The SR-71 Blackbird’s Engines Worked Like Jets at Takeoff and Ramjets at Mach 3 — and Got More Efficient the Faster It Flew

The SR-71 Blackbird’s Engines Worked Like Jets at Takeoff and Ramjets at Mach 3 — and Got More Efficient the Faster It Flew

The SR-71 Blackbird is an iconic and beloved Cold War aircraft that was, and still is, unmatched in pure speed. With a top speed of Mach 3.3 (officially), the SR-71 remains one of the fastest manned aircraft in all of history. Every aspect of the Blackbird’s design was fine-tuned for aerodynamic efficiency, from its wing layout to the shape of the airframe. Central to its impressive speed, however, were the two engines located on either side of …