One of the major features of the Xavier Institute for Higher Learning (X-Mansion) and its sub-levels is the housing area of the X-Men's Blackbird aircraft. A high speed monorail runs from the mansion to the hanger and the Blackbird exits the area from the far side of the Mansion's grounds. The aircraft's stealth ability cut takeoff and touch-down noise to a minimum. Though a runway exists for the Blackbird, it has the ability for Vertical Take-Off and Landing (V.T.O.L). The Hangar facilities themselves are capable of repairing anything that flies, using a combination of advance human and Shi'ar technologies. In addition to hovercraft, private propeller and jet-plane, the hangar was the base of the Lockheed "Blackbird".

The X-Men's primary aircraft, known as the Blackbird, is a projected design by Carence "Kelly" Johnson, former head of the Lockheed Aircraft Corporation Projects Group (the "Skunk Works") prior to his retirement. The Skunk Works were responsible for the design and fabrication of the still- unequaled 1960's and 70's record-holding high performance strategic/reconnaissance craft the SR-71 , and its offensive version, the YF-12A. These craft are two seater's and the X-Men Blackbird (projected designation: RS-150) accommodates a flight crew of 3 and 4 passengers (that is: protected by escape gear; more loose passengers are possible). The RS-150 was never realized as part of the United States reconnaissance program, but in the early 70s SHIELD (Strategic Hazard Intervention, Espionage and Logistics Directorate) acquired the design and exotic tooling experience of this craft from Lockheed and produced an unspecified number of these highly classified aircraft. Only one survives today, the X-Men Blackbird. The rest apparently have been destroyed under unknown circumstances.

For many years, this was the X-Men's main mode of travel throughout the world. The Blackbird has always possessed Mach capability as well as Stealth ability and Vertical Thrusters. Needless to say, the have gone through many of these jets with time, and the newer ones have been created and modified by Forge to have even greater capability. The craft is intended to be a transonic transportation device that can carry all current members of the X-Men plus several passengers. The Blackbird is equipped to fly long-duration, high-altitude reconnaissance missions and shorter trips, as well as to any climate. A mission specific add-on pod can be equipped for several pre-planned or exotic mission scenarios. It is also outfitted for battle with several offensive systems stations which control the built-in laser guns. The current Blackbird had been completely re-built using ultra-advanced Shi'Ar technology. Problems encountered at Mach 4 plus flight speeds, such as high temperatures, mechanical operations and stability, and routine equipment functioning have now been eliminated.

Technical Info

Wing Span: 62 feet 6 inches

Length: overall, incl. nose probe: 88 Feet 4 inches

Height: 19 feet 2 inches

Cabin: Max. width 9 feet 5 inches, Max. height 7 feet 1 inch

Normal take-off weight: 145,000 lbs.

Max. Level speed at Sea Level: Mach 2.3 (1,770 mph)

Max. Level speed at 120,000 Feet: Mach 4.2 (3,234 mph)

Max. rate of climb at SL to 80,000 feet: 29.5 MPS

Service ceiling: 230,000 feet

Range with max. fuel, 5% fuel reserve, 5,500 lbs payload: 8,200 miles

Range with max fuel, 5% fuel reserve: 12,600 miles

Accommodation

Flight crew of 3, 4 passenger, negative direction, high velocity escape capsule, sleeps 4

Capable of vertical take-off and landing from fixed engines

Equipped with a full 3 month of survival gear

Operational equipment

Shi'ar cloaking device

All-band communications

Deep-space ready cabin

Blackbird Power Plant: 2 Shi'ar vari-function hot-inlet compressor fuel are combustion engines(ram jets), uses fuel trim tanks for stability

Intelligence gathering equipment of Shi'ar and human design