This Blackbird delivered in April 13, 1967, last flight after 2.854 flight hours February 28, 1990 from Beale AFB to March and preserved in March Museum
Last Blackbird Take-off in Mildenhall. Last Atlantic crossing,the purpose of flight was to return the airplane to Beale AFB as part of SR-71 program close-down. Max speed mach 3+, max altitude 80000 ft, total flight time 5 hours/23min.
The base museum Blackbird temporarily displayed on active ramp has a new hard wearing gloss paint finish. Although some purists may not like this I think it looks stunning and should save the curator repainting her every two years!
Pardon the quality - scan of an old slide, posted to share & preserve some history. SR-71 at Abbotsford Airshow - Expo 1986. I believe it is tail number 975 - but not 100% certain.
National Air and Space Museum, Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center. The business end of this amazingly preserved Blackbird. Canon EOS 40D, EF 24-105mm f/4.0 L IS USM lens, Speedlite 580EX II flash.
National Air and Space Museum, Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center. The unmistakable head-on view of the Blackbird. Definitely one of the highlights of the collection. Canon EOS 40D, EF 24-105mm f/4.0 L IS USM lens.