Where does this come from, and can I check it?

It flew above Mach 3 and outran every missile fired at it. The figure is taken from Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, which is linked in full on this page. Every fact on Mondo Knows names its source rather than repeating an unsourced claim.

Is this really a records & extremes fact?

Yes. It sits on the Records & Extremes shelf, one of 1,090 sourced facts grouped into space, animals, the human body, history, science and more. Category pages collect every fact in the same field.

What else can I read about it?

The links under the fact point to a quiz, game, puzzle or calculator on the same subject, and the shelf below shows related facts. The wording here is original, and quoted phrases are marked as quotations.

Mondo Knows Facts

The SR-71 remains the fastest air-breathing aircraft

It flew above Mach 3 and outran every missile fired at it

The Blackbird was built from titanium to survive skin temperatures above 300 degrees Celsius caused by friction at speed. Its engines ran as ramjets at cruising speed, and its cameras could survey enormous areas from over 24 kilometres up. About 3,500 missiles were launched at Blackbirds and none hit one.

Where this comes from

Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum

Facts that can change over time are reviewed and updated. If something here looks wrong, Mondo would rather know than be confidently incorrect.

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Technology trivia History trivia

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Tags: aircraft, speed, cold war

The SR-71 remains the fastest air-breathing aircraft: the short answers

Where does this come from, and can I check it?: It flew above Mach 3 and outran every missile fired at it. The figure is taken from Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, which is linked in full on this page. Every fact on Mondo Knows names its source rather than repeating an unsourced claim.
Is this really a records & extremes fact?: Yes. It sits on the Records & Extremes shelf, one of 1,090 sourced facts grouped into space, animals, the human body, history, science and more. Category pages collect every fact in the same field.
What else can I read about it?: The links under the fact point to a quiz, game, puzzle or calculator on the same subject, and the shelf below shows related facts. The wording here is original, and quoted phrases are marked as quotations.