![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() This aircraft's assembly started 13 December 1965 and was rolled out on 15 September 1966. After SR-71A #955's last flight on 24 January 1985, #972 became the Palmdale test aircraft. You may have noted the Skunk Works insignia on the rudders of #972. It also holds the New York to London record of 1 hour, 54 minutes, 56.4 seconds set in 1974. This aircraft holds many records that were set on 6 March 1990, when it was flown from Palmdale to Dulles in what was intended to be the last USAF flight of the SR-71. This aircraft is no doubt the best-looking of the remaining SR-71s, along with SR-71A #976. There, it was under strict surveillance by National Air and Space Museum representatives, who regularly adjusted humidity levels to ensure the best possible preservation conditions. From 1991 until September 2003, #972 was in storage at Washington Dulles International Airport in a building specifically constructed for this aircraft. SR-71A #61-7972 is on display at the Steven F. ![]()
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