NASA SR-71 Blackbird disappears from Armstrong Flight Research Center

The SR-71 Blackbird aircraft, specifically the NASA 844, has disappeared from its outdoor display pad at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center. Commercial satellite imagery shows the aircraft has been absent from its location since at least May 17.

Sources indicate the aircraft, which was the last SR-71 built and flown, may have been moved into a hangar earlier this year for an inspection. NASA has not provided details regarding the nature or duration of this inspection.

The disappearance follows comments from NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman at the All-In Summit, where he discussed rebuilding NASA’s X-plane fleet for high-altitude, high-speed flight. During the event, Isaacman displayed a silhouette resembling a Blackbird but declined to confirm the aircraft's identity.