High-Flying SR-71 Meant High Prices The “SR” stands for Strategic Reconnaissance and that was the main mission. It was a record-setter in speed - flying MACH 3.2, and in altitude - hitting a ...

With a top speed of Mach 3, a service ceiling of 85,000 feet, and an 11,820-foot-per-minute rate of climb, the SR-71 could fly so fast, and so high, that the supersonic jet was capable of simply ...