SR-71 faster than missiles?

Question

Is it true that in the days of the cold war, the SR-71 was so fast that it could outrace missiles?

Answer 1

It could out fly missiles. It had a much higher operational ceiling and could fly higher than most surface to air and some are to air missiles.

I'm not sure on the speed. At lower altitudes the aircraft operated like a pig.

{edit} To Justin below... The stealth bomber has never been shot down. A stealth fighter has, however it is a subsonic aircraft and has very little defense against a well placed missile shot at low altitude.

Answer 2

The SR-71 Blackbird was built as a reconasense plane to fly over the Soviet Union, during the cold war. It's speeds were unusally fast, well at the time they were. The SR-71 is no longer in active use. To my knowledge it could move fast enough before being shot down depending on the enemies missile technology. If it was a country with much money to spend on military advances then I'd say no, but if not the plane would be able to fly over a country in short amount of time with out being brought down. There was once a Stealth Bomber shot down over the Middle East, so you just never can tell.

Answer 3

that is a proven fact we drove them batty over that bird

Answer 4

yes it is true my dad use to fly one