The Armstrong Flight Research Center (formerly Dryden Flight Research Center) is an aeronautical research center operated by NASA. Its primary campus is located inside Edwards Air Force Base in California and is considered NASA's premier site for aeronautical research.

Aircraft #61-7971 rolled off the assembly line on August 16th, 1965 and first flew on November 17th, 1966. As with all SR-71s, #971 was assigned to the 9th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing based at Beale AFB, CA. In 1990, the SR-71 program was officially cancelled and the majority of airframes were prepared for a life as static display pieces in museums around the United States. #971 was one of three Blackbirds to be spared however, and was delivered to NASA on March 19th, 1990 for high-speed/high-altitude flight testing. The USAF markings we replaced with NASA markings and the aircraft was assigned NASA serial #832.

Fate intervened once more in 1995 when the USAF was tasked with resuming SR-71 operations with the three flightworthy airframes that had been loaned to NASA. NASA crews flew a series of high-speed check flights between January 12th, 1995 and June 2nd, 1995 before handing the aircraft back to the USAF. #61-7971 was the first SR-71 to be reactivated and the NASA markings were once again replaced with muted USAF markings. The SR-71s were operated by Detachment 2 of the 9th RW out of Edwards AFB but the they were still assigned the red "BB" (Beale Bandits) tailcode with four iron crosses of their home base at Beale. Sadly, the reactivation was short lived and the three remaining SR-71s were permanently retired.

#971 flew for the final time on September 30th, 1997 and ended her career with a total of 3512.5 flight hours. This aircraft is currently on display at the Evergreen Aviation Museum in McMinnville, Oregon, still wearing the Beale Bandits tail markings.

Lockheed SR-71A Blackbird

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Century Wings' 1:72 scale SR-71 includes the mission-capable SR-71A and training SR-71B variants. The models are constructed almost entirely of metal with only the smallest amount of plastic used in the manufacturing process. Crisply detailed panel lines and ultra-thin metal rudders and edges surround the airframe to reproduce this eye-catching speed demon. The sharply pointed shock cones protruding from the engine nacelles and the afterburner detail at the rear of the engine are accurately reproduced, and the correctly detailed set of landing gear and doors have been included as robust sub-assemblies that allow for quick and easy configuration for ground or in-flight display.

© Copyright 2003-2024 The Flying Mule, Inc.

Century Wings 1:72 Wings of Heroes

Century Wings 1:72 diecast airplanes feature:

• Diecast metal construction with some plastic components.
• Realistic panel lines, antennas, access panels and surface details.
• Pad printed markings and placards that won't fade or peel like decals.
• Opening canopies, revealing detailed cockpit interiors.
• Selected moveable control surfaces.
• Interchangeable extended/retracted landing gear.
• Presentation stand to display the aircraft "in flight".
• Detailed removable pilot and crew figures.
• Authentic detachable ordnance loads complete with placards.
• Accurately detailed underside with concealed screwheads.
• Many limited editions with numbered certificate of authenticity.

© Copyright 2003-2024 The Flying Mule, Inc.