Air Force Flight Test (AFFT) Museum at Edwards AFB & Blackbird Air Park

One of the "must experience" in your bucket list is a visit to mojave desert if you are an "Aviation addicted". I've grown up with the legend of the Blackbird and U2 aircrafts, and now it's more than 3 years that I'm working back and fourth in California. My friend and coworker Carmelo in Palmdale for work with me, I drove alont the Joshua's trees to reach him and have a beatiful experience in museams and airports of the Mojave desert, first of alla the Blackbird Airpark.

Blackbird Airpark, an annex of the Air Force Flight Test (AFFT) Museum at Edwards AFB, was officially dedicated on September 27, 1991. It is the world’s only display of a Lockheed SR-71A together with its predecessor A-12, along with the once ultra-secret D-21 drone and the only remaining U-2 “D” model in the world.

The Airpark was established to preserve the proud heritage of the Blackbird family of military aircraft. Through the restoration, preservation, and display of these unique aircraft, it provides the visiting public from all over the world with an interesting and educational experience.

The Blackbird Heritage Courtyard brick exhibit commemorates designers, crew members, and others associated with Blackbird aircraft’s development and mission execution during the Cold War years. Museum visitors are welcome to purchase bricks, inscribed with their names or the name of someone they wish to remember and/or honor, to be placed amongst the names of Blackbird pioneers such as Lockheed’s Clarence “Kelly” Johnson, CIA’s Allen Dulles, U-2’s first flight pilot Tony LeVier, A-12’s first flight pilot Lou Schalk, and SR-71’s first flight pilot Bob Gilliland.

The Jumbo which carried the Shuttle

The Blackbird Airpark and its museum/gift shop are open Friday through Sunday, 11:00 a.m. to­ 4:00 p.m., subject to volunteer availability and weather.

Admission is FREE

http://www.afftcmuseum.org/blackbird-airpark