NASA Dryden Flight Research Center History Office
Lockheed SR-71B (61-7956 / NASA 831) Flight Log Compiled by Peter W. Merlin September 2002 NASA crews flew four Lockheed SR-71 airplanes between July 1991 and October1999. They were used for research and to support the U.S. Air Force reactivation of the SR-71 for reconnaissance missions. The Air Force had retired the Blackbirds in 1990, but Congress reinstated funding for additional flights. Steve Ishmael and Rod Dyckman flew two functional check flights in Lockheed SR-71B (61-7956 / NASA 831) at Palmdale in early July 1991 before delivering the aircraft to Dryden on 25 July. The SR-71B trainer served as a research platform and for crew training and proficiency until October 1997. It was then placed in storage at DFRC pending delivery to the Kalamazoo Aviation Museum in Michigan. This aircraft made 1,454 flights during its service life, including 93 NASA flights. It accrued a total of 3,967.5 flight hours.
Flt. 01 / 01 JUL 91 : Functional check flight (FCF) at Palmdale. Stephen D. Ishmael/W. Rod Dyckman. Max. Mach=3.10, Max. Altitude=71,400 ft. Flt. 02 / 10 JUL 91 : FCF at Palmdale. Dyckman/Ishmael. Max. Mach=3.23, Max. Altitude=80,800 ft. Flt. 03 / 25 JUL 91 : FCF, Ferry to NASA DFRC. Dyckman/Ishmael. Max. Mach=3.09, Max. Altitude=74,500 ft. Flt. 04 / 14 AUG 91 : First all-NASA crew. Rogers E. Smith/Ishmael. Max. Mach=3.06, Max. Altitude=75,500 ft. Flt. 05 / 26 AUG 91 : First inflight refueling. Smith/Ishmael. Max. Mach=3.22, Max. Altitude=79,800 ft. Flt. 06 / 23 SEP 91 : Last training flight for Smith. Smith/Ishmael. Max. Mach=3.19, Max. Altitude=78,700 ft. Flt. 07 / 03 OCT 91 : RSO checkout. Ishmael/Marta Bohn-Meyer. Max. Mach=3.23, Max. Altitude=81,450 ft. Flt. 08 / 09 OCT 91 : RSO checkout. Smith/Robert MeyerJr. Max. Mach=3.23, Max. Altitude=81,450 ft. Flt. 09 / 29 OCT 91 : Operational experience mission. Ishmael/Bohn-Meyer. Max. Mach=3.20, Max. Altitude=79,500 ft. Flt. 10 / 01 NOV 91 : Operational experience mission. Smith/Meyer. Max. Mach=3.25, Max. Altitude=81,500 ft. Flt. 11 / 07 NOV 91 : Operational experience mission. Ishmael/Bohn-Meyer. Max. Mach=3.21, Max. Altitude=81,500 ft.
Flt. 12 / 14 NOV 91 : Operational experience mission. Ishmael/Meyer. Max. Mach=3.21, Max. Altitude=81,800 ft. Flt. 13 / 28 JAN 92 : FCF, Operational experience mission. Ishmael/Meyer. Max. Mach=3.26, Max. Altitude=77,400 ft. Flt. 14 / 26 FEB 92 : Operational experience mission. Smith/Bohn-Meyer. Max. Mach=3.26, Max. Altitude=81,100 ft. Flt. 15 / 28 JAN 92 : Level accelerations. Ishmael/Meyer. Max. Mach=3.12, Max. Altitude=78,000 ft. Flt. 16 / 22 APR 92 : Operational experience mission. Smith/Ishmael. Max. Mach=3.22, Max. Altitude=81,800 ft. Flt. 17 / 20 MAY 92 : Crew proficiency. Smith/Ishmael. Max. Mach=3.21, Max. Altitude=83,500 ft. Flt. 18 / 04 JUN 92 : Operational experience and pilot checkout. Thomas C. McMurtry/Ishmael. Max. Mach=3.23, Max. Altitude=83,000 ft. Flt. 19 / 26 JUN 92 : Orientation flight for director of National AeroSpace plane (NASP) Joint Program Office. Dr. Robert Barthelemy/Ishmael. Max. Mach=3.23, Max. Altitude=82, 160 ft. Flt. 20 / 24 OCT 92 : FCF, Dryden Family Day fly-by. Ishmael/Bohn-Meyer. Max. Mach=3.20, Max. Altitude=78,600 ft. Flt. 21 / 28 JAN 92 : Crew proficiency with tanker. Smith/Meyer. Max. Mach=3.26, Max. Altitude=80,500 ft. Flt. 22 / 08 DEC 92 : Refueled from KC-10 tanker, Navy Radar Surveillance Technology radar (RSTER) test over Atlantic Ocean. Aircraft flew almost 6,000 NM in less than 5 hours. Ishmael/Bohn-Meyer. Max. Mach=3.09, Max. Altitude=76,500 ft. Flt. 23 / 20 JAN 93 : Inlet test, crew proficiency. Smith/Meyer. Max. Mach=3.22, Max. Altitude=80,000 ft. Flt. 24 / 14 APR 93 : FCF, crew proficiency. Smith/Bohn-Meyer. Max. Mach=3.23, Max. Altitude=81,500 ft. Flt. 25 / 09 NOV 93 : FCF, crew proficiency. Ishmael/Bohn-Meyer. Max. Mach=3.07, Max. Altitude=75,850 ft. Flt. 26 / 18 FEB 94 : FCF, crew proficiency. Ishmael/Meyer. Max. Mach=3.20, Max. Altitude=81,200 ft. Flt. 27 / 25 FEB 94 : FCF, orientation flt. for NASA Associate Deputy Administrator. Gen. John R. Dailey/Ishmael. Max. Mach=3.17, Max. Altitude=82,100 ft. Flt. 28 / 04 MAR 94 : FCF. Smith/Bohn-Meyer. Max. Mach=3.23, Max. Altitude=80,800 ft. Flt. 29 / 24 AUG 94 : FCF. Smith/Meyer. Max. Mach=3.23, Max. Altitude=79,300 ft.
Flt. 30 / 06 OCT 94 : Crew proficiency. Ishmael/Meyer. Max. Mach=3.22, Max. Altitude=83,600 ft. Flt. 31 / 18 OCT 94 : Pilot checkout, highest NASA SR-71 flight. Edward T. Schneider/Ishmael. Max. Mach=3.22, Max. Altitude=84,700 ft. Flt. 32 / 17 NOV 94 : Pilot checkout. C. Gordon Fullerton/Ishmael. Max. Mach=3.23, Max. Altitude=82,300 ft. Flt. 33 / 08 DEC 94 : Crew proficiency. Ishmael/Smith. Max. Mach=3.23, Max. Altitude=82,500 ft. Flt. 34 / 20 JAN 95 : Crew proficiency. Schneider/Ishmael. Max. Mach=3.05, Max. Altitude=75,400 ft. Flt. 35 / 22 FEB 95 : Crew proficiency. Schneider/Smith. Max. Mach=3.11, Max. Altitude=77,000 ft. Flt. 36 / 18 MAY 95 : Crew proficiency. Schneider/Meyer. Max. Mach=3.22, Max. Altitude=80,800 ft. Flt. 37 / 31 MAY 95 : Crew proficiency. Schneider/Bohn-Meyer. Max. Mach=3.22, Max. Altitude=81,290 ft. Flt. 38 / 27 JUN 95 : Air Force training flight. Lt. Col Gary “Gil” Luloff/Smith. Max. Mach=3.23, Max. Altitude=78,245 ft. Flt. 39 / 15 JUL 95 : Air Force training flight. Luloff/Smith. Max. Mach=3.03, Max. Altitude=75,100 ft. Flt. 40 / 20 JUL 95 : Instructor Pilot (IP) flight for Schneider. Smith/Schneider. Max. Mach=3.04, Max. Altitude=76,200 ft. Flt. 41 / 28 JUL 95 : Air Force training flight. Lt. Col Thomas McCleary/Smith. Max. Mach=3.15, Max. Altitude=76,650 ft. Flt. 42 / 02 AUG 95 : Air Force training flight. McCleary/Smith. Max. Mach=3.05, Max. Altitude=77,450 ft. Flt. 43 / 11 AUG 95 : Air Force training flight. McCleary/Schneider. Max. Mach=3.15, Max. Altitude=78,000 ft. Flt. 44 / 17 AUG 95 : Crew proficiency. Schneider/Bohn-Meyer. Max. Mach=3.20, Max. Altitude=80,500 ft. Flt. 45 / 24 AUG 95 : Air Force night training flight. Luloff/Smith. Max. Mach=3.04, Max. Altitude=75,850 ft. Flt. 46 / 29 AUG 95 : Air Force crew requalification. McCleary/Lt. Col. Blair Bozek. Max. Mach=3.15, Max. Altitude=76,500 ft. Flt. 47 / 31 AUG 95 : Crew proficiency. Smith/Meyer. Max. Mach=3.24, Max. Altitude=79,800 ft. Flt. 48 / 27 SEP 95 : FCF, crew proficiency. Smith/Schneider. Max. Mach=3.21,
Max. Altitude=80,300 ft. Flt. 49 / 30 OCT 95 : Crew proficiency, Air Force SR-71 Reactivation. McCleary/Schneider. Max. Mach=3.05, Max. Altitude=74,500 ft. Flt. 50 / 09 NOV 95 : Crew proficiency, Air Force SR-71 Reactivation. Luloff/Smith. Max. Mach=3.18, Max. Altitude=80,000 ft. Flt. 51 / 16 NOV 95 : Air Force night training flight. McCleary/Schneider. Max. Mach=3.02, Max. Altitude=77,050 ft. Flt. 52 / 22 NOV 95 : Air Force training flight. Lt. Col. Donald Watkins/Schneider. Max. Mach=3.22, Max. Altitude=78,950 ft. Flt. 53 / 11 DEC 95 : Air Force training flight. Watkins/Schneider. Max. Mach=3.21, Max. Altitude=80,250 ft. Flt. 54 / 14 DEC 95 : Orientation flight for commander of the Air Force Flight Test Center. Schneider/B. Gen Richard Engel. Max. Mach=3.27, Max. Altitude=80,400 ft. Flt. 55 / 11 JAN 96 : Air Force training flight. Watkins/Smith. Max. Mach=3.23, Max. Altitude=77,400 ft. Flt. 56 / 18 JAN 96 : Air Force requalification flight. McCleary/Schneider. Max. Mach=3.02, Max. Altitude=77,700 ft. Flt. 57 / 01 FEB 96 : Crew proficiency. Schneider/Meyer. Max. Mach=3.21, Max. Altitude=80,150 ft. Flt. 58 / 06 FEB 96 : Air Force crew proficiency flight . Luloff/Smith. Max. Mach=3.17, Max. Altitude=75,300 ft. Flt. 59 / 16 FEB 96 : Crew proficiency. Schneider/Bohn-Meyer. Max. Mach=1.50, Max. Altitude=48,000 ft. Flt. 60 / 20 MAR 96 : FCF, no-chute landing. Schneider/Bohn-Meyer. Max. Mach=3.09, Max. Altitude=79,000 ft. Flt. 61 / 29 MAR 96 : Crew proficiency, no-chute landing. Smith/Meyer. Max. Mach=3.22, Max. Altitude=80,000 ft. Flt. 62 / 04 APR 96 : Crew proficiency, heavy-weight takeoff, no-chute landing. Schneider/BohnMeyer. Max. Mach=3.04, Max. Altitude=76,400 ft. Flt. 63 / 10 APR 96 : Crew proficiency, heavy-weight takeoff, no-chute landing. Smith/Meyer. Max. Mach=3.22, Max. Altitude=80,100 ft. Flt. 64 / 25 APR 96 : Crew proficiency, tanker training. Schneider/Meyer. Max. Mach=3.26, Max. Altitude=82,200 ft. Flt. 65 / 16 MAY 96 : Crew proficiency, tanker training. Smith/Bohn-Meyer. Max. Mach=3.01, Max. Altitude=74,000 ft. Flt. 66 / 05 JUN 96 : Crew proficiency. Schneider/Meyer. Max. Mach=3.04, Max. Altitude=78,600 ft.
Flt. 67 / 22 AUG 96 : Crew proficiency, heavy-weight takeoff. Schneider/Bohn-Meyer. Max. Mach=3.23, Max. Altitude=80,800 ft. Flt. 68 / 07 SEP 96 : Pilot checkout and proficiency. Dana Purifoy/Schneider. Max. Mach=3.24, Max. Altitude=84,300 ft. Flt. 69 / 08 OCT 96 : Air Force training flight. Luloff/Smith. Max. Mach=3.17, Max. Altitude=80,000 ft. Flt. 70 / 23 OCT 96 : Air Force training flight. Luloff/Schneider. Max. Mach=3.20, Max. Altitude=78,800 ft. Flt. 71 / 01 NOV 96 : Air Force training flight. McCleary/Smith. Max. Mach=3.15, Max. Altitude=78,050 ft. Flt. 72 / 06 NOV 96 : Air Force training flight. McCleary/Schneider. Max. Mach=3.16, Max. Altitude=79,600 ft. Flt. 73 / 20 NOV 96 : Air Force night training flight. Luloff/Schneider. Max. Mach=3.04, Max. Altitude=77,900 ft. Flt. 74 / 03 DEC 96 : Air Force night training flight. McCleary/Smith. Max. Mach=3.02, Max. Altitude=76,500 ft. Flt. 75 / 13 DEC 96 : Crew proficiency. Schneider/Meyer. Max. Mach=3.20, Max. Altitude=81,000 ft. Flt. 76 / 28 JAN 97 : Crew proficiency. Schneider/Meyer. Max. Mach=3.20, Max. Altitude=80,000 ft. Flt. 77 / 20 FEB 97 : Crew proficiency. Smith/Bohn-Meyer. Max. Mach=3.07, Max. Altitude=77,600 ft. Flt. 78 / 04 MAR 97 : Pilot checkout. Schneider/Mark Stucky. Max. Mach=3.27, Max. Altitude=81,400 ft. Flt. 79 / 17 APR 97 : Crew proficiency, orientation flight for retired Chief of NASA Ames Research Center Flight Operations. Martin A. Knutson/Schneider. Max. Mach=3.27, Max. Altitude=80,850 ft. Flt. 80 / 02 MAY 97 : Air Force training flight, IP check for Luloff. McCleary/Luloff. Max. Mach=3.04, Max. Altitude=75,800 ft. Flt. 81 / 08 MAY 97 : Air Force training flight, IP check for Luloff. Smith/Luloff. Max. Mach=3.03, Max. Altitude=74,900 ft. Flt. 82 / 24 JUN 97 : Air Force training flight. Maj. Bert Garrison/Luloff. Max. Mach=3.04, Max. Altitude=74,000 ft. Flt. 83 / 02 JUL 97 : Air Force training flight. Garrison/Luloff. Max. Mach=3.15, Max. Altitude=75,700 ft. Flt. 84 / 15 JUL 97 : Air Force training flight. Garrison/Luloff. Max. Mach=3.06, Max. Altitude=75,900 ft. Flt. 85 / 23 JUL 97 : Air Force training flight. Garrison/Luloff. Max. Mach=3.04, Max. Altitude=73,500 ft.
Flt. 86 / 29 JUL 97 : Air Force training flight. Garrison/Luloff. Max. Mach=3.18, Max. Altitude=78,000 ft. Flt. 87 / 02 AUG 97 : Oshkosh Air Show fly-by, emergency landing at Milwaukee, Wisconsin due to fuel leak. Smith/Meyer. Max. Mach=3.05, Max. Altitude=74,600 ft. Flt. 88 / 11 AUG 97 : Ferry flight from Milwaukee to DFRC, trouble with left engine resulted in damage to exhaust ejector over Omaha, Nebraska. Smith/Meyer. Max. Mach=2.55, Max. Altitude=63,000 ft. Flt. 89 / 18 SEP 97 : FCF due to replacement of left engine. Smith/Bohn-Meyer. Max. Mach=3.22, Max. Altitude=80,150 ft. Flt. 90 / 24 SEP 97 : Air Force night IP check for Luloff. McCleary/Luloff. Max. Mach=3.03, Max. Altitude=75,000 ft. Flt. 91 / 14 OCT 97 : Air Force 50th Anniversary Aerial Review at Edwards AFB. Schneider/Meyer. Max. Mach=3.22, Max. Altitude=76,600 ft. Flt. 92 / 18 OCT 97 : Edwards AFB Air Show fly-by. Schneider/Bohn-Meyer. Max. Mach=3.03, Max. Altitude=75,050 ft. Flt. 93 / 19 OCT 97 : Edwards AFB Air Show fly-by. Schneider/Meyer. Max. Mach=0.70, Max. Altitude=25,000 ft.
Sources: SR-71 program chronology by Mike Relja DFRC Flight Operations Office Daily Logs Monthly Aerospace Projects Update memoranda Weekly Aerospace Projects Highlights
NASA Dryden Flight Research Center History Office
Lockheed SR-71A (61-7967) Flight Log Compiled by Peter W. Merlin September 2002 NASA crews flew four Lockheed SR-71 airplanes between July 1991 and October1999. They were used for research and to support the U.S. Air Force reactivation of the SR-71 for reconnaissance missions. The Air Force had retired the Blackbirds in 1990, but Congress reinstated funding for additional flights. SR-71A (61-7967) was flown by NASA crews only at Palmdale in 1995 and 1996 in support of USAF SR-71 reactivation.
Flt. 01 / 28 AUG 95 : Low-speed Functional check flight (FCF). Edward T. “Fast Eddie” Schneider/Robert Meyer Jr. Max. Mach=0.95, Max. Altitude=26,000 ft. Flt. 02 / 06 SEP 95 : Attempted high-speed FCF, low speed and altitude only. Rogers E. Smith/Marta Bohn-Meyer. Max. Mach=0.92, Max. Altitude=24,000 ft. Flt. 03 / 13 SEP 95 : Attempted high-speed FCF, low speed and altitude only. Smith/BohnMeyer. Max. Mach=0.93, Max. Altitude=23,500 ft. Flt. 04 / 06 OCT 95 : First successful high-speed FCF. Smith/Bohn-Meyer. Max. Mach=3.01, Max. Altitude=70,200 ft. Flt. 05 / 25 OCT 95 : High-speed FCF, emergency landing at Nellis AFB, Nevada. Schneider/Meyer. Max. Mach=3.23, Max. Altitude=79,000 ft. Flt. 06 / 27 OCT 95 : Ferry flight from Nellis AFB to Palmdale, California. Schneider/Meyer. Max. Mach=0.88, Max. Altitude=28,000 ft. Flt. 07 / 15 DEC 95 : High-speed FCF. Smith/Bohn-Meyer. Max. Mach=3.15, Max. Altitude=74,100 ft. Flt. 08 / 09 JAN 96 : High-speed FCF. Smith/Meyer. Max. Mach=3.06, Max. Altitude=72,800 ft. Flt. 09 / 13 SEP 95 : Final high-speed FCF, aircraft released to Air Force. Smith/Bohn-Meyer. Max. Mach=3.22, Max. Altitude=78,300 ft.
Sources: SR-71 program chronology by Mike Relja DFRC Flight Operations Office Daily Logs Monthly Aerospace Projects Update memoranda Weekly Aerospace Projects Highlights
NASA Dryden Flight Research Center History Office
Lockheed SR-71A (61-7971 / NASA 832) Flight Log Compiled by Peter W. Merlin September 2002 The Air Force retired the Blackbirds in 1990, but Congress reinstated funding for additional flights. SR-71A (61-7971 / NASA 832) arrived at Dryden on 19 March 1990. It departed to Lockheed Palmdale on 12 January 1995, having never been flown by NASA crews at the Center. It was flown by NASA crews at Palmdale in support of the Air Force SR-71 Reactivation program. Flt. 01 / 12 JAN 95 : Ferry flight to Palmdale AF Plant 42 from Edwards AFB. Stephen D. “Steve” Ishmael/Marta Bohn-Meyer. Max. Mach=0.39, Max. Altitude=3,200 ft. Flt. 02 / 26 APR 95 : Low-speed functional check flight (FCF). Edward T. “Fast Eddie” Schneider/Bohn-Meyer. Max. Mach=0.96, Max. Altitude=2,900 ft. Flt. 03 / 23 MAY 95 : High-speed FCF, aerial refueling practice. Schneider/Robert Meyer Jr. Max. Mach=3.23, Max. Altitude=81,400 ft. Flt. 04 / 02 JUN 95 : High-speed FCF. Schneider/Bohn-Meyer. Max. Mach=3.15, Max. Altitude=81,290 ft. Flt. 05 / 02 JUN 95 : High-speed FCF. Schneider/Meyer. Max. Mach=3.21, Max. Altitude=72,800 ft. Flt. 06 / 06 JUL 95 : High-speed FCF. Schneider/Bohn-Meyer. Max. Mach=3.20, Max. Altitude=79,100 ft. Flt. 07 / 12 JUL 95 : High-speed FCF. Schneider/Meyer. Max. Mach=3.06, Max. Altitude=77,500 ft. Between 12 July and 17 October 1995, there were 9 flights with all Air Force crews Flt. 05 / 02 JUN 95 : Air Force exercise. Schneider/Bohn-Meyer. Max. Mach=3.05, Max. Altitude=76,000 ft. Between 17 October 1995 and 14 June 1996, there were 14 flights with all AF crews Flt. 05 / 02 JUN 95 : Advanced Synthetic Aperture Radar (ASARS), defensive avionics, and airborne data link tests. Schneider/Lt. Col. Blair L. Bozek. Max. Mach=3.05, Max. Altitude=78,600 ft. Sources: SR-71 program chronology by Mike Relja DFRC Flight Operations Office Daily Logs Weekly Aerospace Projects Highlights
NASA Dryden Flight Research Center History Office
Lockheed SR-71A (61-7980 / NASA 844) Flight Log Compiled by Peter W. Merlin September 2002 NASA crews flew four Lockheed SR-71 airplanes between July 1991 and October1999. They were used for research and to support the U.S. Air Force reactivation of the SR-71 for reconnaissance missions. The Air Force had retired the Blackbirds in 1990, but Congress reinstated funding for additional flights. Lockheed SR-71A (61-7980 / NASA 844) arrived at NASA Dryden Flight Research Center on 15 February 1990. It was placed into storage until 1992. It served as a research platform until October 1999. Following its final flight, on 9 October 1999, it was again stored at the Center. It was placed on static display in front of DFRC on 14 September 2002. This aircraft made 734 flights during its service life, including 56 NASA flights. It accrued a total of 2,353.6 flight hours.
Flt. 01 / 24 SEP 92 : Functional check flight (FCF), Orbital Sciences Corporation (OSC) frequency scanning experiment in nose. Stephen D. Ishmael/Marta Bohn-Meyer. Max. Mach=3.25, Max. Altitude=78,680 ft. Flt. 02 / 06 OCT 92 : FCF, OSC F3SAT back-up satellite in passive mode to check prelaunch conditions. Rogers E. Smith/ Robert Meyer Jr. Max. Mach=3.26, Max. Altitude=80,000 ft. Flt. 03 / 09 MAR 93 : Ultraviolet Charge-Coupled Device (CCD), Southwest Research Institute UV Imaging Sytem (SWUIS) camera experiment. Ishmael/Bohn-Meyer. Max. Mach=3.17, Max. Altitude=82,350 ft. Flt. 04 / 16 MAR 93 : Ultraviolet CCD, SWUIS camera experiment. Smith/Meyer. Max. Mach=3.24, Max. Altitude=84,050 ft. Flt. 05 / 15 JUL 93 : Near Ultraviolet Spectrometer (NUVS) experiment, planned sonic boom test with F-16 XL aborted, JP-8 tanker test. Ishmael/Meyer. Max. Mach=3.23, Max. Altitude=81,800 ft. Flt. 06 / 28 JUL 93 : NUVS experiment, sonic boom test with F-16 XL. Smith/Bohn-Meyer. Max. Mach=1.85, Max. Altitude=48,500 ft. Flt. 07 / 03 AUG 93 : Handling qualities, NUVS experiment. Ishmael/Meyer. Max. Mach=3.23, Max. Altitude=83,950 ft. Flt. 08 / 17 SEP 93 : Handling qualities, Optical Air Data System (OADS) experiment. Smith/Ishmael. Max. Mach=3.00, Max. Altitude=76,070 ft. Flt. 09 / 01 OCT 93 : NUVS experiment, OADS experiment. Ishmael/Bohn-Meyer. Max. Mach=3.17, Max. Altitude=76,500 ft. Flt. 10 / 06 OCT 93 : Handling qualities, NUVS experiment. Smith/Meyer. Max. Mach=3.03, Max. Altitude=73,025 ft.
Flt. 11 / 13 OCT 93 : Handling qualities, NUVS experiment. Ishmael/Bohn-Meyer. Max. Mach=3.23, Max. Altitude=83,700 ft. Flt. 12 / 20 OCT 93 : Handling qualities, NUVS experiment. Smith/Meyer Max. Mach=3.05, Max. Altitude=75,635 ft. Flt. 13 / 08 DEC 93 : NUVS experiment. Ishmael/Meyer. Max. Mach=3.21, Max. Altitude=77,375 ft. Flt. 14 / 22 DEC 93 : NUVS experiment, Low Earth Orbit Experiment (LEOEX). Ishmael/BohnMeyer. Max. Mach=3.11, Max. Altitude=76,000 ft. Flt. 15 / 22 DEC 93 : NUVS, LEOEX. Ishmael/Bohn-Meyer. Max. Mach=3.11, Max. Altitude=76,150 ft. Flt. 16 / 25 JAN 94 : NUVS, LEOEX, hot refuel and turnaround. Smith/Meyer. Max. Mach=3.04, Max. Altitude=77,600 ft. Flt. 17 / 25 JAN 94 : NUVS, LEOEX. Smith/Meyer. Max. Mach=3.04, Max. Altitude=77,600 ft. Flt. 18 / 07 JUL 94 : Sonic boom test, Dynamic Auroral Viewing Experiment (DAVE). Ishmael/Bohn-Meyer. Max. Mach=3.16, Max. Altitude=77,750 ft. Flt. 19 / 13 JUL 94 : handling qualities, DAVE. Smith/Meyer. Max. Mach=3.18, Max. Altitude=77,700 ft. Flt. 20 / 21 JUL 94 : NUVS, DAVE. Ishmael/Bohn-Meyer. Max. Mach=3.19, Max. Altitude=80,300 ft. Flt. 21 / 31 AUG 94 : NUVS, DAVE. Smith/Bohn-Meyer. Max. Mach=3.05, Max. Altitude=75,700 ft. Flt. 22 / 25 OCT 94 : NUVS, DAVE. Smith/Bohn-Meyer. Max. Mach=3.21, Max. Altitude=80,000 ft. Flt. 23 / 15 FEB 95 : Sonic boom flight with F-16XL (NASA 849). Smith/Meyer. Max. Mach=1.27, Max. Altitude=31,500 ft. Flt. 24 / 16 MAR 95 : Sonic boom flight with F-16XL and YO-3A (NASA 718). Schneider/BohnMeyer. Max. Mach=1.26, Max. Altitude=34,100 ft. Flt. 25 / 22 MAR 95 : Sonic boom flight with F-16XL and YO-3A, handling qualities. Ishmael/Meyer. Max. Mach=1.28, Max. Altitude=33,000 ft. Flt. 26 / 24 MAR 95 : Sonic boom flight with F-16XL and YO-3A. Schneider/Bohn-Meyer. Max. Mach=1.63, Max. Altitude=48,000 ft. Flt. 27 / 29 MAR 95 : Sonic boom flight with F-16XL, YO-3A, and F-18A (NASA 843). Schneider/Meyer. Max. Mach=1.56, Max. Altitude=48,200 ft. Flt. 28 / 05 APR 95 : Sonic boom flight with F-16XL, YO-3A, and F-18A (NASA 851). Smith/Bohn-Meyer. Max. Mach=1.54, Max. Altitude=47,600 ft.
Flt. 29 / 12 APR 95 : Sonic boom flight with F-16XL, YO-3A, and F-18A (NASA 850). Ishmael/Bohn-Meyer. Max. Mach=1.28, Max. Altitude=44,300 ft. Flt. 30 / 20 APR 95 : Sonic boom flight with F-16XL, YO-3A, and F-18A (NASA 850). Schneider/Meyer. Max. Mach=1.35, Max. Altitude=44,300 ft. Flt. 31 / 25 MAY 95 : Sonic boom flight with YO-3A, handling qualities, ferry flight to Palmdale for Linear Aerospike SR-71 Experiment (LASRE) modifications.. Smith/Bohn-Meyer. Max. Mach=1.92, Max. Altitude=49,000 ft. Flt. 32 / 14 MAR 96 : Low-speed FCF, ferry flight to DFRC. Schneider/Bohn-Meyer. Max. Mach=0.98, Max. Altitude=26,650 ft. Flt. 33 / 22 MAR 96 : High-speed FCF, engine trim-up, no-drag-chute landing. Schneider/BohnMeyer. Max. Mach=3.22, Max. Altitude=80,400 ft. Flt. 34 / 12 JUL 96 : Simulated LASRE mission (pod off). Schneider/Meyer. Max. Mach=2.15, Max. Altitude=60,000 ft. Flt. 35 / 13 JUL 96 : Simulated LASRE mission (pod off), handling qualities. Smith/Meyer. Max. Mach=1.75, Max. Altitude=42,000 ft. Flt. 36 / 30 JAN 97 : Handling qualities, crew proficiency. Smith/Bohn-Meyer. Max. Mach=2.27, Max. Altitude=62,750 ft. Flt. 37 / 14 FEB 97 : Handling qualities, stability and control. Schneider/Meyer. Max. Mach=2.10, Max. Altitude=60,500 ft. Flt. 38 / 18 MAR 97 : Crew proficiency. Schneider/Bohn-Meyer. Max. Mach=2.17, Max. Altitude=62,750 ft. Flt. 39 / 02 APR 97 : Crew proficiency, “hot time” on aircraft. Schneider/Meyer. Max. Mach=3.04, Max. Altitude=78,400 ft. Flt. 40 / 23 MAY 97 : Crew proficiency. Smith/Bohn-Meyer. Max. Mach=3.22, Max. Altitude=80,700 ft. Flt. 41 / 30 MAY 97 : Crew proficiency. Schneider/Meyer. Max. Mach=3.22, Max. Altitude=80,500 ft. Flt. 42 / 26 JUN 97 : Crew proficiency, air data calibration, stability and control. Smith/BohnMeyer. Max. Mach=3.19, Max. Altitude=80,000 ft. Flt. 43 / 17 JUL 97 : Crew proficiency, simulated LASRE mission (pod off). Schneider/Meyer. Max. Mach=2.20, Max. Altitude=55,000 ft. Flt. 44 / 25 JUL 97 : Crew proficiency, simulated LASRE mission (pod off). Smith/Bohn-Meyer. Max. Mach=2.20, Max. Altitude=60,200 ft. Flt. 45 / 31 OCT 97 : LASRE aerodynamics. Schneider/Meyer. Max. Mach=1.19, Max. Altitude=33,000 ft. Flt. 46 / 19 DEC 97 : LASRE aerodynamics. Smith/Bohn-Meyer. Max. Mach=1.61, Max. Altitude=50,050 ft. Flt. 47 / 04 MAR 98 : LASRE cold flow test. Schneider/Meyer. Max. Mach=1.58, Max. Altitude=41,300 ft.
Flt. 48 / 19 MAR 98 : LASRE cold flow test. Smith/Bohn-Meyer. Max. Mach=1.63, Max. Altitude=50,050 ft. Flt. 49 / 15 APR 98 : LASRE ignition test, LOX carry. Schneider/Meyer. Max. Mach=1.78, Max. Altitude=51,000 ft. Flt. 50 / 23 JUL 98 : LASRE LOX cold flow test, pod purge evaluation, crew proficiency. Smith/Bohn-Meyer. Max. Mach=0.92, Max. Altitude=32,350 ft. Flt. 51 / 29 OCT 98 : LASRE LOX cold flow test, pod purge evaluation, final LASRE flight. Schneider/Meyer. Max. Mach=1.40, Max. Altitude=41,200 ft. Flt. 52 / 30 JUN 99 : Handling qualities with LASRE model removed, pod purge evaluation. Schneider/Meyer. Max. Mach=2.25, Max. Altitude=55,000 ft. Flt. 53 / 15 JUL 99 : Handling qualities with LASRE model removed, pod purge evaluation. Smith/Bohn-Meyer. Max. Mach=2.73, Max. Altitude=63,800 ft. Flt. 54 / 16 AUG 99 : Handling qualities with LASRE model removed, pod purge evaluation, boundary-layer rakes installed. Schneider/Meyer. Max. Mach=3.03, Max. Altitude=67,800 ft. Flt. 55 / 27 SEP 99 : Handling qualities with LASRE model removed, pod purge evaluation, boundary-layer rakes installed. Smith/Bohn-Meyer. Max. Mach=2.70, Max. Altitude=64,000 ft. Flt. 56 / 09 OCT 99 : Flight demonstration for Edwards AFB air show, last flight of SR-71. Smith/Bohn-Meyer. Max. Mach=3.21, Max. Altitude=80,100 ft.
Sources: SR-71 program chronology by Mike Relja DFRC Flight Operations Office Daily Logs Monthly Aerospace Projects Update memoranda Weekly Aerospace Projects Highlights
