Aviation Museums

and airworthy collections

USA

Blackbird Air Park

2503 E Ave P, Palmdale, CA 93550

Officially opened on 27th September 1991, the Blackbird Airpark is an annex of the Air Force Flight Test (AFFT) Museum at Edwards AFB.

Date of visit: 16th October 2022

Lockheed A-12 'Oxcart'

60-6924

Developed for the CIA to replace the U-2 for clandestine overflights of the Soviet Union. The Russian's successful tracking of the U-2 meant that it would be eventually vulnerable to interception. The CIA specified the U-2’s successor had to be capable of flying higher (over 85,000 vs. 70,000 feet), faster (over 2,000 vs. 500 mph), and not be visible on Soviet radar. The aircraft on display is Article 121, the very first A-12 built. First flown by Lou Schalkon 26th April 1962, the aircraft never saw operational service but served as the test prototype for the Blackbird family instead (Total 418.2 flying hours).

Lockheed SR-71A 'Blackbird'

61-7973

Long-range, Mach 3+ strategic reconnaissance aircraft developed in the 60's from the Lockheed A-12 by Lockheed’s “Skunk Works” division. 32 aircraft were built. The aircraft on display was the 24th airframe first flown 8th February 1967 and flew 62 training missions and 45 operational sorties over Southeast Asia between 1969 and 1971. It arrived at the Air Park in 1991 having being retired after being overstressed during a flight demonstration at RAF Mildenhall on 21st July 1987 (Total 1,729.9 flying hours).

Lockheed U-2D 'Dragon Lady'

56-6721

Single engined, high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft operated by the United States Air Force and previously flown by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). The aircraft on display was retired in 1980 and is the last surviving U-2D model that has a second cockpit for an observer operating sensitive infrared radiation detectors in support of the Missile Detection and Alarm System (MIDAS) satellite program. The system was intended to provide early warning of a Soviet nuclear attack by detecting and tracking rocket plumes from a missile’s boost phase.

Lockheed D-21B Drone

s/n 525

The D-21 was a reconnaissance drone (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) type from the Blackbird family. Designed to overfly enemy territory having been launched from international airspace, it flew a preprogrammed return course. On return to international airspace, the D-21 would eject a hatch with the camera, film and navigation system for midair recovery and then self-destruct. Only 4 operational missions were ever flown using D-21 drones, all of them over the People's Republic of China. The D-21 on display, the 25th airframe built, is one of the 17 vehicles left after the program was canceled in 1971, having not flown an actual mission.

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