Never before have three military jets from the same manufacturer extended the boundaries of technology like this dynamic trilogy. Truly pioneering aircraft, their operational deployment has had a profound impact on world events spanning more than four decades. This book explains the circumstances surrounding their design and production and how Skunkworks designers and test pilots overcame challenges in their development. In addition to an authoritative text and brief bios of key personalities, a unique collection of meticulously chosen and previously unpublished photographs help map out the roles these aircraft have played in an ever-changing world, from the downing of Francis Gary Powers in the Soviet Union to the U2's part in the Cuban missile crisis; from the SR-71's operations in Vietnam and Libya to its task monitoring the collapse of the Warsaw Pact; from the F-117's stunning success in Operation Desert Storm to its day-and-night bombing of the Balkans in 1999.