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NASA Asked Several Former SR-71A Staffers To Help Secret Restart
NASA reportedly contacted several former SR-71A Blackbird program personnel to assist with what Aviation Week describes as a secret restart effort, suggesting interest in reviving or leveraging knowledge from the high-speed reconnaissance aircraft program. The SR-71A was retired in 1999 and remains the fastest air-breathing crewed aircraft ever built, capable of sustained flight above Mach 3. The engagement of former program staff points toward classified high-speed aircraft development work, though the scope, funding and operational objectives of the reported effort were not disclosed.