Aircraft comparison
Concorde vs SR-71 Blackbird
The supersonic airliner against the fastest operational aircraft of its era. Compared on speed, altitude, range and service, from British Airways and US Air Force museum figures.
Updated October 2026 · 2 minute read
Is Concorde faster than the SR-71?
No. The SR-71 Blackbird was faster and flew higher. Its maximum speed was Mach 3+, and in 1976 one set an absolute speed record of 3,530 km/h (2,193.167 mph). Concorde cruised at 2,160 km/h (1,350 mph), about Mach 2, at up to 18,288 m (60,000 ft). Concorde’s achievement was a different one: British Airways flew 100 passengers at that speed on commercial flights from 1976 to 2003.
Concorde
Passengers carried · Published range · Scheduled service
SR-71 Blackbird
Top speed · Altitude
Concorde vs SR-71 specifications
Concorde figures are British Airways’ for its own fleet. SR-71 figures are from the National Museum of the US Air Force. Concorde’s speed is a cruising speed; the SR-71’s is a maximum.
Concorde
SR-71 Blackbird
Advantage
Role
Concorde
Supersonic airliner
SR-71 Blackbird
Strategic reconnaissance
Advantage
Different by design
First flight
Concorde
1969
SR-71 Blackbird
1964
Advantage
—
In service
Concorde
1976
SR-71 Blackbird
1966
Advantage
—
Top speed
Concorde
2,160 km/h cruise (Mach 2)
SR-71 Blackbird
Mach 3+ (record 3,530 km/h)
Advantage
SR-71
Supercruise
Concorde
Yes, Mach 2 cruise without reheat
SR-71 Blackbird
No, but cruises at Mach 3.2
Advantage
Concorde
Service ceiling
Concorde
18,288 m
SR-71 Blackbird
25,929 m (record)
Advantage
SR-71
Combat radius
Concorde
6,667 km (range)
SR-71 Blackbird
4,667 km+ (range)
Advantage
Concorde
Engines
Concorde
4 × Rolls-Royce/SNECMA Olympus 593
SR-71 Blackbird
2 × Pratt & Whitney J58
Advantage
—
Thrust vectoring
Concorde
No
SR-71 Blackbird
No
Advantage
—
Radar cross-section
Concorde
Conventional
SR-71 Blackbird
Reduced (early shaping)
Advantage
SR-71
Sensor fusion
Concorde
Civil avionics
SR-71 Blackbird
Analogue, reconnaissance sensors
Advantage
—
Air-to-ground
Concorde
None
SR-71 Blackbird
None
Advantage
—
Carrier capable
Concorde
No
SR-71 Blackbird
No
Advantage
—
Short take-off
Concorde
No
SR-71 Blackbird
No
Advantage
—
Cost per unit
Concorde
£23 million (1977)
SR-71 Blackbird
$33 million
Advantage
—
Number built
Concorde
20
SR-71 Blackbird
32
Advantage
—
Exportable
Concorde
UK and France only
SR-71 Blackbird
No
Advantage
Concorde
Combat record
Concorde
None
SR-71 Blackbird
Never lost to enemy action
Advantage
—
Speed
Concorde cruised at 2,160 km/h (1,350 mph), more than twice the speed of sound. It had four Rolls-Royce/SNECMA Olympus 593 engines, each producing 38,000 lbs of thrust with reheat.
The SR-71's maximum speed is listed as Mach 3+, or over 2,000 mph. On 28 July 1976 an SR-71 set an absolute speed record of 3,530 km/h (2,193.167 mph). It had two Pratt & Whitney J58 engines of 32,500 lbs thrust each with afterburner.
Winner
Altitude
Concorde cruised at up to 18,288 m (60,000 ft).
The SR-71 went far higher. Its 1976 altitude record was 25,929 m (85,068.997 feet), and from 24,384 m (80,000 feet) it could survey 100,000 square miles of the Earth's surface per hour.
Winner
Range and the Atlantic
British Airways gives Concorde a range of 6,667 km (4,143 miles). A typical London to New York crossing took a little less than three and a half hours, against about eight hours for a subsonic flight. The fastest was on 7 February 1996: New York to London in 2 hours 52 minutes and 59 seconds.
The SR-71's range is given as more than 4,667 km (2,900 statute miles).
Winner
Service and retirement
Concorde's first commercial flight was on 21 January 1976, from London Heathrow to Bahrain. British Airways withdrew the aircraft on 24 October 2003, after just under 50,000 flights and more than 2.5 million passengers.
The SR-71 first flew on 22 December 1964 and entered service in January 1966. The US Air Force retired its fleet on 26 January 1990, citing a decreasing defence budget and high operating costs.
Winner
Two kinds of speed
Concorde was a passenger service
British Airways’ Concordes carried 100 passengers, with a flight crew of two pilots and a flight engineer.
The SR-71 was a reconnaissance aircraft
The SR-71 was a long-range strategic reconnaissance aircraft, developed from the Lockheed A-12 and YF-12A.
Speed made heat
Concorde’s airframe was nearly 204 ft long and stretched between 6 and 10 inches in flight because of heating.
Can a civilian fly either aircraft?
No. British Airways withdrew Concorde in 2003 and the US Air Force retired its SR-71s in 1990. BA's seven Concordes were dispersed for preservation.
Jetify's flights use ex-military jets instead. See the fighter jet flights page for the aircraft and locations currently listed.
Concorde vs SR-71 questions
Was Concorde faster than the SR-71 Blackbird?
No, Concorde was not faster than the SR-71 Blackbird. The SR-71’s maximum speed was Mach 3+, and in 1976 it set a speed record of 3,530 km/h (2,193.167 mph). Concorde cruised at 2,160 km/h (1,350 mph), which was still more than twice the speed of sound.
Which flew higher, Concorde or the SR-71 Blackbird?
The SR-71 Blackbird flew higher than Concorde. The SR-71’s 1976 altitude record was 25,929 m (85,068.997 feet), while Concorde cruised at altitudes of up to 18,288 m (60,000 ft).
How long did Concorde take to fly from London to New York?
Concorde took a little under three and a half hours on a typical London to New York crossing, against about eight hours for a subsonic flight. Its fastest crossing, on 7 February 1996, was New York to London in 2 hours 52 minutes and 59 seconds.
How many passengers did Concorde carry?
Each British Airways Concorde carried 100 passengers. The flight deck crew was made up of two pilots and a flight engineer.
When were Concorde and the SR-71 Blackbird retired?
Concorde was retired by British Airways on 24 October 2003, after just under 50,000 flights and more than 2.5 million passengers. The SR-71 Blackbird was retired earlier, when the US Air Force withdrew it on 26 January 1990.
Which had the longer range, Concorde or the SR-71 Blackbird?
Concorde had the longer published range of the two. British Airways gives Concorde a range of 6,667 km (4,143 miles), while the SR-71 Blackbird’s range is given as more than 4,667 km (2,900 statute miles).
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