SR-71A Blackbird, U. S. Air Force (61-7980), National Aeronautic and Space Administration (844), Armstrong Research Flight Center, Edwards, California
The SR-71 Blackbird served NASA as a high-speed, high altitude research aircraft capable of attaining altitudes above 85,000 feet with a cruising speed up to Mach 3.32 (2,193 mph). To enable it to withstand high temperatures generated by aerodynamic heating the airplane was built primarily from titanium alloys, with special composite materials on the edges of the wings, the fuselage, and the other areas to reduce radar cross-section.
Built in 1967, this airplane was the final Blackbird built and the last to fly. Air Force crews flew it on operational reconnaissance missions over Southeast Asia and the Middle East.
After being transferred to NASA in 1990, it carried scientific experiments in support of spacecraft and aircraft development, astronomy, environmental monitoring, and sonic boom research. By its final flight, on October 9, 1999, the aircraft had completed 734 flights- 678 for the Air Force and 56 in NASA research missions- and accumulated 2,353.6 flight hours.
(Text from a sign at the site)
SR-71A Blackbird, U. S. Air Force (61-7980), National Aeronautic and Space Administration (844), Armstrong Research Flight Center, Edwards, California
The SR-71 Blackbird served NASA as a high-speed, high altitude research aircraft capable of attaining altitudes above 85,000 feet with a cruising speed up to Mach 3.32 (2,193 mph). To enable it to withstand high temperatures generated by aerodynamic heating the airplane was built primarily from titanium alloys, with special composite materials on the edges of the wings, the fuselage, and the other areas to reduce radar cross-section.
Built in 1967, this airplane was the final Blackbird built and the last to fly. Air Force crews flew it on operational reconnaissance missions over Southeast Asia and the Middle East.
After being transferred to NASA in 1990, it carried scientific experiments in support of spacecraft and aircraft development, astronomy, environmental monitoring, and sonic boom research. By its final flight, on October 9, 1999, the aircraft had completed 734 flights- 678 for the Air Force and 56 in NASA research missions- and accumulated 2,353.6 flight hours.
(Text from a sign at the site)