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Where Was The SR-71 Blackbird Built And Who Made It?
but the design that became the SR-71 had its maiden flight on December 22, 1964 at Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale, California. Test pilot Robert J "Bob" Gilliland became the first to steer the ...
The National Interest20d
Bob Gilliland
When Johnson began designing the similar but more advanced SR-71 for the Air Force, he appointed Gilliland chief test pilot. Gilliland made the historic first flight on Dec. 22, 1964.