Living History Day, Flying the Blackbird

Lt. Col. Les Dyer explains the history of the SR 71 Blackbird program. Dyer, a retired USAF pilot, was a pilot in the SR 71 program before his retirement in 1989.

The SR-71 Blackbird is one of the most spectacular aircraft ever built.Unofficially, the SR-71 carried many nicknames, including the “Habu,” “SR,” “Lady in Black,” and “Sled;” but most of us know the SR-71 as the “Blackbird.” The SR-71 was developed as a long-range strategic reconnaissance aircraft capable of flying at speeds over Mach 3.2 and at 85,000 feet. The first SR-71 to enter service was delivered in 1966 and it was retired in 1990. However, the USAF still kept a few SR-71s in operation up until 1998, after a few were brought back to service in 1995. NASA’s DFRC at Edwards AFB, CA flew the SR-71 from 1991 until its final flight in October 1999. Lt. Col. Les Dyer explains the history of the SR 71 Blackbird program.