SR-71 Blackbird vs Concorde
Top speed, range, size and history side by side. Each was built for its own job, so this shows how they differ, not which is better.
The SR-71 Blackbird is faster: 3,540 km/h against 2,179 km/h for the Concorde. The Concorde flies further: 7,222 km against 5,400 km for the SR-71 Blackbird. The Concorde has the wider wingspan: 25.6 m against 16.9 m for the SR-71 Blackbird. The Concorde is heavier at takeoff: 185 tonnes against 78 tonnes for the SR-71 Blackbird. The SR-71 Blackbird first flew in 1964, 5 years before the Concorde (1969).
| SR-71 Blackbird | Concorde |
|---|
| Top speed | 3,540 km/h (2,200 mph) | 2,179 km/h (1,354 mph) |
|---|
| Range | 5,400 km (3,355 miles) | 7,222 km (4,488 miles) |
|---|
| Length | 32.7 m (107 ft) | 61.7 m (202 ft) |
|---|
| Wingspan | 16.9 m (56 ft) | 25.6 m (84 ft) |
|---|
| Max takeoff weight | 78 t (171,959 lb) | 185 t (407,851 lb) |
|---|
| First flight | 1964 | 1969 |
|---|
| Crew and capacity | 2 crew | 100 passengers |
|---|
| Engines | 2 × J58 turbo-ramjet | 4 × Olympus 593 afterburning turbojet |
|---|
| Built by | Lockheed | Aérospatiale / BAC |
|---|
| Country | USA | UK / France |
|---|
More about each
Other comparisons
