61-7972 proudly displaying the details of its record-breaking New York to London flight on 1st September 1974 in 1 hour 54 minutes and 56.4 seconds. Now on display in the Udvar-Hazy Center, Washington-Dulles.

Del 18 March 1961 Preserved at the National Air and Space Museum's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA.

This aircraft was a guest at the 1974 Farnborough Airshow having crossed from New York to London in 1 hour 54 minutes and 56.4 seconds, a time that shattered the previous record. Unfortunately the whole show was marred by torrential rain that led to flooding and the state of the ground can also be seen in this image.

DUTCH 66 arriving for the 1986 Norton show. 972 replaced 955 as Lockheed's dedicated test machine until it was retired to the NASM on March 6 1990 after performing a record setting flight from LA to Washington D.C.

SR-71A Blackbird from the 9 Strategic Reconnaissance Wing at Beale AFB. Displayed at the 1974 Farnborough Air Show.

This SR-71 spent 24 years on active USAF service accumulating 2,801 hours of flight time. On 6th March, 1990 its service career ended with a record-setting flight, flying from Los Angeles to Washington DC in 1 hour, 4 minutes and 20 seconds, averaging a speed of 3,418 kph (2,124 mph). After landing at Dulles the SR-71 was handed over to the NASM and is now on display at the Udvar-Hazy Center.

On its way to Farnborough, this Blackbird famously set a new record for New York to London in just under 1 hr 55 min and on departure, London to Los Angeles in 3 hrs 47.5 min. In 1976 the same aircraft exceeded 85,000ft. Now on display in the Udvar-Hazy Center, Washington-Dulles

My shot of this record-breaking machine at Farnborough gives more details. Set another speed record, this time transcontinental, on delivery flight to Air & Space Museum at Dulles on 6.3.90. View gives some measure of the wealth of exhibits on offer at the Udvar-Hazy Center

An irresistible motive at Udvar-Hazy.