posted 09-25-2026 04:14 PM               

Satellite imagery indicates it has not been seen since at least May 17, according to Aviation Week defense editor Steve Trimble, who first reported the disappearance.

The timing is hard to ignore. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman unveiled a silhouette resembling an SR-71 during last week's All-In Summit in Los Angeles while promising that the agency is rebuilding its fleet of experimental X-planes and pushing back into extreme-speed and high-altitude flight research. ...

When the Blackbird-like image came up during a live interview immediately afterward, Isaacman added fuel to the mystery by asking, "You sure that's a Blackbird?" He offered no further clarification.

The missing jet is no ordinary exhibit. Originally designated US Air Force serial No. 61-7980, it was the last SR-71 produced and the last one to fly, making its final flight in 1999.

Its current whereabouts are unclear, although Aviation Week sources said the aircraft was moved into a hangar earlier this year for an inspection.

posted 09-29-2026 09:48 PM               

Relja, an ex-U.S. Air Force and NASA test engineer for the SR-71A, could not believe his ears. David Ash, a former U.S. Navy and Joby test pilot who was hired in June as a special projects director for NASA, asked Relja to provide his expertise for a secret effort to return a long-retired and neglected Blackbird to flight.

"I told the guy, 'You know, I'm too old to be doing this,'" Relja recalls to 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.'"

It appears NASA is going to try.

posted 10-01-2026 02:44 AM               

Given that the aircraft requires special ground support equipment, uses a unique, special fuel, special tires, the crew needs specialised flying clothing and life support equipment, ground technicians will need to be trained on the aircraft, and a myriad of other things that have either been retired or whose technical knowledge and experience have moved on, what could NASA hope to gain through research flying this aircraft that they do not already know?

The hypersonic research programs move faster than the SR-71; rockets transit the speed zone every week these days, and computational fluid dynamics have come a long way since the aircraft retired.

Surely the opportunity has been lost to have one of the type at NASA just as a public relations or demonstration aircraft. The SR-71 can only operate from a few runways; NASA could run its own formation demonstration fleet of aircraft for the same price.

posted 10-01-2026 08:14 AM               

quote:

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Originally posted by oly:
I do not believe the rewards could justify the effort to bring one back into service.

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Also it has been my experience that aircraft taken out of service for years are difficult to back in service due mostly to obsolescence issues with parts, seals, avionics, software not to mention corrosion issues (knowing the most of the structure is Ti but there are galvanic issues with that as well).

posted 10-01-2026 04:04 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by SpaceAholic:
Would it be beyond the realm of possibility...

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