NASA Reportedly Taps Former SR-71 Blackbird Staff for Mysterious Project

NASA is reportedly attempting to bring the SR-71 Blackbird, the fastest production aircraft ever built, out of retirement. The effort involves reaching out to former engineers who worked on the Mach 3.3 reconnaissance jet, which last flew in 1999.

Mystery surrounds the exact purpose of the initiative, with NASA not publicly disclosing its reasons for seeking to reactivate the aircraft. This speculation comes amid broader discussions about the development of new generations of hypersonic surveillance aircraft.

Mike Relja, a former test engineer for the Blackbird, confirmed he was contacted by NASA last month regarding the project. However, Relja expressed skepticism about the feasibility of restoring the jet, citing his own age and the significant challenges involved. "I told the guy, 'You know, I’m too old to be doing this,'" Relja told Aviation Week. "I wish you well. I’d like to see you make it. It would be interesting. But I just don’t think you can get there from here."

He added that while he knows "they’ve got people working on it," he was unsure of their specific methods without access to necessary equipment. The SR-71A in question is believed to be Tail No. 884, which was previously on display at Edwards Air Force Base in California before its removal earlier this year.

The aircraft, retired from service in 1998, has been on static display since 1999. Restoring it would require addressing potential degradation from sand and water ingress, as well as ensuring the lubrication and rotation of its engines, which have not been operated in decades. Furthermore, its estimated $600 million worth of spare parts were reportedly destroyed in 2007.

Despite the challenges, Relja acknowledged that with NASA's resources, the task might not be impossible. "If you got a ton of money, maybe you can make it happen," he said. "They went to the Moon, you know."

NASA administrator Jared Isaacman has recently hinted at advancements in hypersonic surveillance technology. During a recent tech conference, Isaacman spoke about rebuilding NASA's "X-plane" fleet and referenced an image that resembled the Blackbird, cryptically asking, "You sure that’s a Blackbird?" He suggested that it would not be long before NASA was flying "as high and as fast from decades past — and then even more." The SR-71 Blackbird, introduced 59 years ago, still holds the record for the fastest crewed jet flight, capable of speeds up to Mach 3.3 (approximately 2,200 mph). This speed allowed it to traverse long distances rapidly, for instance, covering the distance from New York to Los Angeles in just over an hour.