26 January 1990 January 26, 2025AviationBlackbird, Lockheed Aircraft Corporation, Lockheed SR-71A-LO, Shock Diamonds, Strategic Reconnaissance AircraftBryan Swopes Into the sunset. . . . (Lockheed Martin)26 January 1990: The Lockheed SR-71A “Blackbird” is retired from service at Beale Air Force Base, California. This would prove to be a premature decision.© 2017, Bryan R. Swopes