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Gamelab: SR-71 II

Originally published 2026-09-30 on Advisory Hour.

Originally published as an Advisory Hour Substack post on 2026-09-30. This first-party site copy preserves the text, localizes public supporting media, and connects the record to its project trail.

Original post

Gamelab: SR-71 II image from the original Advisory Hour post.
Gamelab: SR-71 II image from the original Advisory Hour post.

As new AI comes online it’s a good time to go back and revisit old projects and see how much further we can go in so few the cycles. In today’s version of exactly that kind of project is a sequel to black budget bird: SR-71 II.

Gamelab: SR-71 II image from the original Advisory Hour post.
Gamelab: SR-71 II image from the original Advisory Hour post.

I’m pretty sure the AI accidentally build an entire world in order to create the terrain required to fly the SR-71. The planet is massive.

Gamelab: SR-71 II image from the original Advisory Hour post.
Gamelab: SR-71 II image from the original Advisory Hour post.

There are many quality of life improvements in SR-71 II. Amongst them is an improved cockpit. Still far from perfect, and yet still light years ahead of where the original game was at.

Gamelab: SR-71 II image from the original Advisory Hour post.
Gamelab: SR-71 II image from the original Advisory Hour post.

Did I mention how vast the terrain is? In all seriousness, look at the terrain engine code for this title.

Gamelab: SR-71 II image from the original Advisory Hour post.
Gamelab: SR-71 II image from the original Advisory Hour post.

The base game involving stealth and spy action remains in-place. Only the graphics are updated in a pretty big way.

Gamelab: SR-71 II image from the original Advisory Hour post.
Gamelab: SR-71 II image from the original Advisory Hour post.
Gamelab: SR-71 II image from the original Advisory Hour post.
Gamelab: SR-71 II image from the original Advisory Hour post.
Gamelab: SR-71 II image from the original Advisory Hour post.
Gamelab: SR-71 II image from the original Advisory Hour post.

Many smaller details are packed in this update. For example, the canopy starts open up until the mission begins and then closes.

Gamelab: SR-71 II image from the original Advisory Hour post.
Gamelab: SR-71 II image from the original Advisory Hour post.

I had too much fun with this one, too.

Gamelab: SR-71 II image from the original Advisory Hour post.
Gamelab: SR-71 II image from the original Advisory Hour post.

One of my favorite little details is the heat exhaust off the engine. In the image below you can see the exhaust warping the image behind. What an incredible effect!

Gamelab: SR-71 II image from the original Advisory Hour post.
Gamelab: SR-71 II image from the original Advisory Hour post.

Have I mentioned how big the terrain engine is?

Gamelab: SR-71 II image from the original Advisory Hour post.
Gamelab: SR-71 II image from the original Advisory Hour post.

At this point I should call this game SR-71 screencapture creator. So many cool shots.

Gamelab: SR-71 II image from the original Advisory Hour post.
Gamelab: SR-71 II image from the original Advisory Hour post.

There’s also a sun.

Gamelab: SR-71 II image from the original Advisory Hour post.
Gamelab: SR-71 II image from the original Advisory Hour post.

Also, the horizon is curved. This suggests to me that there’s an entire planet to fly. Hmm. Perhaps the flybrain needs put to work?

Gamelab: SR-71 II image from the original Advisory Hour post.
Gamelab: SR-71 II image from the original Advisory Hour post.

And one last photo. Stunning.

Gamelab: SR-71 II image from the original Advisory Hour post.
Gamelab: SR-71 II image from the original Advisory Hour post.

Fly the plane: Black Budget Bird — Blackbird Recon II

Read more: Black Budget Bird: Blackbird Recon II | GameLab

Gamelab: SR-71 II image from the original Advisory Hour post.
Gamelab: SR-71 II image from the original Advisory Hour post.
Gamelab: SR-71 II image from the original Advisory Hour post.
Gamelab: SR-71 II image from the original Advisory Hour post.

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