File A121-R-61-7952SR-71AArticle 2003

61-7952

SR-71A · Article 2003
Lost25 Jan 1966

No display location
Dots mark every surviving airframe

SR-71A 61-7952 refuelling from KC-135 58-0094, in a U.S. Air Force photograph.
SR-71A 61-7952 refuelling from KC-135 58-0094, in a U.S. Air Force photograph.U.S. Air Force (National Museum of the U.S. Air Force) · USAF VIRIN 061122-F-1234P-053 · Public domain (US government work) · Source

Record

61-7952
2003
SR-71A
79.47
24 March 1965
Lost
Destroyed

Career

  • Systems and sensors test aircraft for the SR-71/F-12 Test Force at Edwards
  • First SR-71 used for inflight refueling tests, from 29 Apr 1965
  • Weaver's ejection seat never left the aircraft: he was ripped from the cockpit as the airframe broke apart
  • Zwayer was the only aircrew fatality in an SR-71
  • Debris field about 15 by 10 miles; 41 flights in total

How it was lost

Disintegrated on 25 January 1966 near Albert and Bueyeros, New Mexico (northeast of Tucumcari) after a right-engine inlet unstart in a 35-degree bank at about Mach 3.17 and 78,000 ft during a Lockheed test flight from Edwards (callsign DUTCH 54). Lockheed test pilot Bill Weaver was thrown clear and survived; flight test reconnaissance and navigation systems specialist Jim Zwayer was killed.

In the chronology

25 Jan 1966SR-71 61-7952 breaks up at Mach 3; Jim Zwayer killed SENIOR CROWN
On a Lockheed test flight from Edwards AFB, an inlet unstart during a turn at about Mach 3.17 and roughly 78,000 ft caused 61-7952 to disintegrate over northeastern New Mexico. Pilot Bill Weaver was torn from the aircraft and survived; Lockheed reconnaissance and navigation specialist Jim Zwayer was killed.

Where the record disagrees

Speed at the unstart: Mach 3.17 per The X-Hunters (Merlin); Mach 3.18 in Weaver's own account as quoted by The Aviationist (from Graham's SR-71 book); habu.org says "above Mach 3.2". Location is variously given as near Tucumcari (where Weaver was taken to hospital) or near Albert/Bueyeros, NM. habu.org identifies the first-refueling tanker as KC-135Q 58-0054; X-Hunters says KC-135A 58-0064.

Sources

  1. The X-Hunters (Peter Merlin, Tony Moore). Lockheed SR-71A (61-7952): Blackbird Test. Open · In the register
  2. The X-Hunters (Peter Merlin, Tony Moore). Lockheed SR-71A (61-7952): At 78,000 feet without an Airplane. Open · In the register
  3. SR-71 Online (sr-71.org, read via Wayback Machine snapshot). Blackbird Losses (data courtesy of Peter Merlin). Archived copy · In the register
  4. SR-71 Online (sr-71.org, read via Wayback Machine snapshot). Blackbird Flight Hours (data from Peter Merlin, NASA Dryden, as of 21 May 2006). Archived copy · In the register
  5. Habu.org. Blackbird Photo Archive: 61-7952. Archived copy · In the register
  6. The Aviationist. The amazing story of Bill Weaver: the Blackbird pilot who survived his SR-71 disintegration. Open · Archived · In the register
  7. Joe Baugher. 1961 USAF Serial Numbers (61-7950 to 61-7981 entries). Open · Archived · In the register