This place is pretty cool. It's clean and has plenty to see. When we visited the park was a bit empty so it was like we had the entire place to ourselves. Each aircraft has a story to tell. It's also a great place for photo apps. I would have posted photos but my family is in every photo. Anyway, there isn't much to do in the AV but this place is a must see. Oh yes, FYI ... The Indian Museum is pretty cool too. Welp! Have fun and enjoy read more

World's only display of a Lockheed SR-71 and its predecessor the A-12, the once ultra secret D-12 drone, and the only remaining U-2D. The airpark is an interesting and educational experience. Definitely worth some time to peruse the displayed aircraft here and at the Joe Davies Heritage Airpark next door. Gift shop and clean restrooms on the premises along with plenty of parking. read more

Blackbird Airpark - U-2D "Dragon Lady" 56-6721. Only remaining U-2D. - Museums Near Me - Palmdale, California

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incredible landmark for aerospace enthusiasts or those with fascination of the cold war. the amount of planes here is incredible. I never thought that I'd be able to see an SR-71 in real life. Got goosebumps standing so close up to that and an A-12. there's also a lovely indoor museum/gift shop. air conditioned as well! I got some stickers. they have some cool aircraft parts and the actual pressure suits that the pilots needed to wear when flying at high altitude. I drove around 2 hours to get to this museum. Absolutely worth it. There's also an in-n-out relatively close by (and plenty of food options in Palmdale), so location is pretty good too. Also, craziest part of the airpark in my opinion, admission is free! they have a donation box which we happily donated to. read more

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Free entrance. Great clear day to view lots of aircraft. Such a great historic experience. read more

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This place is absolutely amazing. It is worth it to drive here. It is amazing to see the SR 17 and U2 and other planes and the staff was very helpful. Plenty of parking. Highly recommended. read more

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Being a fan on the SR71 Blackbird, I have always wanted to see one. This place was the fullfilment! One of the two "birds" on display is actually a prototype but the appearance of the two of them nearly nose-to-nose is striking! The attached visitor center offers a respite from the heat if you visit on a hot day. The people who run it are volunteers and nice people to talk to with a wealth of information. The facility is a must-see if you are a fan of high-performance aircraft, and well-worth the detour it takes to reach since The Joe Davies Airpark is a next door, making this a two-for-one stop. read more

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The whole experience was great . I just don't recommend to come when it's hot. There is a nice breeze and then some shady areas. There is also some picnic areas with nice shade. read more

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Very nice place!!!!!! 10/10 will go again!!!!!! Very nice planes!!!!! And the joe Davies next to it is very nice to!!!! read more

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Beautiful airplanes and so much history on display. Very well maintained and a nice gift shop.

This is a very small little airplane museum. It is far smaller than the Joe Davies airport museum next door, which has a gazillion planes. Of course, here they have the old secret SR71 jets outside, and also a small gift store close by. It's also close to some restrooms. If you are a military historian, you probably will spend a lot more time here than the average visitor. Honestly, there's just stopped not that much to do here. On the other hand, the entry is absolutely free as well as the parking. You can do the whole thing in 10 minutes, and that includes using the restrooms. read more

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It does not matter how many times I come here, there is always something special about this tiny aviation museum. The displays do not really change alot, (although I have hope that they will finish the F-16 that they have in the Quonset hut in back will get back on track and be fit for display) but it is a joy to see the fastest air breathing machines ever created. As noted before you get the see almost the entire Blackbird family here. The A-12, the SR-71, and the D-21. A U-2 is also there. However, what makes this and just about any museum is to spend a bit of time talking to the docents. Most served or even piloted these amazing aircraft and have fantastic stories. Not just about piloting but also about deployments, and the like. You often get to hear about history not from a text book but rather directly from someone who participated in it! For aviation nerds like myself, its easy to spend an hour or more discussing minutia like tire pressures and fuel tank sealants. It is a small park and situated right next to the Joe Davis Heritage Air Park so both can be visited at the same time. Its hot out there during the summer but there is plenty of food and drink options nearby as well as few picnic benches. It is also adjacent to Air Force Plant 42 so keep those cameras ready as you never know who is going to fly by --------------------- From my prior review: Blackbird Park is a special place. What makes this little outpost in the desert so special? It is one of the few places you can see and SR-71, and A-12, and U-2 and D-21 drone in one place. The SR-71 is the plane most people know as the fastest air breathing aircraft ever to fly. What many don't know is that the slightly faster one seat versions called the A-12 was built first for the CIA. Powered by massive J-58 turbines the aircraft could cruise at over 3 times the speed of sound at 85000 feet. The U-2 everybody knows about, and if you don't google Gary Powers. The D-21 was a drone designed to fly faster and higher than the A-12 and go into areas the A-12 (called an M-21 for this purpose) could not. It was initially hoped that it could be launched off the back of the M-21 If the Center is open make sure to go inside. Its is staffed by Veterans and retired aerospace industry types and you can have a fascinating conversation with them about the ins and outs of building and flying a plane. read more

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If you like planes and like free museums, this is a great place for you. There are old planes and fighter jets and other cool planes and you can get real darned close. The only problem is that there really is no regular hours. They are only open pretty much a couple of days a week a few hours on each of those days. Even if you show up at their "operating hours" (I came on a Friday), if they don't have a volunteer for that day, they won't be open. But you can still see the planes, though you can't get close, from the sidewalk. read more

Amazing collection of airborne spycraft, including A-12, originally designed for CIA; its descendant SR-71, for USAF; a D-21 drone, meant to launch from M-21 variant of A-12; and U-2 for ultra-high altitude. read more

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Palmdale, California. The Blackbird airpark appears to be an extension of Edward's Air Force Base's Air Force Flight Test Museum. It's a small collection of fighter planes that is sight to see. They also have a killer drone on display and it's shear size was shocking to me. I wasn't aware it was so big. This spot is good for a quick peak a boo session and the Joe Davies Airpark is next door and not to be confused as the same museum/display. Access/Roads: A Paved and appears to share the same spaces as the Palmdale Airport. Parking: A Free and plentiful. Distance: A Appx 70-75 miles north of DT Los Angeles. Don't let the distance fool ya cause it's still a 1.5-2 hour drive with our legendary traffic. Costs: A Free to enjoy. Nearby Attractions: Joe Davis Heritage Airpark (it's just a few steps west). Antelope Valley Indian Museum/State Historic Park (15 min east) Western Hotel Museum in Lancaster Red Rock Canyon State Park (appx 1.5-2 hrs north). Tehachapi Area sites (listed below) is appx one hour north or 60 miles: Tehachapi Mountain Park/Recreation Park Tehachapi Heritage Museum Tehachapi Depot RR Museum Errea House Museum Tomo Kahni State Historic Park and Tehachapi Loop Railroad Overlook. Conclusion: Amazing museum and display of classic warplanes. www,cleeshyun.com IG Cigarcpa read more

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It's not the biggest museum but boasts the Blackbird which is a must for my teenage aviation enthusiast. In fact, we centered a lot of our trip from the east coast to come here specifically. I think what made this just okay was that we ended up finding the Estrella Warbird museum on Paso Robles the day before by chance and that was such an incredible experience with ridiculously knowledgeable and invested docents this kind of pales in comparison even though Estrella doesn't have a blackbird. The joe Davies is next door to this so you do get two experiences right next door which is nice. It is hot in the summer as it's the desert so be aware of the temperature trends if you're heat sensitive as these are outdoor exhibits. read more

You haven't truly visited Palmdale until you've checked out these U.S. military aircraft. As a casual visitor, I could see this as a short 15 minutes visit because there are only four aircraft and a gift shop to see. However, It's not every day that you get to see real-size aircraft free of charge. Aircraft on display: Lockheed D-21 Drone, Lockheed U-2D, Lockheed A-12, and Lockheed SR-71A Blackbird. Not a must visit for me, but definitely worth a stop if you are around the Palmdale area. This is a good place to bring your kids and teach them some history lessons (e.g. the U-2 Incident). . P.S. - The park only opens on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 11 AM to 4 PM. read more

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Edwards AFB has been the test site for who knows how many classified planes. Some of the military planes that have outlived their useful lives are now housed at the Blackbird Airpark. This exhibit is located immediately next door to the Joe Davies Heritage Airpark, which houses other interesting historical aircraft, but under different ownership. read more

Blackbird Airpark - Formerly classified military plane - Museums Near Me - Palmdale, California

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Boys (at least the guys I've known) and their love for fighter planes... or planes in general is inevitable. We took a sharp u-turn as we were driving by. Their planes are visible from the street. Learned from a fellow Yelper I originally visited the Joe Davies Heritage Airpark, not the Blackbird Airpark. Bummer! The photos shared on Yelp make the Blackbird Airpark look pretty fantastic to see in person. Will remember to revisit with my son. Few steps further and it's an easy excursion to explore these cool machines, live and in person off the pages from our history. read more

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After wandering around the aircraft at Joe Davies's Airpark, I walked past the restroom, and along the short (somewhat marked) path over to this park. This place only has four aircraft here, a pair of blackbirds, a U2 Spy plane, and an unmanned drone offshoot of the Blackbird. I've always been a huge fan of the Blackbird ever since I was a kid. In addition to the planes, there is a building with additional information and informative people located inside. There are assorted models of the planes, a video you can watch, and some very informative handouts you can read before or as you see the planes. This park took far less time to view than Joe Davies. But it was more informative. Between the two parks, I took about an hour or two. I'm glad I discovered this place. Very, very cool, I wonder what additional Easter Eggs I can find in the Antelope Valley? read more

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I first went here decades ago to see the plane my grandfather helped build. Now they have added many more, with plenty of information on each. The price is right no matter how much there is on display, but the volume now makes it the deal of the century! If you live in the Antelope Valley, you must take a moment out of your day to see this place. If you're from further away, bookmark it to stop by the next time you're passing through. read more

Blackbird Airpark - The planes that started it all. Many more inside! - Museums Near Me - Palmdale, California

Blackbird Airpark has been around in one form or another for many years in Palmdale. I don't think it was always open to the public. More like a roadside stop for curious onlookers or aircraft enthuesiasts. Maybe it was open once then fenced. Maybe not. I don't really remember. What I do remember is that it has always been there and a favorite place for me as the SR-71 Blackbird has always been and always will be my favorite plane. The speed, the altitude, the unique ramjet engines. It is unrivaled after 50+ years. So to be able to walk up and see these beauties close up is a remarkable experience for me. My love affair with the Blackbird goes way back to the days of my youth. Posters, pictures, diecast toys, models, model rockets, a grandfather who worked for Lockheed Martin Skunkworks on the SR project. I had it all. That is why I came to Blackbird Airpark. To see them again. Actually, to see one Blackbird again. The other and nearly identical plane here is an A-12. A single seater version with different capabilities. There is also a drone and a U-2 spy plane on site. Perhaps the most intriguing and yet least appreciated or known display is the engine start carts. You may be surprised to hear that one of the most advanced and overall fastest jets ever built is started via a pair of Buick car engines. The ramjet engine needs the air flowing through to start. You can see it all and read about it here. And make sure you stop by the gift shop. You can pick up a few gift items and see some cool memoribilia. I sure do wish I could see the Blackbird fly again but I'll settle for walking around them. read more

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This was a nice place.nice to be able to see the black planes up close. The have a nice little gift shop also. read more

Came from out of town for business for a few months and decided to visit with kids after passing by a few times. I don't know a lot about planes or the history but I like to expose my kids and myself to new learning opportunities. We spent about 2 hours here and made sure to get there right when it opens because it gets very hot and the shade is scattered throughout. Bring water for sure and there are some tables for picnics. Very interesting and informative with signs for each plane. Really beautiful pieces of equipment. The NASA plane was our favorite! Kids had fun and there was a little gift shop with some interesting displays and very helpful Air Force vets. Learned a lot! read more

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Wanna see something cool? Input the address for this place into Google and look at the satellite view. Freaking cool. I feel like I'm spying on the X-Men. Anyway, we pulled up, got out of the car, and headed toward the trailer that houses the little museum and giftshop, and were immediately greeted by the pleasant air conditioning and smiling gentleman behind the counter who had flown the SR-71 while in the military. He directed us to sit in his ejector seat in the corner and told us about his pressure suit, which saved his life twice, that was hanging in another corner. A TV played looping footage he personally shot with his own camera while riding in the chase plane behind an SR-71 flying from coast to coast in 61 minutes. Before we left he mentioned the airpark next door was also open and free. After saying our thanks for the stories and info, we checked out the SR-71 "Blackbird" and her older sister, the A-12. OK, I fangirl'd. These planes are soooooo cool. There are a few other things (a drone, a firetruck, etc) around them, but they are definitely the star attraction of this park. If you manage to get here when the other park is open, check out the SR-71 and the A-12 and then run through the gate and check out the retired planes, particularly the gargantuan B-52 Stratofortress. read more

We drove about 70 miles to check this out, simply because they had the SR-71 and A-12 on display. I was a little concerned that it may not have been worth the effort, but I was glad that I was wrong. These beautiful aircraft are wonderfully displayed along with one of the unmanned drones and a Stealth Bomber (I believe). We stopped in the gift shop as well where a very pleasant staff member greeted us, answered all our questions and even narrated a video for us. We bought a book and some other trinkets and plan on signing up to be members. The Joe Davies Heritage Airpark is immediately next door, and had some great aircraft on display as well. read more

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It's cool to have both an SR-71 Blackbird and its prototype precursor A-12 in the same location. They are much larger than expected. It's also cool that this place is free and next to the Joe Davies Heritage Airpark which has more jets on display. The downside is there isn't much else to see and only took 10 minutes to visit. This is more of a park than a museum because there isn't much education or preservation (the spy planes are totally exposed to the harsh high desert sun). Unless you're in the area or passing through Palmdale, these are not "destination" worthy attractions. read more

Amazing place to bring people who never visited Palmdale. It is huge and very cold almost all the time so bring a jacket. You can also bring food and have a picnic day or a small friend gathering. Me and my high school buddies went there for our 15th year reunion since we went to Palmdale Hs. read more

A nice airpark featuring the "Blackbird" jets and a few other things. A small gift shop and friendly volunteers were pretty good. A small path leads you to the adjacent Joe Davies Heritage Airpark. Plenty of parking (unless it gets really crowded). read more

Nice place for pictures and a good place for kids to spend an hour looking at old planes. Make sure you check the weather when you visit, not as enjoyable to look at planes when it is over 100 degrees outside. read more

Blackbird Airpark is a great place to bring the whole family. About 20 planes and parts to look at. A great place to have a picnic and hang out for the day. It's pretty hot at this time of year but it's a lot of fun. read more

Wonderful airpark with a great display of the Lockheed spy program featuring the A-12 (first one, the prototype), the SR-71, and of the course the U-2, which continues to be in operation today (although not that one of course!). Although the hours of operation are very limited, it's definitely worthwhile to plan a trip out to Palmdale just to check these planes out, which is exactly what I did (only an hour from LA). The staff was incredibly helpful in talking about the planes and showing a DVD of camcorder footage, which I bought for $10 (only available at the giftshop/museum). Tons of pictures and items on display inside for such a small space, but very well put together. The park wasn't crowded at all on a Saturday afternoon, but I caught a small group on my way in and one other person arrived while I was finishing up. In the middle of my time, I was able to shoot tons of photos without anyone in the picture and got great pics. The only thing I wish it had was the F117, which used to be on display, but I was told it's back at Edwards AFB undergoing preservation and will return if/when they get an enclosed structure for it. Still 5/5 though! Definitely recommend going. I've seen 11 Blackbirds in total now and those 2 in Palmdale take the cake for best display. The NYC, Dulles, Richmond, Warner Robins, Eglin, Birmingham, Huntsville, San Diego, and LA Blackbird displays I've been to are nice, but can't compare to the A-12 and SR being side-by-side like in Palmdale. read more

Awesome. They have not one, but TWO SR-71 blackbirds... wow... amazing............ they also are all sun faded... amazing......

Hidden gem. Walk right up and (almost) touch historic planes - you can read about them on Wikipedia, but you can see them right down to the rivets here. The number of planes is small, but the quality is awesome - Cold War through modern. A B-52 you can walk up and touch. Free (please donate!). read more

Nicely maintained park and aircraft. Awesome history lesson for young and old alike. Spent way more time there than I thought I would. Definitely worth a visit! read more