Artist: Keith Ferris
Medium: Oil on panel
Date: 1974

One of the greatest reconnaissance vehicles ever developed, the SR-71 could survey 100,000 square miles in one hour at three times the speed of sound above 80,000 feet.

It served from 1965 until 1990 without loss of a single crew.

On 1 September 1974, the SR-71 flew from New York to London in one hour and 55 minutes. This record breaking flight covered 3,490 miles and averaged 1,817 mph. A later flight went from San Diego, California to Savannah, Georgia in 59 minutes.

It has been retired except for limited NASA service.

On loan from: the collection of the artist.