Man, this is a serious, serious flight jacket. I've only ever seen two with original Blackbird patches, both in museums! The Blackbird is still, probably, the most famous plane on the planet. It certainly still holds the record it set in 1976 for the fastest jet aircraft at around 2193mph, and the highest flying at 85,069ft.
In the early 60s the US turned to Lockheed and its famous skunkworks to start developing a plane faster than any other. When Gary Powers was famously shot down in a U2 over the USSR during the Cuban Missile Crisis, it demonstrated the CIA could no longer rely on heigh to protect its spy planes, instead they would have to turn to speed. The A-12 Oxcart, and the SR-71 Blackbird were the result, planes that could just accelerate away from any danger. During it's time over North Vietnam, then the most heavily defended country on earth, the Blackbird flew hundred of sorties between 1966 - 1972. It's estimated the NVA launched over 800 SAMs at it, and not one hit. It's a thoroughbred amongst thoroughbreds.
This jacket likely belonged to a member of the Blackbird team, possibly a pilot, but I think more likely groundcrew. The SAC patch on the chest representative of the SR-71s strategic role, and the stunning and incredibly rare mach 3+ patch sits on the shoulder.
Condition
This is in remarkably good condition, there are a couple of small knicks in the waistband, but otherwise she's in beautiful shape.
Size
- Tagged a large, fits like a large
- Pit to pit 24"
- Shoulder to shoulder 19"
- Shoulder to cuff 24"
- Collar to hem 23"