Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird still holds crewed jet speed record set in 1976

The Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird was a long-range, high-altitude reconnaissance jet developed during the Cold War. It was designed to outrun threats rather than engage them directly.

Lockheed's Skunk Works developed the aircraft, which entered service in the 1960s. Its missions were strategic intelligence gathering over long distances, collecting imagery and electronic data at speeds and altitudes that made interception very difficult.

The Blackbird set a speed record in 1976. According to the source, no crewed jet has beaten that record since.