File A121-R-61-7955SR-71AArticle 2006

61-7955

SR-71A · Article 2006
On displayEdwards AFB, California

Air Force Flight Test Museum
Edwards AFB, California, USA · 34.91, -117.92

No photo on fileNo openly licensed photograph of this airframe is in the archive yet. If you took one or know of one, it can be added with your permission.

Record

61-7955
2006
SR-71A
1,993.7
17 August 1965
Preserved, on display
Air Force Flight Test Museum, Edwards AFB, California, USA

Career

  • Lockheed Palmdale test aircraft for most of its career (never flew operational missions)
  • First flown by Bill Weaver and (George) Andre
  • Flown to RAF Mildenhall in July 1983 to demonstrate the ASARS radar; reportedly wore 962's tail number while there

Fate

Retired after its last flight on 24 January 1985 when 61-7972 replaced it as the Palmdale test aircraft; now displayed at the Air Force Flight Test Museum on Edwards AFB (base access required).

Where the record disagrees

The 1983 disguise as 17962 is stated by habu.org but described by Joe Baugher as a long-running rumor; treat as unconfirmed. Baugher says the aircraft is on loan from the National Museum of the USAF.

Sources

  1. Flight Test Historical Foundation / Air Force Flight Test Museum. Lockheed SR-71A (S/N 61-7955). Open · In the register
  2. SR-71 Online (sr-71.org, read via Wayback Machine snapshot). SR-71A #61-7955 (17955). Archived copy · In the register
  3. 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
  4. Habu.org. Blackbird Photo Archive: 61-7955. Archived copy · In the register
  5. Joe Baugher. 1961 USAF Serial Numbers (61-7950 to 61-7981 entries). Open · Archived · In the register
  6. Roadrunners Internationale. Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird production list (article numbers). Open · Archived · In the register
  7. OpenStreetMap (Nominatim geocode). Map coordinates: Air Force Flight Test Center Museum. Open · In the register