SR-71A Blackbird - Valparaiso, FL
N 30° 27.955 W 086° 33.720
16R E 542045 N 3370496
SR-71A S/N 61-7959 is the only "Big Tail" (a nine-foot extension from the rear of the aircraft for sensor equipment) in existence.
Waymark Code: WMH0JZ
Location: Florida, United States
Date Posted: 05/02/2013
Views: 9
SR-71A S/N 61-7959 came off the assembly line August 16, 1965. It was chosen as the platform for the "Big Tail" program in 1975. It first flew with the "Big Tail" December 3, 1975. Tests demonstrated that there was little performance loss with the "Big Tail", but also little advantage. The program was dropped. This aircraft last flew on October 29, 1976.
The SR-71, unofficially known as the "Blackbird," is a long-range, advanced, strategic reconnaissance aircraft developed from the Lockheed A-12 and YF-12A aircraft. The first flight of an SR-71 took place on Dec. 22, 1964, and the first SR-71 to enter service was delivered to the 4200th (later 9th) Strategic Reconnaissance Wing at Beale Air Force Base, Calif., in January 1966. The U.S. Air Force retired its fleet of SR-71s on Jan. 26, 1990, because of a decreasing defense budget and high costs of operation.
Throughout its nearly 24-year career, the SR-71 remained the world's fastest and highest-flying operational aircraft. From 80,000 feet, it could survey 100,000 square miles of Earth's surface per hour. On July 28, 1976, an SR-71 set two world records for its class -- an absolute speed record of 2,193.167 mph and an absolute altitude record of 85,068.997 feet.
Type of Aircraft: (make/model): SR-71A Blackbird
Tail Number: (S/N): 61-7959
Construction:: original aircraft
Location (park, airport, museum, etc.): USAF Armament Museum
inside / outside: outside
Access restrictions:
The plane is one of 25 located outside the USAF Armament Museum just off Eglin AFB. There is no fence around the museum so the outdoor planes are accessible every day.
Other Information:: Not listed
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Visit Instructions:
Photo of aircraft (required - will be interesting to see if the aircraft is ever repainted or progress if being restored)
Photo of serial number (required unless there is not one or it is a replica)
Photo(s) of any artwork on the aircraft (optional but interesting)
Tell why you are visiting this waymark along with any other interesting facts or personal experiences about the aircraft not already mentioned.