This new book on the SR-71 provides a excellent compliment to Schiffer Military's "Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird: The Illustrated History of America's Legendary Mach 3 Spy Plane" by James Goodall, which is a much larger, more expensive book; this also serves as a replacement for the strong-selling book on the aircraft by Bill Holder, which was released in 2002 and is now out of print. As of 2023, the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird is the fastest manned jet aircraft ever produced. It set the record in 1976 and has been retired since the late 1990s. With its unrivaled speed and stunning appearance, the Blackbird has maintained an almost supernatural mystique to this day. The type entered service in the 1960s as a high-altitude (and obviously extremely high speed) military reconnaissance aircraft. Just 32 were built, nearly half of which were written off in accidents. Nearly 300 images are packed into this latest entry in the Legends of Warfare series. This is a great gift for your favorite modeler, pilot, or aspiring pilot. AUTHOR: David Doyle has authored more than 100 books on military vehicles, ranging from trucks and tanks to ships and aircraft. He is a full-time, professional author and researcher, dedicating much of his time to hunting for new photography at archives and museums. He lives in Memphis, Tennessee. SELLING POINTS: . The Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird is the fastest manned jet aircraft ever produced . With incredible performance and stunning design, the SR-71 has transcended the world of military aviation and become an icon of popular culture . Nearly 300 images are packed into this new entry in the Legends of Warfare series 285 colour and b/w photos