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Museum · Palmdale
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AEROSPACE
Aerospace
Engineering
Space
History

Blackbird Airpark

See an SR-71A beside the first A-12 ever flown, plus the drone and engines built around Blackbird speed.
Open in OpenStreetMap ↗
STATUS
Active
ACCESS
Walk-in
COST
Free
RESERVATION
not required
TYPICAL VISIT
45 min
SETTING
outdoor
BEST FIT
families
CHECKED
Aug 22, 2026
THE NERD PAYOFF

Why This Pin Earned Its Place

The public Palmdale annex of the Air Force Flight Test Museum places the Blackbird family and its propulsion lineage together at the edge of Plant 42.
01
SR-71A with its A-12 predecessor
02
D-21 reconnaissance drone
03
Only remaining U-2 “D” model plus J57 and J58 engines
LOOK CLOSER

The Gloriously Specific Details

Blackbird lineage
• Lockheed SR-71A
• The first A-12 ever flown
• D-21 drone
• J57 and J58 engines
Other artifacts
• Only remaining U-2 “D” model
• Blackbird Heritage Courtyard
Pair this sidequest
• Joe Davies Heritage Airpark is immediately west but has a separate official address and listing
CONFIRMED · COLLECTION
The operator identifies this as the only display that places an SR-71A together with its A-12 predecessor.
CONFIRMED · ARTIFACT
The displayed A-12 was the first A-12 flown, and the collection includes a D-21 and the only remaining U-2 “D.”
CONFIRMED · ACCESS
The Palmdale annex is open to the public Friday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. with free admission.
PLAN THE VISIT

Useful Before You Leave the House

Address
2503 E Avenue P, Palmdale, CA 93550
Hours
Fri–Sun: 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Holiday and weather exceptions are not published; confirm before a time-sensitive trip.
Price
Admission is free.
Access
This public annex does not use the base-access process required for the main museum at Edwards. No regular reservation or ID requirement is published.
Transit
No attraction-specific public-transit directions or stop are published.
Parking
Separate current parking instructions are not published. Follow Blackbird Airpark signs rather than assuming the neighboring city lot is shared.
Photography
No general camera policy is published. Keep photography inside marked public exhibit areas, obey signs and staff, and never fly a personal drone over Plant 42.
Amenities
Gift shop
Open the official visitor page ↗
ACCESSIBILITY
Details need a check
The operator does not publish current accessible-parking, surface, grade, wheelchair, or step-free-route details. Contact the museum before an access-dependent visit.
• Outdoor aircraft and nearby flight activity can be loud
• Shade and climate-controlled space are limited
ACCESS & SAFETY
Specific, not sensational
Stay outside all fences and operational Plant 42 areas. Plan for high-desert sun, heat, wind, and aircraft noise.
TRUST & SOURCES
high current
Every visible claim is connected to a source and review date. Unknown never silently means no.
Flight Test Historical Foundation visitor information ↗
Checked Aug 22, 2026
Flight Test Historical Foundation Blackbird collection ↗
Checked Aug 22, 2026
Edwards Air Force Base Plant 42 visitor and drone warning ↗
Checked Aug 22, 2026
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