Famed spy plane disappears from California air base as mystery grows

A Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird spy plane has disappeared from a California military base, sparking speculation about its potential connection to NASA's mysterious new aircraft.

The missing SR-71 Blackbird, tail No. 844, was the last of its kind to fly, making its final flight in 1999, and had been displayed at NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center for years before its disappearance.

NASA is rebuilding its fleet of experimental X-planes and focusing on extreme-speed and high-altitude flight research, with the missing jet's whereabouts currently unknown but speculation about a potential return-to-flight program after more than 26 years.

A legendary spy plane has vanished from a California military base — it comes as NASA teases a mysterious new aircraft sparking speculation the two could be related.

The SR-71 Blackbird, tail No. 844, had been displayed for years at NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center, which is collocated with Edwards Air Force Base.

Satellite imagery indicates it has not been seen since at least May 17, according to Aviation Week defense editor Steve Trimble, who first reported the disappearance.

The timing is hard to ignore. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman unveiled a silhouette resembling an SR-71 during last week's All-In Summit in Los Angeles while promising that the agency is rebuilding its fleet of experimental X-planes and pushing back into extreme-speed and high-altitude flight research.

"In the service of the first A [aeronautics] in NASA, we are rebuilding our X-plane fleet. The X-59 is researching quiet supersonic flight, but it's just the beginning," Isaacman told TWZ .

"It will not be long before NASA once again is flying as high and as fast as we had in decades past, and then even more."

When the Blackbird-like image came up during a live interview immediately afterward, Isaacman added fuel to the mystery by asking, "You sure that's a Blackbird?" He offered no further clarification.

The missing jet is no ordinary exhibit. Originally designated US Air Force serial No. 61-7980, it was the last SR-71 produced and the last one to fly, making its final flight in 1999.

Its current whereabouts are unclear, although Aviation Week sources said the aircraft was moved into a hangar earlier this year for an inspection.

The report said the combination of the jet's disappearance and Isaacman's presentation raises the possibility of a return-to-flight program after more than 26 years.

NASA has not confirmed that scenario, instead pointing to Isaacman's broader push for more experimental aircraft capable of advancing high-speed and high-altitude flight.

The California desert has long been a proving ground for aviation's wildest experiments, and NASA is once again pushing the limits there. The agency's experimental X-59 has been ripping across the skies above the Mojave as part of its effort to make supersonic flight over land quieter.

The sleek aircraft has already reached more than Mach 1 during testing at Edwards, with NASA planning further flights to study the "quiet thump" it produces instead of the ear-splitting sonic boom associated with traditional supersonic jets.

The ultimate goal is to gather enough data to help clear the way for commercial aircraft that could someday slash cross-country flight times.

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