Skip Top nav bar link group topnav end piece go to business section go to education section go to history section go to gallery section go to news section go to organizations section go to research section go to search engine go to site index topnav end piece
NASA Meatball NASA Dryden SR-71 Graphics banner

SR-71

Description Date DFRC # 600x480
GIF image
1280x1024
GIF image
3000x2600
GIF image
EPS image
SR-71A Linear Engine art Feb 1998 EG-0075-01 84 KBytes     136 KBytes
SR-71A 3-View line art Feb 1998 EG-0075-02 29 KBytes 70 KBytes 130 KBytes 179 KBytes
SR-71A in flight line art Mar 1998 EG-0075-03 23 KBytes 55 KBytes 89 KBytes 94 KBytes
SR-71B 3-View Mar 1998 EG-0075-04 24 KBytes 60 KBytes 112 KBytes 128 KBytes
SR-71 LASRE configuration 3-View Mar 1998 EG-0075-05 34 KBytes 89 KBytes 166 KBytes 159 KBytes

Developed for the USAF as reconnaissance aircraft more than 30 years ago, SR-71s were the world's fastest and highest-flying production aircraft. The aircraft could fly at speeds of more than 2,200 miles per hour (Mach 3+, or more than three times the speed of sound) and at altitudes of over 85,000 feet.

Dryden had a decade of past experience at sustained speeds above Mach 3. Two YF-12A aircraft and an SR-71 designated as a YF-12C were flown at the center between December 1969 and November 1979 in a joint NASA/USAF program to learn more about the capabilities and limitations of high-speed, high-altitude flight. The YF-12As were prototypes of a planned interceptor aircraft based on a design that later evolved into the SR-71 reconnaissance aircraft.

The two SR-71s at Dryden were assigned the following NASA tail numbers: NASA 844 (A model), military serial 61-7980 and NASA 831 (B model), military serial 61-7956. From 1990 through 1994, Dryden also had another "A" model, NASA 832, military serial 61-7971. This aircraft was returned to the USAF inventory and was the first aircraft reactivated for USAF reconnaissance purposes in 1995. It has since returned to Dryden along with SR-71A 61-7967.

The last SR-71 flight was made on Saturday October 9, 1999, at the Edwards AFB air show. The aircraft used was NASA 844. The aircraft was also scheduled to make a flight the following day, but a fuel leak grounded the aircraft and prevented it from flying again. The NASA SR-71s were then put in flyable storage, where they remained until 2002. They were then sent to museums.


Last Modified: June 18, 2003
Responsible NASA Official: Marty Curry
Curator: PAO Webmasters

NASA Website Privacy Statement