SR-71 SPY PLANE TO MARK 35 YEARS.Byline: Daily News The 35th anniversary of two historic flights by Blackbird blackbird, common name in North America of a perching bird allied to the bobolink, the meadow lark, the oriole, and the grackle and belonging to the family Icteridae. The European blackbird, Turdus merula, is a thrush. spy planes will be celebrated from 1 to 3 p.m. today at Blackbird Airpark air·park n. A small airport typically located near a business area or industrial park. . The SR-71 Blackbird “SR-71” redirects here. For other uses, see SR-71 (disambiguation). The Lockheed SR-71 was an advanced, long-range, Mach 3 strategic reconnaissance aircraft developed from the Lockheed YF-12A and A-12 aircraft by the Lockheed Skunk Works. made its first flight Dec. 22, 1964, from U.S. Air Force Plant 42. Making its first flight on the same day in Nevada was the MD-21, an A-12 modified to carry a D-21 spy drone. The A-12 was the original single-seat Blackbird. Former Lockheed test pilot Robert Gilleland, who flew the SR-71 on its first flight, will be at the Blackbird Airpark to share his experiences and sign memorabilia mem·o·ra·bil·i·a pl.n. 1. Objects valued for their connection with historical events, culture, or entertainment: posters, publicity photographs, and other movie memorabilia. 2. . Also on hand will be James Eastham, who made the first flight in the YF-12A, an interceptor version of the SR-71; flew an F-104 that accompanied Gilleland's first flight; and was the second person to fly the SR-71. Other former SR-71 crew members will join the pilots to greet the public and talk about the Blackbird, said Doug Nelson, curator of the Air Force Flight Test Center Museum at Edwards Air Force Base Edwards Air Force Base, U.S. military installation, 301,000 acres (121,805 hectares), S Calif., NE of Lancaster; est. 1933. It is one of the largest air force bases in the United States and has the world's longest runway. and manager of the Blackbird Airpark. The Blackbird Airpark, on Avenue P at 25th Street East in Palmdale, is the only aircraft exhibit displaying the A-12, an SR-71 and a D-21 drone. Admission is free. The airpark is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. |
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