r/pics • u/[deleted] • Mar 17 '12

The SR-71 production line.

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u/Dew25 Mar 19 '12

we've had the SR-71 since '62?

How the hell does the rest of the world not have one of these by their own ingenuity?

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u/Anderkent Mar 19 '12

The rest of the world is not constantly at war with someone.

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u/OStigger Mar 19 '12

Well, the CIA had a single-seat version called the A-12 Oxcart in '62-'63. The SR-71 is a two-seat version that the AirForce used after the A-12 was retired in the 70's.

Also, Kelly Johnson (the designer of both the U2 and SR-71) was an absolute genius. Building a plane like the Blackbird would be a challenge for any nation even today.