1965: TOS USAF and assigned to the 9th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, Beale AFB, CA. Ca.1990: TOS NASA with s/n 83. 1991: Dryden Research Center, Edwards AFB, CA, where it remained in operation until making its last flight in October 1997; it was used for training and not research. 1999: Placed in flyable storage. 28 Mar 2003: Kalamazoo Aviation History Museum, Kalamazoo, MI.

Taxiing back in front of the crowd at the 50th Anniversary of supersonic flight at the 97' Edwards show

The sole SR-71B for NASA is seen here at the platform of NASA Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards AFB (CA). Unfortunately, the full back light did not create the very best picture... The trainer was prepared for a familiarisation flight, its first official research flight for Dryden DFRC took place some two years later, on 9 March 1993. NASA 831 is former USAF 64-17956 and was delivered to the NASA on 25 July 1991 after a long USAF service that started in November 1965. After its NASA career the aircraft was dismantled and delivered to the Kalamazoo (MI) Air Zoo in March 2003 for perservation.

NASA 831 getting prepped for a late afternoon, early evening flight