Apr 15, 1996 · Throughout the 25+ years that the Blackbird served the free world, 20 of these aircraft were lost due to accidents. In military jargon this is called "Written Off". The following web pages …

Jun 9, 2025 · The SR-71 is perhaps the most iconic Cold War spy aircraft, famous for many record-setting flights. Seemingly impervious to loss by enemy defenses, a dozen Blackbirds were lost to …

Sep 18, 2022 · On Jul. 20, 1972 SR-71 Blackbird #978 (known as the “Rapid Rabbit” because of the Playboy logo she sported on both rudders throughout most of her career) crashed at Kadena Air …

Apr 26, 2019 · SR-71 #953 fell apart in midair and crashed on the ground east of Death Valley near the village of Shoshone, California. Most of the wreckage of the Blackbird hit the ground atop an …

An Air Force SR-71, a long-range reconnaissance jet, crashed 20 miles east of El Paso at 9:30 a.m. today following routine refueling from a KC-135 Air Force tanker. "The two-man crew successfully …

SR-71 #953 fell apart in midair, and crashed on the ground east of Death Valley near the village of Shoshone, California. Most of the wreckage of the Blackbird hit the ground atop an underground …

On 18 December 1969, SR-71A (61-7953) was scheduled for a functional check flight (FCF), piloted by SR-71/F-12 Test Force director Col. Joe Rogers and his Reconnaissance Systems Operator (RSO), …

Findings: (Primary Cause) The primary cause of this accident was materiel failure in that the total pressure ports of the pitot system probably became blocked by ice, which gave the pilot false …

Here is the official report of the accident, courtesy of Peter Merlin: SR-71 serial number 61-7965, call sign ASPEN 28, departed Beale AFB at 0058Z on 25 October 1967 for a three hour night training flight.

Feb 8, 2024 · The SR-71B Blackbird, flown by the Dryden Flight Research Center as NASA 831, slices across the snow-covered southern Sierra Nevada Mountains of California after being refueled by an …