Archer Archer
Registered Member
New reporting from Aviation Week is indicating that NASA has quietly launched an effort to return SR-71A NASA 844 to flight, the same Blackbird that made the final flight of any SR-71 on October 9, 1999.
The aircraft was removed from its longtime outdoor display at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center earlier this year and moved into a hangar, where it was reportedly inspected.
According to Aviation Week, NASA has also contacted several former SR-71 personnel about helping with the effort. Two former Blackbird test engineers confirmed they had been approached.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman has recently said the agency is rebuilding its X-plane portfolio and wants NASA flying higher and faster again. At AirVenture, when asked whether he had the power to bring the SR-71 back, Isaacman replied, “That’s classified.”
NASA has not officially confirmed that the return-to-flight project exists. When asked about 844, the agency said it had no additional information to share regarding the aircraft at this time.
The aircraft was removed from its longtime outdoor display at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center earlier this year and moved into a hangar, where it was reportedly inspected.
According to Aviation Week, NASA has also contacted several former SR-71 personnel about helping with the effort. Two former Blackbird test engineers confirmed they had been approached.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman has recently said the agency is rebuilding its X-plane portfolio and wants NASA flying higher and faster again. At AirVenture, when asked whether he had the power to bring the SR-71 back, Isaacman replied, “That’s classified.”
NASA has not officially confirmed that the return-to-flight project exists. When asked about 844, the agency said it had no additional information to share regarding the aircraft at this time.
