This week in Beale History: SR-71 sets speed record with New York to London flight

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Robert M. Trujillo
  • 9th Reconnaissance Wing Public Affairs
BEALE AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  On Sept. 1, 1974 Maj. James V. Sullivan and Maj. Noel Widdifield set a new world speed record from New York to London.

The flight covered 3,470 miles and lasted only 1 hour, 54 minutes, 56.4 seconds with an average speed of 1,806.964 mph.

The aircraft made the trans-Atlantic flight to be featured in the Farnborough Air Show as a static display. This marked the first time the supersonic jet was put on public display outside the U.S.

The Blackbird was an advanced, long-range, supersonic strategic reconnaissance aircraft that called Beale home from January 1966 to January 1990.

It was developed in secrecy by Lockheed's Skunk Works division in Palmdale, Calif. Aerospace engineer Clarence "Kelly" Johnson was responsible for many of the aircraft's innovative concepts.

(Information courtesy of Smithsonian Magazine)