Airmen and former maintainers wash SR-71 Blackbird Published July 13, 2019 By Senior Airman Tristan D. Viglianco 9th Reconnaissance Wing Public Affairs BEALE AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- The Blackbird Maintainers group and a team of Beale volunteers took the time July 12, 2019, to wash the SR-71 Blackbird static display on base. This aircraft has a special place in our and the nation's history. It called Beale home from January 1966 to January 1990.