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PRESS RELEASE: Record-Setting SR-71 Blackbird Takes Center Stage at Museum of Aviation’s Blackbird Days
WARNER ROBINS, Ga. - September 1, 2026 - One of the fastest aircraft ever built is sitting right here in Middle Georgia, and it still holds a world record.
The SR-71 Blackbird on display at the Museum of Aviation is the actual aircraft that set the world speed record for a manned, air-breathing aircraft, reaching 2,193.167 mph (Mach 3.3) on July 28, 1976. 50 years later, the record remains unbroken.
The Museum will celebrate the aircraft and the people behind its incredible history during Blackbird Days, September 24-26.
The three-day event will feature Blackbird veterans and experts, panels, opportunities to tour beneath the SR-71, and simulator experiences that give visitors a closer look at the aircraft and the technology that made it possible.
Family Aviation Day will be held Saturday, September 26, as part of Blackbird Days, bringing the celebration to families and the community with hands-on activities, an SR-71 panel, simulator experiences, opportunities to learn more about the science and technology behind the Blackbird, as well as walking through specific aircraft, climbing into select open fuselages and cockpits, meeting units from Robins Air Force Base, and having docents on-site to share information and learn about our premier exhibits. Food trucks will also be on site all day.
Media Opportunities
The Museum of Aviation welcomes local media to participate in promotional opportunities ahead of Blackbird Days. Media outlets interested in interviews, filming, photography, or advance stories are encouraged to contact the Museum to coordinate access with Blackbird participants and Museum representatives.
Media are also invited to attend Blackbird Days on Thursday, September 24, beginning at 10 a.m. to cover the event. Opportunities will include footage of the record-setting SR-71, interviews with Blackbird veterans and participants, and event activities.
"We have something incredibly special here in Middle Georgia," said Lorra Lynch Jones, CEO and President of the Museum of Aviation Foundation. "The aircraft that still holds the world speed record is sitting inside our Museum, and Blackbird Days gives people the opportunity to not only see it, but to hear the stories of the people who were part of its history. We want the community to come experience it for themselves."
About the Museum of Aviation
Located at Robins Air Force Base in Warner Robins, Georgia, the Museum of Aviation is one of the largest aviation museums in the Southeast. The Museum preserves and shares the history of military aviation through an extensive collection of historic aircraft, exhibits, educational programs, and interactive experiences.
Admission to the Museum is free.
For more information about Blackbird Days and Family Aviation Day, visit museumofaviation.org/moaevents/blackbird-days/.
Media Contact:
Museum of Aviation
RJ Sievers
423-322-6534
rsievers@museumofaviation.org
