The SR-71 did not simply fade into a museum corner; it left service with the same aura of speed and mystery that defined its entire career. Its retirement years were framed by record-setting dashes ...

An SR-71's exterior is all smooth, swooping surfaces. The Blackbird's interior, however, is a cramped assemblage of dials and switches need to keep the supersonic spy plane aloft. Don't be intimidated ...

Watch the impressive engineering in this in-depth tour of the SR-71 Blackbird's jet engine and you'll see an extraordinary reconnaissance aircraft that still impresses despite taking its first flight ...