The SR-71, unofficially known as the "Blackbird", is a long-range, advanced, strategic reconnaissance aircraft developed from the Lockheed A-12 and YF-12A aircraft. The first flight of an SR-71 took place on December 22, 1964, and the first SR-71 to enter service was delivered to the 4200th (later, 9th) Strategic Recononassance Wing at Beale AFB, California, in January 1966. The U.S. Air Force retired its fleet of SR-71s on January 26, 1990, because of a decreasing defense budget and high costs of operations.

Throughout its nearly 24-year career, the SR-71 remained the world's fastest and highest-flying operational aircraft. From 80,000 feet it could survey 100,000 square miles of Earth's surface per hour. On July 28, 1976, an SR-71 set (2) world records for its class: an absolute speed record of 2,193.167 miles per hour and an absolute altitude record of 85,060.997 feet.

The aircraft on display was delivered to the USAF in December 1965. Little is known about the operational locations and missions of the SR-71 fleet. While home based from Beale AFB, CA many deployed to other locations for missions. The aircraft on display is known to have flown numerous missions from Kadena AB, Okinawa, Japan. On July 27/28 1979 it did establish a speed record over a run over 15/25-kilometer course of 2,193.167 mph. It was retired and flown to Robins for display on February 23, 1990.