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    This page documents a history of a specific aircraft. The details provided vary from aircraft to aircraft and are dependent on the research and amount of data uploaded to the Aerial Visuals database.

    Airframe Family: Lockheed A-12 / SR-71 Blackbird
    Latest Model:SR-71A Blackbird
    Last Military Serial:61-7972 USAF
    Construction Number:2023
    Compressed ID:Lockheed SR-71A sn 61-7972 USAF cn...
    Latest Owner or Location:Smithsonian, National Air and Space Museum, Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, Chantilly, Reston, Virginia

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    Dates

    Event

    Constructed as a SR-71A.

    Circa 1961

    Taken on Strength/Charge with the United States Air Force with s/n 61-7972.

    Transferred to 9th Stategic Reconnaissance Wing, Beale AFB, CA.

    July 1974


    Photographer: Peter M. Law
    Notes: 1974 photo at Farnborough Air Show - there are also references that this may be serialled 64-17972 too

    1 September 1974

    Set the New York to London speed record at 1 hour 54 minutes.

    4 September 1974


    Photographer: Peter Nicholson
    Notes: Three days after establishing a trans-Atlantic record breaking flight from New York to London this SR-71A Blackbird of the 9th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing at Beale AFB, California was displayed at the 1974 Farnborough Airshow.

    24 April 1976


    Photographer: Unknown

    Set the west coast to east coast speed record at 1 hour 7 minutes and 54 seconds.

    By November 1985


    Photographer: Dan Stijovich
    Notes: After arriving to Norton AFB, SR-71A 972 gets put away in the hangar for the night.

    6 March 1990

    Last flight.
    Lt. Col. Ed Yielding and Lt. Col. Joseph Vida set a speed record by flying from Los Angeles to Washington, D.C., in 1 hour, 4 minutes, and 20 seconds.

    6 March 1990

    To Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum.

    17 September 2006


    Photographer: Bill Kistler

    By 17 September 2006

    Placed on display with Smithsonian, National Air and Space Museum, Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, Chantilly, Reston, VA.
    View the Location Dossier

    16 September 2011


    Photographer: Robert Nichols

    16 September 2011


    Photographer: Robert Nichols
    Credits
     Data for airframe dossiers come from various sources. The following were used to compile this dossier...
    Print Sources
     U.S. Military Out of Service 2007 by Andy Marden
    Internet Sources
     Smithsonian, National Air and Space Museum
    United States Military Services Serial Number Lists by Joe Baugher
    Individual Contributors
     Robert Nichols
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