Famed SR-71 Blackbird Spy Plane Vanishes From California Base Amid NASA's Mysterious Aircraft Tease
The legendary reconnaissance aircraft, previously on display at NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center, has not been seen since mid-May, fueling speculation as NASA administrator hints at new high-speed flight initiatives.
The SR-71 Blackbird, tail number 844, a renowned reconnaissance aircraft once on display at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center, has disappeared from its pad at Edwards Air Force Base. Satellite imagery shows the aircraft has not been visible since at least May 17, according to aviation defense editor Steve Trimble.
The disappearance coincides with recent remarks by NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, who unveiled a silhouette resembling an SR-71 at the All-In Summit in Los Angeles. Isaacman announced NASA's commitment to rebuilding its fleet of experimental X-planes, with a focus on advancing extreme-speed and high-altitude flight research.
"In the service of the first A [aeronautics] in NASA, we are rebuilding our X-plane fleet. The X-59 is researching quiet supersonic flight, but it’s just the beginning," Isaacman stated. "It will not be long before NASA once again is flying as high and as fast as we had in decades past, and then even more."
When questioned about the Blackbird-like image presented during a subsequent interview, Isaacman cryptically responded, "You sure that’s a Blackbird?" offering no further details.
The aircraft in question, originally designated US Air Force serial No. 61-7980, was the final SR-71 produced and completed its last flight in 1999. Aviation Week sources suggest the jet was moved into a hangar earlier this year for an inspection.
The report from Aviation Week posits that the combination of the SR-71's disappearance and Isaacman's presentation could indicate a potential return-to-flight program for the aircraft after more than two decades. However, NASA has not officially confirmed this scenario, directing attention instead to Isaacman's broader initiative to develop experimental aircraft for advanced high-speed and high-altitude flight.
The California desert, historically a key site for aviation innovation, is currently hosting NASA’s experimental X-59 aircraft. This plane is being tested to study the creation of a quieter sonic thump, an alternative to the disruptive sonic boom produced by traditional supersonic jets, with the aim of enabling commercial supersonic flight over land.