NASA正在推进一项计划，试图让已停飞近27年的SR-71A黑鸟侦察机重新升空1。这架编号844的飞机最后一次飞行发生在1999年10月9日1，服役年龄已达59年1。项目中的飞机已于2024年5月中旬前从爱德华兹空军基地的展示架移至机库进行检修1。NASA管理员Jared Isaacman在2024年9月12日至14日举行的All-In峰会上暗示了这一举措，表示"本着NASA第一个'A'的宗旨，我们正在重建X飞机队伍"1。
为推进项目，NASA已招募了包括前测试工程师Mike Relja在内的多名退休员工参与1，并于2024年6月聘请David Ash担任NASA特别项目主任1。项目面临重大挑战。NASA在2007年曾销毁了价值6亿美元的SR-71黑鸟备用零件库存1。参与人员指出，要完成飞机复飞"如果拥有大量资金，也许能实现"1。必要的零部件可从美国和英国飞行博物馆现存的9架退役黑鸟上拆卸获得1。
NASA has launched a confidential initiative to return the SR-71A Blackbird reconnaissance aircraft to operational status after nearly 27 years of being grounded1. The aircraft, tail number 844, completed its final flight on October 9, 19991, and has since remained inactive. Administrator Jared Isaacman alluded to the ambitious undertaking during the All-In summit on September 12–14, 2024, stating, "In the service of the first 'A' in NASA, we are rebuilding our X-plane fleet"1.
To support this effort, NASA has recruited several retired personnel who previously worked on the SR-71 program, including former test engineer Mike Relja1. The aircraft was relocated from its display position at Edwards Air Force Base in California to a hangar for restoration work by May 20241. David Ash was appointed as NASA's special projects director in June 2024 to oversee the initiative1.
The project faces substantial obstacles, particularly regarding spare parts and funding. NASA destroyed a $600 million inventory of SR-71 Blackbird spare components in 20071. However, project participants suggest that replacement parts could potentially be salvaged from the nine retired Blackbird airframes housed in American and British aviation museums1. Relja acknowledged the magnitude of the challenge, noting that success would require "a lot of money," while pointing to NASA's historical achievement of moon landings as evidence of what determined effort can accomplish1.
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