SR-71B Blackbird NASA 831

During the 1990s two SR-71 Blackbird aircraft were used by NASA as testbeds for high-speed and high-altitude aeronautical research at Dryden. The aircraft included an SR-71A and SR-71B (the trainer version), loaned to NASA by the U.S. Air Force. SR-71 activities at Dryden were part of NASA's overall high-speed aeronautical research program and involved other NASA research Centers, other government agencies, universities, and commercial firms. Data from the SR-71 research project will aid designers of future supersonic/hypersonic aircraft and propulsion systems.

SR-71B (61-7956/NASA 831) arrived at Dryden on July 25, 1991, and served as a research platform as well as for crew training and proficiency until October 1997.