Changes: SR-71 Blackbird

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The SR-71 Blackbird is a famed long-range reconnaissance aircraft designed by Lockheed Corporation. It was designed in 1964 as the successor of the U-2 Dragon Lady, whose low flight speed led to a particularly infamous combat loss in 1960 during a recon mission in the Soviet Union.

In the Ace Combat series, the SR-71 first appeared during Ace Combat 2. It has appeared at least once in most of the Ace Combat games at some point. They generally fly fast and high by the standards of the game, making them difficult to intercept. However, engaging SR-71s in the game is much easier than it would be if they flew at typical real-life speed and altitude, since the in-game "ceiling" is several kilometers below their normal operating altitude, and that in-game fighters are generally limited to speeds of roughly Mach 2 even at full afterburner.

Ace Combat 2

Ace Combat 2 marks the first appearance of the Blackbird in the series. Two Blackbirds are featured as the centerpoint of the mission "Rising High", alongside a pair of XB-70 Valkyries.

Ace Combat 3: Electrosphere

The Blackbird does not make an actual appearance, but a modified version known as the RF-12A2 Blackbird II is used by the player. This version is optimized for use in battle.

Ace Combat 04: Shattered Skies

In Ace Combat 04: Shattered Skies, the SR-71 returns, this time as a "bonus" aircraft. Two Blackbirds are present in the game.

The first Blackbird appears in Mission #08, Shattered Skies. It is the first target the player locks into upon beginning the mission. The Blackbird flies at 30,000 ft. elevation, around the Riass Space Center's proximity. It can be easily tracked in the radar as it is a very fast orange arrow. If not intercepted in time, the aircraft will accelerate and escape the battle zone. The second Blackbird is present in Mission #16, Whiskey Corridor. It is found in the south-western corner of the map at about 15,000 ft., just north of the Return Line.

Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War

The SR-71 Blackbird makes a single appearance in Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War. It is the Yuktobanian Air Force spy aircraft that the Wardog Squadron need to pursues in Mission #01, Shorebirds. Because the Wardog are cannot allow to open fire, it can only be shot down using the gun. Doing so, however, will result in a mission failure.

However, once given permission to engage it is possible to shoot the SR-71 down with the machine gun. This can be tricky as no targeting assistance is given, and the plane has a habit of rapidly decelerating and causing you to crash if you're too close behind.

Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War

In Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War, when the Galm and Crow Squadrons arrive to Tauberg Plateau in mission 09 ("Sword of Annihilation/Operation Judgement"), the Belkan Ace Jens "Rabe" Thon (Assault Record 067) takes off from Excalibur on an SR-71 Blackbird and attempts to escape south at high altitude. Due to Rabe's speed, it is recommended to use a fast aircraft (e.i. Mirage 2000D or MiG-31 Foxhound) to intercept the Blackbird. Anyway, an attacker like the A-10A can intercept the Blackbird, just accelerate and check map to confirm its position, at an altitude by 18,000 ft. As well, normal planes can use long-range weaponry (i.e. SAAMs) to attack the SR-71 at mid-range. The latter however, is not recommended due to danger of being caught in Excalibur's laser when trying to keep the player's aim on the enemy

Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation

Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation features a SR-71 Blackbird in mission 05 ("Anea Landing"). It is located at about 20,000 ft over Ortara Airport. It appears when you have to protect your landing forces.

Ace Combat: Joint Assault

Ace Combat X2: Joint Assault features a SR-71 ace named Buzzword. This is the second Blackbird to be featured as an ace aircraft in the AC series (after ACZ).

Ace Combat Infinity

The SR-71 has a chance to appear after emergency mission update in Pipeline Destruction. It flies from south to north, and is worth 6000 points.

Gallery

URF SR-71
A Yuke SR-71 Blackbird.
Top view on Yuktobanian SR-71

Sources

The Ace Combat series
Wikipedia

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{Cleanup}}
+{{WPIcon|Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird}}
 {{Aircraft
 |bgcolor = #C0C0C0
@@ Line 4: / Line 6: @@
 |image = [[File:YAF SR-71.JPG|300px]]
 |role = Supersonic reconnaissance aircraft
-|manufacturer = [[Lockheed Martin]]
+|manufacturer = {{Wp|Lockheed Corporation}}
 |origin_real = United States
-|games = ''[[Ace Combat 2]]''<br/>''[[Ace Combat 04: Shattered Skies]]''<br/>''[[Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War]]''<br/>''[[Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War]]''<br/>''[[Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation]]''<br/>''[[Ace Combat X2: Joint Assault]]<br/>''[[Ace Combat 3: Electrosphere]] (As a fictional variant.)
+|appearances = ''[[Ace Combat 2]]''<br/>''[[Ace Combat 04: Shattered Skies]]''<br/>''[[Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War]]''<br/>''[[Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War]]''<br/>''[[Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation]]''<br/>''[[Ace Combat X2: Joint Assault]]''<br/>''[[Ace Combat Infinity]]''
-|primary_op = [[Usean Rebel Force]]<br/>[[Federal Erusean Air Force]]<br/>[[Osean Air Defense Force]]
+|operators = [[Usean Rebel Force]]<br/>[[Federal Erusean Air Force]]<br/>[[Osean Air Defense Force]]<br/>[[Yuktobanian Air Force]]<br/>[[Belkan Air Force]]<br/>[[Estovakian Air Force]]<br/>[[Valahia]]}}
-|secondary_op = [[Yuktobanian Air Force]]<br/>[[Belkan Air Force]]<br/>[[Estovakian Air Force]]<br/>[[Valahia]]
-|operator_map = [[File:SR-71 Operators.png|300px]]}}
-The '''SR-71''' '''Blackbird '''is a famed long-range reconnaissance aircraft designed by [[Lockheed Martin|Lockheed Corporation]]. It was designed in 1964 as the successor of the [[U-2 Dragon Lady]], whose low flight speed led to a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1960_U-2_incident particularly infamous combat loss in 1960] during a recon mission in the Soviet Union.
+The '''SR-71 Blackbird''' is a famed long-range reconnaissance aircraft designed by {{Wp|Lockheed Corporation}}. It was designed in 1964 as the successor of the [[U-2 Dragon Lady]], whose low flight speed led to a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1960_U-2_incident particularly infamous combat loss in 1960] during a recon mission in the Soviet Union.
 In the Ace Combat series, the SR-71 first appeared during ''[[Ace Combat 2]]''. It has appeared at least once in most of the ''Ace Combat ''games at some point. They generally fly fast and high by the standards of the game, making them difficult to intercept. However, engaging SR-71s in the game is much easier than it would be if they flew at typical real-life speed and altitude, since the in-game "ceiling" is several kilometers below their normal operating altitude, and that in-game fighters are generally limited to speeds of roughly Mach 2 even at full afterburner.
@@ Line 40: / Line 40: @@
 ==[[Ace Combat: Joint Assault]]==
 * ''[[Ace Combat X2: Joint Assault]]'' features a SR-71 ace named ''Buzzword''. This is the second Blackbird to be featured as an ace aircraft in the ''AC'' series (after ''[[ACZ]]'').
+==[[Ace Combat Infinity]]==
+The SR-71 has a chance to appear after [[Mission Update#Ace Combat Infinity|emergency mission update]] in [[Pipeline Destruction]]. It flies from south to north, and is worth 6000 points.
 == Gallery==
 <gallery>