom Kippur War, the Israeli invasion of Lebanon and its aftermath, and the 1986 raid conducted by American air forces on Libya.

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Watch the video above to find out more about the aircraft's supersonic reign that ended in 1998 with the introduction of space-based surveillance systems.