From a SR-71 Pilot - The Firearms Forum

Brass Tacks · 01-30-2012, 12:56 PM

Flying out of Beale AFB in California , Kadena Airbase in Okinawa , and RAF Mildenhall in England . On a typical training mission, we would take off near Sacramento, refuel over Nevada, accelerate into Montana, obtain a high Mach speed over Colorado , turn right over New Mexico, speed across the Los Angeles Basin, run up the West Coast, turn right at Seattle , then return to Beale. Total flight time:- Two Hours and Forty Minutes.
One day, high above Arizona , we were monitoring the radio traffic, of all the mortal airplanes below us. First, a Cessna pilot asked the air traffic controllers to check his ground speed. 'Ninety knots,' ATC replied. A Bonanza soon made the same request. 'One-twenty on the ground,' was the reply. To our surprise, a navy F-18 came over the radio, with a ground speed check. I knew exactly what he was doing.

Of course, he had a ground speed indicator in his cockpit, but he wanted to let all the bug-smashers in the valley, know what real speed was, 'Dusty 52, we show you at 620 on the ground,' ATC responded. The situation was too ripe. I heard the click of Walt's mike button in the rear seat. In his most innocent voice, Walt startled the controller by asking for a ground speed check from 81,000 feet, clearly above controlled airspace. In a cool, professional voice, the controller replied, 'Aspen 20, I show you at 1,982 knots on the ground.' We did not hear another transmission on that frequency, all the way to the coast.

flyingtiger85 · 01-30-2012, 02:52 PM

Flying a Cessna-172 from Las Vegas to the L.A basin into Pamona-Brackett or John Wayne Orange County on the air-route Victor 8 North we used to contact L.A.Center somewhere around Barstow Ca.I would go into a slow dive and ask them to check my ground speed.They would come back with a high speed and we use to laugh.I know kinda stupid but it brought back a memory.Also while flying in a commercial flight above flight level 30 you can see the curve of the Earth and darkness above.I always thought it was really cool looking view.I bet you can get a nice view the stars way up there right?

ofitg · 01-31-2012, 08:35 AM

Brass Tacks, I read that during the 1990s, the SR-71 was modified to incorporate a "near real time" data link.....(?)

Marlin · 01-31-2012, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brass Tacks

.....Of course, he had a ground speed indicator in his cockpit, but he wanted to let all the bug-smashers in the valley, know what real speed was, 'Dusty 52, we show you at 620 on the ground,' ATC responded. The situation was too ripe. I heard the click of Walt's mike button in the rear seat. In his most innocent voice, Walt startled the controller by asking for a ground speed check from 81,000 feet, clearly above controlled airspace. In a cool, professional voice, the controller replied, 'Aspen 20, I show you at 1,982 knots on the ground.' We did not hear another transmission on that frequency, all the way to the coast.

That would be about 2260 MPH, for those that might want to know.....

jlloyd73 · 01-31-2012, 11:12 AM

The Blackbird was always my favorite. I saw a documentary once that talked about them outrunning missles on some of their missions........now that's speed.

Ed~ · 01-31-2012, 11:57 AM

What a great story!

Reminds me of my feelings as a kid, building models, wanting to fly and push the boundaries!

Grizz · 01-31-2012, 12:08 PM

now thats a cool story!

cpttango30 · 01-31-2012, 02:38 PM

I remember seeing you guys streak through the sky from my home town. I also remember seeing plenty of U2's lumbering along at what 25 mph Doing what they do best look and be quiet.

medalguy · 01-31-2012, 05:24 PM

I was at Ellington AFB for a while and used to see the NASA U-2 all the time. I really, REALLY wanted to get a hop in one of those but of course.....

Most people today have little idea of the inventive genius that went into development of the A-12 and the SR-71 by Kelly Johnson and his crew. They should be regarded as a national treasure.

Thanks to you, Brass Tacks, and your buddies for your invaluable service to this nation.

01-30-2012, 12:56 PM	#1
Brass Tacks Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: NW Arkansas Posts: 553	From a SR-71 Pilot Flying out of Beale AFB in California , Kadena Airbase in Okinawa , and RAF Mildenhall in England . On a typical training mission, we would take off near Sacramento, refuel over Nevada, accelerate into Montana, obtain a high Mach speed over Colorado , turn right over New Mexico, speed across the Los Angeles Basin, run up the West Coast, turn right at Seattle , then return to Beale. Total flight time:- Two Hours and Forty Minutes. One day, high above Arizona , we were monitoring the radio traffic, of all the mortal airplanes below us. First, a Cessna pilot asked the air traffic controllers to check his ground speed. 'Ninety knots,' ATC replied. A Bonanza soon made the same request. 'One-twenty on the ground,' was the reply. To our surprise, a navy F-18 came over the radio, with a ground speed check. I knew exactly what he was doing. Of course, he had a ground speed indicator in his cockpit, but he wanted to let all the bug-smashers in the valley, know what real speed was, 'Dusty 52, we show you at 620 on the ground,' ATC responded. The situation was too ripe. I heard the click of Walt's mike button in the rear seat. In his most innocent voice, Walt startled the controller by asking for a ground speed check from 81,000 feet, clearly above controlled airspace. In a cool, professional voice, the controller replied, 'Aspen 20, I show you at 1,982 knots on the ground.' We did not hear another transmission on that frequency, all the way to the coast. __________________ The Second Amendment, America's Original Homeland Security I don't know how I got over the hill without ever getting to the top. -->

01-30-2012, 02:52 PM	#2
flyingtiger85 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Nevada Posts: 747	Re: From a SR-71 Pilot Flying a Cessna-172 from Las Vegas to the L.A basin into Pamona-Brackett or John Wayne Orange County on the air-route Victor 8 North we used to contact L.A.Center somewhere around Barstow Ca.I would go into a slow dive and ask them to check my ground speed.They would come back with a high speed and we use to laugh.I know kinda stupid but it brought back a memory.Also while flying in a commercial flight above flight level 30 you can see the curve of the Earth and darkness above.I always thought it was really cool looking view.I bet you can get a nice view the stars way up there right?

01-31-2012, 08:35 AM	#3
ofitg Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Contributor Posts: 1,447	Re: From a SR-71 Pilot Brass Tacks, I read that during the 1990s, the SR-71 was modified to incorporate a "near real time" data link.....(?)

01-31-2012, 11:12 AM	#5
jlloyd73 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Contributor Posts: 1,932	Re: From a SR-71 Pilot The Blackbird was always my favorite. I saw a documentary once that talked about them outrunning missles on some of their missions........now that's speed. __________________ --------------------------------------------------- The only thing better than good family is good friends. J and D Lloyd Get ready...it's getting "real" and really fast!

01-31-2012, 11:57 AM	#6
Ed~ V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: AridZona Posts: 171	Re: From a SR-71 Pilot What a great story! Reminds me of my feelings as a kid, building models, wanting to fly and push the boundaries! __________________

01-31-2012, 12:08 PM	#7
Grizz Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains Posts: 652	Re: From a SR-71 Pilot now thats a cool story!

01-31-2012, 02:38 PM	#8
cpttango30 Former Guest Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Stafford, VA Contributor Posts: 3,071	Re: From a SR-71 Pilot I remember seeing you guys streak through the sky from my home town. I also remember seeing plenty of U2's lumbering along at what 25 mph Doing what they do best look and be quiet.

01-31-2012, 05:24 PM	#9
medalguy Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 585	Re: From a SR-71 Pilot I was at Ellington AFB for a while and used to see the NASA U-2 all the time. I really, REALLY wanted to get a hop in one of those but of course..... Most people today have little idea of the inventive genius that went into development of the A-12 and the SR-71 by Kelly Johnson and his crew. They should be regarded as a national treasure. Thanks to you, Brass Tacks, and your buddies for your invaluable service to this nation.