| Aircraft | |
|---|---|
| Registration / Serial: | 61-7972 |
| Alternate Registration: | 17972 |
| Aircraft Original Type: | Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird |
| Aircraft Generic Type: | Lockheed A-12/YF-12/M-21/SR-71 Blackbird |
| Aircraft Version: | Lockheed SR-71A Blackbird |
| C/n (msn): | 2023 |
| Operator Titles: | USA - Air Force |
| Location | |
|---|---|
| City / Airport: | Washington - Dulles InternationalMap |
| Region / Country: | Virginia, United States |
| Airport Codes: | ICAO: KIAD IATA: IAD Local: IAD Other: - |
| Collection: | National Air and Space Museum (Smithsonian) - Udvar-Hazy Center |
| Photo Date: | 5 June 2016 |
| Photo by: | Arjun Sarup |
| Photo ID: | 875718 |
| Photo Comment |
|---|
|
On display at Udvar-Hazy. The demarcation line on the nose shows where the entire section could be detached. It could carry the Advanced Synthetic Aperture Radar System (ASARS) or the Optical Bar Camera (OBC). The aerial refueling door is visible behind the cockpit, which was used to refuel the six main tanks from a KC-135Q or KC-10 between 24,000 to 28,000 feet. The hydraulically activated inlet spikes retracted up to a maximum of 26 in. with supersonic airflow for proper compressor inlet pressure. This SR-71A flew between LA and Washington, D.C. in a record 1h 4m 20s on 6 Mar 1990. This photo is copyright © Arjun Sarup, and may not be used or published in any way without permission. It was added on 6 December 2025, and has since been viewed 6 times. |