National Air and Space Museum Archives

Lockheed SR-71A (Blackbird) Record Flight Flag and Certificate

Summary

Collection ID:
NASM.1990.0076
Creators:
Lockheed Aeronautical Systems Company
Dates:
1990
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
0.05 Cubic feet
1 folder
Repository:
No reconnaissance aircraft in history has operated globally in more hostile airspace or with such complete impunity than the Lockheed SR-71 (Blackbird). This miniature American flag was on board the Lockheed SR-71A (Blackbird) s/n 61-7972 on its record-setting last flight for delivery to the National Air and Space Museum on March 6, 1990.

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
This miniature American flag was on board the Lockheed SR-71A (Blackbird) s/n 61-7972 on its record-setting last flight for delivery to the National Air and Space Museum on March 6, 1990. The flag is mounted in a blue folio which measures approximately 9 by 12 inches and includes a small certificate along with the flag. The serial number of the aircraft is erroneously listed on the certificate as 64-17972. SR-71 serial numbers have often been incorrectly given as beginning with "64-," with 5 numbers beginning with a "1" after the year. This was possibly done to keep certain details about the program a secret. The correct numbers are all either "60-" or "61-" with 4 digits after the year.
Please note that the folio is not displayed in the slideshow.

Arrangement

Arrangement
Collection is a single item.

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
No reconnaissance aircraft in history has operated globally in more hostile airspace or with such complete impunity than the Lockheed SR-71 (Blackbird). The Blackbird's performance and operational achievements placed it at the pinnacle of aviation technology developments during the Cold War. The SR-71 in the National Air and Space Museum's collection (s/n 61-7972) accrued about 2,800 hours of flight time during 24 years of active service with the US Air Force. On its last flight, March 6, 1990, Lt. Col. Ed Yeilding and Lt. Col. Joseph Vida set a speed record by flying from Los Angeles to Washington, DC, in 1 hour, 4 minutes, and 20 seconds, averaging 2,124 miles (3,418 kilometers) per hour. At the flight's conclusion, they landed at Washington-Dulles International Airport and turned the airplane over to the Smithsonian.

Administration

Author
Jessamyn Lloyd
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Lockheed Aeronautical Systems Company, Gift, 1990, NASM.1990.0076
Processing Information
Arranged and described by Patricia Williams, 1990. Updated and encoded by Jessamyn Lloyd, 2024.

Digital Content


Using the Collection

Conditions Governing Use
Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests.
Conditions Governing Access
No restrictions on access
Preferred Citation
Lockheed SR-71A (Blackbird) Record Flight Flag and Certificate, NASM.1990.0076, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Aeronautics Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Lockheed SR-71 (Blackbird) Family Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Ephemera Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

National Air and Space Museum Archives
14390 Air & Space Museum Parkway
Chantilly, VA 20151
Business Number: Phone: 703-572-4045
NASMRefDesk@si.edu