A legendary Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird has disappeared from public view at NASA’s Neil Armstrong Flight Research Center in California, fueling speculation that the agency could be preparing for a new high-speed experimental aircraft program.
The SR-71A, identified by tail number 844, has reportedly not been seen at the California facility since at least May 17, 2026, according to Aviation Week defense editor Steve Trimble. The aircraft’s removal comes at a time when NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman has hinted at a renewed push to rebuild the agency’s fleet of experimental X-planes.
