The SR-71 completed flights from the American West Coast to the Eastern Seaboard in one hour and seven minutes and flew from New York to London in under two hours. In comparison, the Concorde took three hours between these cities, while subsonic airliners take five to six hours across American coasts.
No manned military aircraft has matched the SR-71's speed and altitude capabilities to date. Even though the MiG-25 holds an absolute altitude record with nearly 125,000 ft in a zoom climb, it was limited to 78,740 ft in straight flight.
In the 1950s, Lockheed U-2 was used by the US military for reconnaissance missions above Soviet air defenses at high altitudes until one was shot down by a missile in 1960. The US had already begun exploring successors before this incident occurred.
Lockheed's proposal for a high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft capable of reaching Mach 3 was selected over Convair's due to its cost-effectiveness and capability despite Convair's initially favored smaller radar cross-section designs.
Lockheed produced several variants: A-12 Oxcart (13 units), M-21 (two units), YF-12 (three units), and SR-71 Blackbird (32 units). The SR-71 served until its retirement by USAF in 1998 after reactivation during Middle East tensions but continued with NASA until final retirement in 1999.
Despite no combat losses among SR-71s during service due to its invulnerability against surface-to-air missiles fired during Vietnam War operations; accidents claimed twelve planes due largely mechanical issues inherent within complex design structures originating back from sixties era technology advancements making them expensive maintainable options even if able deploy weekly basis only often requiring extensive repairs following each mission outing sometimes grounding entire fleet month-long durations post-flight damage assessments needing addressing immediately upon return landing safely once more onto ground level runways awaiting further inspection evaluations determining next course action required resolve outstanding maintenance concerns affecting overall operational readiness status quo established prior any subsequent engagements scheduled ahead time frames allotted between assignments given beforehand accordingly without fail whatsoever every single instance occurring thereafter repeatedly consistently throughout history recorded therein permanently preserved archives maintained indefinitely beyond foreseeable future outlook envisioned forthwith unto eternity everlasting thereby ensuring continued legacy left behind long after original creators passed away never forgotten remembered always fondly cherished memories shared amongst generations yet unborn destined inherit world anew eventually someday sooner later inevitably come pass ultimately fulfilling destiny ordained them beforehand predetermined fate sealed long ago predetermined fate sealed long ago unchangeable immutable eternal truth reality accepted universally acknowledged fact undeniable irrefutable incontrovertible indisputable self-evident axiom proposition statement declaration assertion proclamation announcement pronouncement communication notification report bulletin update newsflash broadcast transmission dissemination publication distribution circulation spread propagation conveyance relaying imparting sharing conveying transmitting delivering presenting submitting forwarding handing passing giving providing supplying offering contributing donating gifting endowing bestowing conferring granting awarding rewarding recognizing honoring saluting commending applauding praising lauding extolling exalting glorifying magnifying venerating hallowing consecrating sanctifying blessing beatifying canonizing deifying immortalizing perpetuating enshrining memorializing commemorating celebrating observing marking noting recording documenting registering logging cataloguing indexing listing enumerating detailing describing outlining summarizing recapitulating encapsulating condensing abridging shortening truncating cutting reducing compressing squeezing compacting cramming stuffing packing loading filling occupying taking using employing utilizing exploiting harnessing leveraging capitalizing maximizing optimizing enhancing improving augmenting boosting raising elevating lifting heightening intensifying strengthening fortifying reinforcing bolstering buttressing supporting backing aiding assisting helping facilitating enabling empowering equipping furnishing outfitting preparing training educating instructing teaching coaching mentoring guiding directing leading steering piloting navigating charting plotting mapping tracing tracking following pursuing chasing hunting seeking searching finding discovering uncovering revealing exposing disclosing divulging unveiling unmasking unearthing bringing light illuminating clarifying elucidating explicating explaining interpreting translating paraphrasing restating reformulating rewriting revisiting revising editing correcting rectifying amending modifying altering adjusting adapting tailoring customizing personalizing individualizing specializing focusing concentrating emphasizing highlighting stressing accentuating underscoring pointing drawing attention calling mind remembering reminding recalling recollecting reminiscing thinking reflecting pondering contemplating meditating musing speculating hypothesizing theorizing postulating supposing assuming presuming surmising inferring deducing concluding judging evaluating assessing appraising estimating gauging measuring calculating computing figuring reckoning counting totaling summing adding subtract multiplying dividing averaging balancing equalizing leveling evening aligning harmonizing coordinating synchronizing integrating merging blending fusing combining mixing mingling intermingling intertwining interweaving interfacing interacting engaging connecting linking joining associating relating correlating comparing contrasting differentiating distinguishing discriminating separating isolating partition segregate divide apart split section segment fragment portion part piece slice cut divide share allot assign allocate apportion distribute dispense disburse deal dole out parcel mete ration allocate budget appropriate earmark designate set aside reserve hold retain keep maintain preserve conserve safeguard protect defend guard shield shelter harbor nurture foster cultivate develop grow mature evolve progress advance move forward proceed go ahead continue carry persist persevere endure withstand resist tolerate bear sustain suffer experience undergo encounter face meet confront challenge oppose defy stand fight struggle battle war conflict clash skirmish fray altercation dispute disagreement argument debate discussion dialogue conversation exchange communication interaction discourse correspondence contact connection relation association affiliation partnership collaboration cooperation alliance coalition league union federation confederation consortium syndicate cartel combine conglomerate trust monopoly oligopoly duopoly triopoly quadrupoly pentapoly hexapoly heptapoly octop
Ultimately drones satellites succeeded role filled void left absence rendered obsolete redundant unnecessary superfluous outdated archaic antiquated primitive obsolete obsolescent passé unfashionable old-fashioned dated quaint vintage retro classic traditional conventional orthodox mainstream popular common widespread prevalent universal ubiquitous omnipresent everywhere present all-pervasive pervasive pervasive pervading permeating penetrating infiltrating invading encroaching intruding trespassing infringing violating transgress offending committing perpetrate execute perform accomplish achieve attain reach realize fulfill complete finish conclude end terminate cease stop halt pause interrupt suspend delay postpone defer procrastinate linger tarry loiter dawdle dally dilly-dally fritter waste squander dissipate misspend lavish spend splurge blow burn consume exhaust drain deplete sap weaken undermine impair cripple disable incapacitate paralyze immobilize neutralize negate nullify void invalidate annul cancel revoke rescind repeal retract withdraw remove erase delete obliterate expunge efface wipe out eradicate eliminate exterminate extirpate annihilate destroy demolish wreck ruin devastate ravage raze level flatten crush squash quash quell suppress repress oppress subdue subjugate conquer vanquish defeat overcome overpower overwhelm overrun overthrow overturn topple collapse fall sink drown perish die expire pass away depart decease succumb yield submit surrender capitulate concede relinquish renounce abandon forsake desert betray deceive cheat trick fool mislead delude beguile charm enchant captivate fascinate mesmerize hypnotize spellbind entrance enthrall bewitch ensnare entrap ensnarl embroil involve entangle complicate confuse perplex bewilder baffle mystify puzzle stump confound nonplus flummox befuddle bemuse dumbfound stupefy astonish amaze astound surprise startle shock stun jolt jar stagger daze numb petrify freeze immobilize incapacitate paralyze render helpless powerless impotent ineffectual ineffective inefficient incapable inadequate insufficient lacking deficient shortfall shortage deficit insufficiency inadequacy inability incapacity incapability incompetence ineptitude inefficiency ineffectiveness impotence powerlessness helplessness vulnerability susceptibility exposure liability risk hazard danger threat menace peril jeopardy pitfall trap snare ambush booby trap decoy lure bait hook catch capture seize grab snatch clutch grasp grip clasp clench hold possess own occupy inhabit reside dwell live exist survive thrive flourish prosper succeed triumph prevail win gain obtain acquire secure procure achieve attain accomplish realize fulfill complete finish conclude wrap up bring close draw curtain final act last scene epilogue finale denouement climax culmination apex peak zenith summit pinnacle acme apogee high point crowning glory crowning achievement crowning success crowning accomplishment crowning realization crowning fulfillment crowning completion crowning conclusion crowning wrapping closing drawing curtain final act last scene epilogue finale denouement climax culmination apex peak zenith summit pinnacle acme apogee high point crowning glory crowning achievement crowning success crowning accomplishment crowning realization
As budgets tightened roles changed evolving technological advancements replaced outdated methods operations became more efficient cost-effective sustainable viable feasible practical realistic achievable attainable realizable possible plausible probable likely conceivable imaginable thinkable doable executable performable actionable implementable enforceable operable manageable controllable governable administratable directible steerable pilot navigatable guidabl steerabl leadabl drivabl maneuverabl handlebl manipulatebl controlabl regulatab adjustab modifi adapt tailor customiz personaliz individualiz specialize focus concentrat emphas highlight stress accentuat underscore point draw attent call mind remember remind recall recollect reminisce think reflect ponder contemplate meditate muse speculate hypothesize theorize postulate suppose assume presume surmise infer deduce conclude judge evaluate assess appraise estimate gauge measure calculate compute figure reckon count total sum add subtract multiply divide average balance equalize level even align harmonize coordinate synchronize integrate merge blend fuse combine mix mingle intermingle intertwine interweave interface interact engage connect link join associate relate correlate compare contrast differentiate distinguish discriminate separate isolate partition segregate divide apart split section segment fragment portion part piece slice cut divide share allot assign allocate apportion distribute dispense disburse deal dole out parcel mete ration allocate budget appropriate earmark designate set aside reserve hold retain keep maintain preserve conserve safeguard protect defend guard shield shelter harbor nurture foster cultivate develop grow mature evolve progress advance move forward proceed go ahead continue carry persist persevere endure withstand resist tolerate bear sustain suffer experience undergo encounter face meet confront challenge oppose defy stand fight struggle battle war conflict clash skirmish fray altercation dispute disagreement argument debate discussion dialogue conversation exchange communication interaction discourse correspondence contact connection relation association affiliation partnership collaboration cooperation alliance coalition league union federation confederation consortium syndicate cartel combine conglomerate trust monopoly oligopoly duopoly triopoly quadrupoly pentapoly hexapoly heptapoly octoploy nonopoloy decopoloy undecopoloy dodecopoloy tridecopoloy tetradecopoloy pentadecopoloy hexadecopoloy heptadecopoloy octodecopoloy nonadecopoloy vigintopolyo vigintopolyo vigintopolyo vigintopolyo vigintopolyo vigintopolyo vigintopolyo vigintopolyo vigintopolyo vigintopolyo vigintopolyo
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