NASA mysteriously trying to pull world’s fastest plane, SR-71 Blackbird, out of retirement — and won’t say why

Seeing Blackbird fly again after all these years would be incredible. I’d love to know what NASA has planned for it.

nypost.com/2026/09/29/us-news/us-quietly-sr-71-blackbird-out-of-retirement-and-wont-say-why/

Something something moon landing something area 51.

NASA, the famously underfunded organization that has to deal with that crap even today is pulling out military stealth fighters.

The SR-71 can get up to 85k feet, so there are conceivable applications.

But this is a plane that already exists, largely for the purpose of surveillance. It’s only “military” in the sense that it was requisitioned by the air force. It’s not armed.

You’re right, but I was focusing more on how NASA isn’t exactly overflowing with funding. Even if they roll them out of mothballs fueling it alone is going to be pretty expensive.

What’s the alternative?