No other aircraft has approached the spectacular performance of the Blackbird. It flew at over three and a half times the speed of sound at 88,000 feet, an altitude that was at the very edge of space. It had an unrefuelled range of 3,500 miles and its two Pratt and Whitney J58 bypass turbojets generated 60,000 pounds of thrust and guzzled 8,000 gallons of fuel per hour. It was an awesome airplane in every respect. In 1964 Americas President Johnson announced that Lockheed had developed an aircraft dedicated to strategic reconnaissance and so fast that no other aircraft could catch it. It took the world by storm. It was developed by the renowned Lockheed Skunk Works and employed many forms of new technology made necessary by the excesses of speed, altitude and temperature to which the aircraft was subjected. It served for many years during the Cold War until superseded by satellite technology. This is the perfect introductory book for the general reader, enthusiast and modeler alike wishing to find a succinct yet detailed introduction to the design and history of the Blackbird. Why was the aircraft conceived? What was it like to fly in combat? Who were the people who designed it and became famous for flying it? What were its virtues and vices? These and many more questions are answered here, plus a host of illustrations that show variations of color schemes used in different operational theatres of combat and rare photographs taken when the heat was on.