Compare vehicles
Two or three aircraft or launch vehicles side by side. Each kind is compared only with its own, since their published figures describe different things.
Spec sheet
- Published units
- As the sources give them, not converted. Feet and inches are written as decimal feet.
- No scoring
- No ranking and no winner.
- Gaps stay visible
- A missing value reads “Not published”, never zero.
- Scale lines need one unit
- Drawn only when every figure in the row shares a unit.
All to one scale. Outlines traced from U.S. government drawings, public domain. Every source is listed on the credits page.
If the sheet is wider than the screen, scroll it sideways; the characteristic column stays in view.
Heritage and programWho built the vehicle and when it first flew.
| Characteristic | SR-71 Blackbird | F-22 Raptor | B-2 Spirit |
|---|---|---|---|
ManufacturerManufacturer: what this measuresThe organization that designed and built the airframe. General aerospace background, not an ORBIX calculation. | Lockheed | Lockheed Martin and Boeing | Northrop Grumman |
First flightFirst flight: what this measuresMarks when the design first flew, which places the airframe in the development timeline of the type. General aerospace background, not an ORBIX calculation. | December 22, 1964 | September 7, 1997 | July 17, 1989 |
About these rows in Heritage and program
Who built the vehicle and when it first flew.
- Manufacturer
The organization that designed and built the airframe.
- First flight
Marks when the design first flew, which places the airframe in the development timeline of the type.
General aerospace background, not an ORBIX calculation.
GeometryOverall size: length and wingspan, or height.
| Characteristic | SR-71 Blackbird | F-22 Raptor | B-2 Spirit |
|---|---|---|---|
DimensionsDimensions: what this measuresWingspan and wing area set the aspect ratio, span squared divided by area. A higher aspect ratio lowers induced drag. Length is the size of the fuselage and does not enter the aspect ratio. General aerospace background, not an ORBIX calculation. | Length: 107.4 ft
Nominal values | Length: 62.1 ft
Nominal values | Length: 69 ft
Nominal values |
About these rows in Geometry
Overall size: length and wingspan, or height.
- Dimensions
Wingspan and wing area set the aspect ratio, span squared divided by area. A higher aspect ratio lowers induced drag. Length is the size of the fuselage and does not enter the aspect ratio.
General aerospace background, not an ORBIX calculation.
Mass and structuresEmpty and maximum takeoff weight, or mass at liftoff.
| Characteristic | SR-71 Blackbird | F-22 Raptor | B-2 Spirit |
|---|---|---|---|
WeightWeight: what this measuresThe difference between maximum takeoff weight and empty weight is roughly the fuel and payload the aircraft can carry. General aerospace background, not an ORBIX calculation. | Empty: 67,500 lbApproximate public value
| Empty: 43,340 lbApproximate public value
| Empty: 160,000 lbApproximate public value
|
About these rows in Mass and structures
Empty and maximum takeoff weight, or mass at liftoff.
- Weight
The difference between maximum takeoff weight and empty weight is roughly the fuel and payload the aircraft can carry.
General aerospace background, not an ORBIX calculation.
PropulsionEngines, thrust and stages.
| Characteristic | SR-71 Blackbird | F-22 Raptor | B-2 Spirit |
|---|---|---|---|
PropulsionPropulsion: what this measuresThe engines set the thrust available against drag and weight, and with it the speed, climb rate and range the aircraft can reach. General aerospace background, not an ORBIX calculation. | 2 × J58Turbojet Installed engine configuration | 2 × F119-PW-100Low-bypass turbofan Installed engine configuration | 4 × F118-GE-100Low-bypass turbofan Installed engine configuration |
About these rows in Propulsion
Engines, thrust and stages.
- Propulsion
The engines set the thrust available against drag and weight, and with it the speed, climb rate and range the aircraft can reach.
General aerospace background, not an ORBIX calculation.
PerformanceSpeed, range and ceiling.
| Characteristic | SR-71 Blackbird | F-22 Raptor | B-2 Spirit |
|---|---|---|---|
SpeedSpeed: what this measuresIn the simplest model, maximum speed is where the engines' thrust just balances drag at a given altitude. A structural, heating or engine temperature limit can cap it first. General aerospace background, not an ORBIX calculation. | Mach 3+ Published minimum | Mach 2 Approximate public value | Mach 0.95 Published maximum |
RangeRange: what this measuresRange follows from usable fuel, engine efficiency and lift-to-drag ratio over the mission. The published figures use different bases: the F-15 and F-22 figures are ferry ranges with external fuel tanks, the F-35 figure is on internal fuel, the B-2 figure is unrefueled, and the SR-71 source gives no basis. Each cell names the basis its source gives. Read them as different measures, not one scale. General aerospace background, not an ORBIX calculation. | 2,900+ mi Published minimum | 1,850+ mi Published minimum, ferry range with two external wing fuel tanks | 6,000 nmi Approximate public value, unrefueled range |
CeilingCeiling: what this measuresService ceiling is the altitude where the best climb rate drops to 100 feet per minute. Thinner air cuts both lift and engine thrust as altitude rises, until the aircraft has almost no excess power left to climb. General aerospace background, not an ORBIX calculation. | 85,000+ ft Published minimum | 50,000+ ft Published minimum | 50,000 ft Nominal value |
About these rows in Performance
Speed, range and ceiling.
- Speed
Published maximum speed; source units are preserved.
In the simplest model, maximum speed is where the engines' thrust just balances drag at a given altitude. A structural, heating or engine temperature limit can cap it first.
- Range
Range follows from usable fuel, engine efficiency and lift-to-drag ratio over the mission. The published figures use different bases: the F-15 and F-22 figures are ferry ranges with external fuel tanks, the F-35 figure is on internal fuel, the B-2 figure is unrefueled, and the SR-71 source gives no basis. Each cell names the basis its source gives. Read them as different measures, not one scale.
- Ceiling
Service ceiling is the altitude where the best climb rate drops to 100 feet per minute. Thinner air cuts both lift and engine thrust as altitude rises, until the aircraft has almost no excess power left to climb.
General aerospace background, not an ORBIX calculation.
CapabilityThe job the vehicle was built for, and what it can carry where.
| Characteristic | SR-71 Blackbird | F-22 Raptor | B-2 Spirit |
|---|---|---|---|
RoleRole: what this measuresThe primary operational role shapes airframe design trade-offs: a role built around maneuverability favors low wing loading and high thrust-to-weight, while a role built around range or payload favors internal volume and fuel fraction. General aerospace background, not an ORBIX calculation. | Reconnaissance | Air superiority, multirole | Bomber, multirole |
About these rows in Capability
The job the vehicle was built for, and what it can carry where.
- Role
The primary operational role shapes airframe design trade-offs: a role built around maneuverability favors low wing loading and high thrust-to-weight, while a role built around range or payload favors internal volume and fuel fraction.
General aerospace background, not an ORBIX calculation.
- Published units
- As the sources give them, not converted. Feet and inches are written as decimal feet.
- No scoring
- No ranking and no winner.
- Gaps stay visible
- A missing value reads “Not published”, never zero.
- Scale lines need one unit
- Drawn only when every figure in the row shares a unit.