SR-71 "Blackbird", Virginia Aviation Museum, Richmond, VA - Static Aircraft Displays on Waymarking.com

1966 Lockheed SR-71

Flying three times faster than the speed of sound and higher than 80,000 feet, the SR-71 is the most technologically significant aircraft built since WW II. They flew thousands of hazardous reconnaissance missions over North Vietnam, North Korea, the Middle East and many other hot spots throughout the world. 29 A Models, two B Models (two-seat pilot trainers), one C Model (two-seat trainer built from two different airframes) were produced in the 1960s. Out of the total of 32 SR-71s built, 21 are still in existence most serving in museums. Of the 12 SR-71s lost, no USAF pilots or RSOs lost their lives nor were any shot down by hostile fire.

Virginia Aviation Museums aircraft, USAF tail number 61-7968, set the endurance record on April 26, 1971. Majors Thomas B. Estes and Dewain C. Vick, flew 61-7968 over 15,000 miles in 10 hrs. 30 min. Non-Stop (Time includes aerial refueling at subsonic speeds). Awards for this flight include the 1971 Mackay Trophy for the "most meritorious flight of the year" and the 1972 Harmon Trophy for the "most outstanding international achievement in the art/science of aeronautics".

Technical Information

Mission	High Speed, High Altitude Reconnaissance
Crew	2 (Pilot and Reconnaissance System Officer)
Construction	Titanium monocoque with some super-high-temperature plastics
Length	107 feet, 5 inches
Wingspan	55 feet, 7 inches
Height	16 feet, 6 inches
Landing Weight	68,000 pounds
Maximum Gross Take-off Weight	140,000 pounds
Maximum Speed	3.2+ Mach
Maximum Altitude	over 85,000 feet
Maximum Unrefueled Range	3,200 nautical miles
Armament	None
Powerplant	2 Pratt & Whitney J-58 High-bypass-turbojets with 34,000 pounds of thrust
Program Information (as of Jan 1990)
Total Flight Hours	53,490
Total Mach 3+ Time	11,675 hours
Total Sorties	17,300
Operational Sorties	3,551
Operational Hours	11,008
Total Air Refuelings	25,862
Total Crew Members	284 (8 aircrew had 1000 hours +, high time 1,392.7 hours)

The aircraft is on loan from the United States Air Force Museum. (Serial #61-7968)

Type of Aircraft: (make/model): Lockheed SR-71 Tail Number: (S/N): 61-7968 Construction:: original aircraft Location (park, airport, museum, etc.): Virginia Aviation Museum/Richmond Internat'l Airport, Richmond, VA inside / outside: outside Other Information:: Museum hours: Mon-Sat 9:30-5:00 Sun 12:00-5:00 Although this aircraft is part of the museum and admission is charged for displays inside, this aircraft is outside and fully viewable at all times without having to pay admission. Admission: 3 & under: free 4-12: $4.00 13-59: $6.00 60 & over: $5.00 Access restrictions: Not listed

Visit Instructions:
Photo of aircraft (required - will be interesting to see if the aircraft is ever repainted or progress if being restored)
Photo of serial number (required unless there is not one or it is a replica)
Photo(s) of any artwork on the aircraft (optional but interesting)

Tell why you are visiting this waymark along with any other interesting facts or personal experiences about the aircraft not already mentioned.

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Date Logged Log User Rating   06/23/2011 CerealBoxMonsters visited it 08/09/2009 archway visited it 02/25/2007 skree visited it 02/10/2007 skree wrote comment for it

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