U-2 Event
A-12, YF-12, SR-71 Event
SR-71 Symposium
An SR-71 Symposium will be held the The Pima Air & Space Museum. Pima will host SR-71 pilots and ground crew to present the secret history of the world's highest and fastest airplane. Panel presentations, discussions, and autograph sessions, on February 21 - 22, 2009. For more info check out the Pima web site: http://www.pimaair.org
Blackbird
Reunion
The next Blackbird Reunion will be held in Reno, Nevada at the Nugget Hotel
on June 11-14, 2009. The reunion is for Blackbird Association members
only. Contact Rich Graham if you have any questions.
Earlier Events
Blackbird
Reunion
The next Blackbird Reunion will be held in Reno, Nevada at the Nugget Hotel
on June 21-24, 2007. The reunion is for Blackbird Association members
only. Contact Rich Graham if you have any questions.
Museum
of Flight SR-71 Forum
SR-71 Forum from September 14-16, 2007 at the Museum
of Flight, Seattle, Washington. A mix of SR-71 Pilots, RSOs and Maintainers
discuss and answer questions about the SR-71.
Blackbird
Reunion
The next Blackbird Reunion will be held in Reno, Nevada at the Nugget Hotel
on June 2-5, 2005. The reunion is for Blackbird Association members
only. Contact Rich Graham
if you have any questions.
TWO
EVENTS PAY TRIBUTE TO BLACKBIRD COMMUNITY
2004 BLACKBIRD LAURELS INDUCTION BANQUET
On Saturday, May 15th, the Flight Test Historical Foundation will host the
2004 Blackbird Laurels Induction Banquet at the Park Plaza—Lancaster/Palmdale
Convention Center in Lancaster, CA. Retired Maj Gen Douglas Nelson, commander
of the 9th SRW—the first operational Blackbird wing—will be the
featured speaker for the gala event, wherein Blackbird crew members, maintainers,
and support personnel will be inducted into the “Blackbird Laurels Society.”
The 40th anniversary of the SR-71 will also be observed during the evening.
The $75 per person banquet is a fund raiser for the Blackbird Airpark and
will include a full dinner, silent auction, and complimentary commemorative
items, in addition to the anniversary and induction ceremonies. Corporate
tables are available at $1000 for a table of 10. Retired USAF Col Kenneth
Collins, a 2002 inductee, will once again serve as emcee.
Over 300 invited guests attended the foundation’s inaugural banquet
in April 2002. During that event, 21 inductees—including Blackbird pilots,
designers, engineers, corporations, and maintainers—were presented with
Blackbird Laurels medallions. This year 12 new members will be inducted.
The Flight Test Historical Foundation is a non-profit organization established
in 1983 to develop and support the Air Force Flight Test Center (AFFTC) Museum
at Edwards AFB and its Blackbird Airpark Annex at USAF Plant 42. Funds totaling
over $1.2 million have been provided by the foundation for construction of
the AFFTC Museum and Blackbird Airpark and the foundation continues to support
operation and restoration activities at both facilities.
For further information on the Blackbird Laurels Banquet, or to request an
invitation, contact the Flight Test Historical Foundation at (877) FLT-TEST
or send an email to museum@edwards.af.mil.
SR-71
FIRST FLIGHT ANNIVERSARY AND BLACKBIRD AIRPARK VISITOR CENTER DEDICATION
On Saturday, May 15th, from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm, the 40th anniversary of the
first flight of the SR-71A will be celebrated at the Blackbird Airpark, USAF
Plant 42, in Palmdale, CA. Bob Gilliland, the Lockheed test pilot at the controls
during the first flight, will be in attendance during the exciting event to
greet the public and sign autographs. Joining Gilliland will be Jim Eastham,
pilot of the F-104 chase aircraft on that historic flight. Eastham is better
known as the man who completed the maiden flight of the Lockheed YF-12—an
SR-71 predecessor. Concurrent with the anniversary event, the Air Force Flight
Test Center (AFFTC) Museum and its support organization, the Flight Test Historical
Foundation, will dedicate a new airpark visitor center.
Retired Air Force Colonel Richard Graham, former commander of the 9th Strategic
Reconnaisance Wing, and author of “SR-71 Revealed” and “SR-71
Blackbird—Stories, Tales, and Legends,” is scheduled to be on
hand to sign copies of his books. Additional Blackbird exhibits will support
the A-12, D-21, SR-71, and U-2D permanently on display and anniversary souvenirs
will be available in the airpark gift shop.
Althought the SR-71 first flight was actually made on 22 December 1964, the
anniversary celebration is being held in May to coincide with the 2004 Blackbird
Laurels Banquet and because December weather can be unpredictable—making
an outdoor celebration at the Blackbird Airpark questionable.
The Blackbird Airpark is an annex of the AFFTC Museum at Edwards AFB and is
located at the corner of Avenue P and 25th Street East in Palmdale, California.
Normal hours of operation are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
Admission is free. The airpark is staffed entirely by museum volunteers and
profits from this event will benefit continued development of the facility.
For information on this event contact the AFFTC Museum at (661) 277-8050 or
email the museum director museum@edwards.af.mil.