The US States With Preserved Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird Aircraft

The Lockheed SR-71 “Blackbird” was a long-range reconnaissance aircraft known for its high-altitude cruise and Mach 3+ speeds. Introduced into service with the United States Air Force in 1964, the two-seat aircraft took part in some of the most important strategic reconnaissance missions with the USAF and NASA. Although the Blackbird was withdrawn from service in 1998, several examples have been preserved and displayed in museums in the United States and the United Kingdom. This article highlights the museums in the US where you can still see a Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird up close.

The Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird is considered one of the most iconic aircraft in aviation history. Developed in the sixties as a reconnaissance aircraft for the US Air Force, the Blackbird was designed to fly at high altitudes (up to 85,000 feet) and supersonic speeds (Mach 3). Precisely because of these characteristics, it could evade missiles simply by leaving them behind, flying even faster until they stopped.

Photo: Phil Emmerson | Shutterstock

This is why no SR-71 Blackbird has ever been shot down by enemy fire. However, as SR-71.org states, despite their incredible technical characteristics, they were not the most reliable military aircraft and were very hard to fly; 12 out of the 32 Blackbirds built were lost due to accidents and aircraft system failures.

Arizona

The oldest surviving SR-71 is in Arizona. Only one example was produced before, #17950, which was lost due to a fire on the runway. SR-71A #17951 flew on March 5, 1965, and served as a test bird throughout its career. It is currently displayed at the Pima Air Museum in Tucson, AZ.

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California

California is home to more SR-71 aircraft than any other state. It houses six of them, listed below:

Photo: BlueBarronPhoto | Shutterstock

• SR-71A #17955 – AFFTC Museum, Edwards AFB, CA.
• SR-71A #17960 – Castle Air Museum near Atwater, CA.
• SR-71A #17963 – Beale AFB, CA.
• SR-71A #17973 – Blackbird Airpark, Palmdale, CA.
• SR-71A #17975 – March Field Museum, March AFB, CA.
• SR-71A #17980 – NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center as #844.

Florida

In Florida, specifically at the USAF Armament Museum, Eglin AFB, FL, SR-71A #61-7959, also known as the “Big Tail,” is on display. This nickname dates to 1975, when it was chosen as the platform for a new series of sensors placed in an extension towards the aircraft’s rear. However, this program was interrupted because it was not very advantageous, and the last flight of this aircraft took place on October 29, 1976.

Georgia

At the Museum of Aviation, Robins AFB, GA, the Blackbird SR-71A #17958 is on display. According to various records, on July 28, 1976, this example facilitated a human being (pilot captain Eldon W. Joersz and major RSO George T. Morgan Jr.) to reach the highest speed aboard an aircraft.

Photo: USAF

Kansas

SR-71A #17961 accumulated 1601 flight hours until February 2, 1977, the date of its last flight. It is currently on display between a Northrop T-38 Talon advanced trainer and a life-size replica of the Space Shuttle at the Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center, Hutchinson, KS.

Louisiana

At the 8th Air Force Museum, Barksdale AFB, LA, SR-71A #17967 is on display, one of two examples reactivated in 1995 for USAF service before the program was canceled in 1998. Over the years, this aircraft accumulated more than 2700 flight hours.

Texas

SR-71A #17979, which was used as a reconnaissance aircraft during Operation Giant Reach in the Egyptian-Israeli war, is at the USAF History and Traditions Museum at Lackland AFB, TX.

Photo: Dan Simonsen | Shutterstock

Michigan

Two trainer variants, denoted SR-71Bs, were built. One crashed on approach to Beale AFB on January 11, 1968, while the other, SR-71B #17956, is displayed at the Kalamazoo Aviation History Museum in Kalamazoo, MI. This SR-71 has more flight hours than any other Blackbird, nearly 4000, and is believed to have been photographed more often.

Nebraska

The SR-71A #17964 is on display at the Strategic Air and Space Museum near Ashland, NE. Its first flight took place in 1966, and the last was in 1990, when it was delivered to Offutt AFB, NE, to be permanently exhibited.

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Ohio

The SR-71A #17976 carried out the first operational mission of an SR-71 before concluding its career with about 3000 flight hours. It is among the first SR-71s to be permanently exhibited and best preserved. It is displayed at the National Museum of the United States Air Force, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH.

Oregon

Below the right wing of Howard Hughes’ H-4 Hercules at the Evergreen Aviation Museum in McMinnville, OR, is the most complete and accurate SR-71, SR-71A #17971, which has accumulated over 3500 flight hours.

Photo: Ritu Manoj Jethani | Shutterstock

Utah

As mentioned, after the crash of #17957 on January 11, 1968, half of the SR-71 trainer fleet was lost. A replacement trainer was built, designated SR-71C #17981. This aircraft is currently on display at the Hill Aerospace Museum, Hill AFB, UT. Irregular maintenance procedures and aftermarket construction caused the aircraft to constantly yaw; therefore, the SR-71C was used on a limited basis between 1969 and 1976.

Photo: NASA

Virginia

The state of Virginia hosts two SR-71s:

• SR-71A #17968 is displayed at the Virginia Aviation Museum in Richmond, VA.
• SR-71A #17972 is displayed at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA.

The Blackbird’s unique design and technology have retained a place of honor in aviation history. Have you ever seen a Blackbird? Tell us about your experience in the comments.