File A121-R-61-7968SR-71AArticle 2019

61-7968

SR-71A · Article 2019
On displayRichmond, Virginia

Science Museum of Virginia
Richmond, Virginia, USA · 37.56, -77.47

SR-71A 61-7968 in flight above cloud, in a U.S. Air Force photograph.
SR-71A 61-7968 in flight above cloud, in a U.S. Air Force photograph.U.S. Air Force (National Museum of the U.S. Air Force) · USAF VIRIN 061122-F-1234P-051 · Public domain (US government work) · Source
SR-71A 61-7968 on display at the Virginia Aviation Museum, Richmond, on 8 December 2011, before its 2016 move to the Science Museum of Virginia.
SR-71A 61-7968 on display at the Virginia Aviation Museum, Richmond, on 8 December 2011, before its 2016 move to the Science Museum of Virginia.David Broad (Panoramio) · 2011-12-08 · CC BY 3.0 · Source

Record

61-7968
2019
SR-71A
2,279
10 October 1966
Preserved, on display
Science Museum of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia, USA

Career

  • 26 April 1971: Thomas B. Estes and Dewain C. Vick flew over 15,000 miles in 10 h 30 min
  • That flight won the 1971 Mackay Trophy and the 1972 Harmon Trophy
  • Only suspended (hanging) Blackbird display

Fate

Last flew 12 February 1990; stored at Edwards in hope of 1990s reactivation, then trucked to the Virginia Aviation Museum, Richmond (unveiled 30 October 1999). Moved in January 2016 to the Science Museum of Virginia, where it hangs indoors.

Where the record disagrees

Crew ranks for the 1971 flight differ (Majors per sr-71.org, Lt Cols per habu.org). The Virginia Aviation Museum closed in 2016. Coordinates are the museum site (Wikipedia infobox, cross-checked against OpenStreetMap).

Sources

  1. SR-71 Online (sr-71.org), via Internet Archive. SR-71A #61-7968 gallery page (archived copy). Open · In the register
  2. Habu.org. 61-7968 (Blackbird Photo Archive). Archived copy · In the register
  3. Habu.org. 61-7968 (Blackbird Photo Archive). Archived copy · In the register
  4. Science Museum of Virginia. Speed exhibition. Open · Archived · In the register
  5. Joe Baugher. 1961 USAF Serial Numbers (61-7950 to 61-7981). Open · Archived · In the register
  6. SR-71 Online (sr-71.org), via Internet Archive. SR-71 Locations (archived copy, lists serial / Lockheed article number and fate). Open · In the register