Is there anywhere in the US where a SR-71 or U-2 is on display for regular people to see?
The CIA stole the one that used to be on display here. Not sure if it's on public display where ever they took it.
There is an SR-71 in the Museum of Flight in Seattle as well as a Concorde , 747 No.1, B-47, b-52, JN4, and a slew of other WW1 and WW2 fighters and a bunch of other stuff.
Doesn't really answer your question, but there's a Lockheed A-12 Blackbird at the Intrepid Museum in NYC: http://www.intrepidmuseum.org/getdoc/479c41f2-ab1f-4c71-a720-9e06c02706b5/US-Air-Force-Collection.aspx
There is one sitting outside on display at Castle AFB near Fresno CA in a public area. Quite a few others too like a 105 and a B36. As I recall there is one a Wright Pat in Dayton, the AF Museum. That place is worth a road trip.
Are U-2s retired or are they still using them? I thought they were retired but I just read an article that suggest they will be used until 2020.
The U-2 is still operational and is being flown out of Beale AFB near Sacramento, CA http://www.beale.af.mil/
They are also (at least 1) being operated out of NASA Ames research center in Mountain View, South of here. Uro, you need to see one of those take off. Looks like quite a ride.
I believe it is an A-12/M-21 variant with the D-21 Drone mounted on top. (Mach 3+ Recon Drone) Similar to the picture below. SR-71 to anyone else. Image Unavailable, Please Login
Uro- The National Museum of the USAF in Dayton, OH has both a U-2 and an SR-71 on display, along with hundreds of other aircraft from pre-WW-I to the refurbished YF-22 that crashed at Edwards AFB, and a newly restored F-22A. Kind of expensive to visit, though, admission is free. The U-2/TR-1/2 has gone through an extensive set of upgrades and engines from the J-57 in the 50s, to the J-75, and the latest versions fly the B-2 F118 engine. Global Hawk may eventually replace it. 12-14 hour missions in a pressure suit are really rough on pilots. Global Hawk does not care. There is a Global Hawk on display as well, along with a Predator. Taz Terry Phillips
The USAF museum is free admission but the gift shop, IMAX, and snack bar can be pricey. But it is a great way to spend the day. If you decide to visit i would suggest that you get there when it opens up so you can get on the list early to visit the Presidential and Experimental hanger tours that are on the active part of the base.
If I make the drive, it'll be more than one day there! according to Mapquest, Dayton is 7 hours 43 minutes from my house.... leave at 6 AM, lunch in Tenn, be there by 3 PM!
When we did a zero stage on the JT-11, those of us working on that stage had to know the metal temperatures and the pressures at the inlet and exit of the stage. If you know that you can look up the conditions in the mach tables and pretty quickly figure out how fast it was supposed to be going and how high... The SR-71 was and still is an amazing aircraft.
USAF museum in Dayton is great. Haven't been there for a few years, but they always have something new. The XB-70 Valkyrie is still my favorite there. Air Force One that flew JFK's body back to Washington is also there.
Uro- Expensive was a joke, followed by free. Dayton is not expensive, either. You can easily spend 2-3 days there. There are also tours of the restoration hangars and extra exhibits, plus the outdoor exhibits, plus an I-Max theater with aviation related films. There is a WW-1 fly-in the last weekend in September this year, too. Taz Terry Phillips
Strategic Air Command Museum just south of Omaha, NE has both a U2 and SR-71 My post from a few weeks ago. Sorry, no pics of the U2 http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showpost.php?p=138714372&postcount=6250
If you ever get a chance to go to Omaha, (and the College World Series is really the only reason to go) the museum is really pretty nice. The collection of aircraft is good considering the location and the restoration facilities are fun to sit and watch. Here is the U2 and a link to the rest of the pics I have. BTW, that is a Titan Missle in front of the museum. http://www.flickr.com/photos/pac1185/sets/72157619025011058/ Image Unavailable, Please Login
If you like airplanes you really have to go. If you drive north on 75 to Wapakoneta you can visit Niel Armstrongs home town. There is a space museum there. I didn't stop, just saw the sign.
I've been to Pima and March, Pima has more aircraft to offer in addition to the Blackbird. If you should happen to visit March, you must at least make a short trek to see Chino Air Museum where many WWII era classics are parked. http://www.marchfield.org/ http://www.pimaair.org/ http://www.planesoffame.org/
