It still holds the world record for the fastest flight from New York to London (1 hour and 54 minutes). 3. The Common Blackbird (Nature)
Written by Paul McCartney for the 1968 White Album , this acoustic classic is one of the most covered songs in history.
It could fly at over Mach 3 (2,200+ mph), allowing it to literally outrun surface-to-air missiles. Blackbird
McCartney wrote it as a metaphor for the U.S. Civil Rights Movement . In British slang, "bird" means girl, and the lyrics were meant to encourage Black women struggling for equality during that era.
The SR-71 Blackbird remains the fastest and highest-flying manned aircraft ever built. It still holds the world record for the
Since "Blackbird" refers to several famous icons,
Beyoncé recently recontextualized the song on her album Cowboy Carter , featuring four Black female country artists to highlight their contributions to American music. 2. Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird (Aircraft) It could fly at over Mach 3 (2,200+
Developed by Lockheed's "Skunk Works" during the Cold War, it provided critical reconnaissance for over 20 years before being retired in the 1990s.