'I was one of 85 pilots who flew a US spy plane'

The SR-71 Blackbird still holds its 1976 world speed (about 2,193 mph) and altitude (85,069 ft) records — records that remain unbroken.
Only 32 were built and roughly 85 pilots ever flew it operationally, so flying one became a rare, career-defining badge.
The Imperial War Museum Duxford houses the only example outside the US — the plane’s futuristic look, Mach‑3 speeds and space‑style pressure suits make it an instant conversation starter.