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KS Toronado

(19,669 posts)
Mon Jan 1, 2024, 01:16 PM Jan 2024

SR71

This may be the single greatest aviation story ever told, it’s about the iconic SR-71, the story by former SR-71 jockey Brian Shul, here’s the ultimate aviation troll:

It occurred when Walt and I were flying our final training sortie. Ripping across the barren deserts, I could already see the coast of California from the Arizona border. The predominant radio chatter was from Los Angeles Center, far below us, while they had us on their scope, we were in uncontrolled airspace and normally would not talk to them.

We listened as the shaky voice of a lone Cessna pilot asked Center for a readout of his ground speed. Center replied: “November Charlie 175, I’m showing you at ninety knots on the ground.” Just moments after the Cessna’s inquiry, a Twin Beech piped up, in a rather superior tone, asking for his ground speed. “I have you at one hundred and twenty-five knots of ground speed.” Boy, I thought, the Beechcraft really must think he is dazzling his Cessna brethren. Then out of the blue, a navy F-18 pilot out of NAS Lemoore came up on frequency. “Center, Dusty 52 ground speed check”.

I’m thinking to myself, hey, Dusty 52 has a ground speed indicator in that million-dollar cockpit, so why is he asking Center for a readout? Then I got it, ol’ Dusty here is making sure that every bug smasher from Mount Whitney to the Mojave knows what true speed is. He’s the fastest dude in the valley today, and he just wants everyone to know how much fun he is having in his new Hornet. And the reply, always with that same, calm, voice, with more distinct alliteration than emotion: “Dusty 52, we have you at 620 on the ground.”

Then, I heard it. The click of the mic button from the back seat. Very professionally, and with no emotion, Walter spoke: “Los Angeles Center, Aspen 20, can you give us a ground speed check?” There was no hesitation, and the replay came as if was an everyday request. “Aspen 20, I show you at one thousand eight hundred and forty-two knots, across the ground.”

I think it was the forty-two knots that I liked the best, so accurate to deliver that information without hesitation, and you just knew he was smiling. Then Walt keyed the mic once again to say, in his most fighter-pilot-like voice: “Ah, Center, much thanks, we’re showing closer to nineteen hundred on the money.” We heard a little crack in the Center voice, when L.A.came back with, “Roger that Aspen, Your equipment is probably more accurate than ours. You boys have a good one.”

For just one day, it truly was fun being the fastest guys out there.

9 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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SR71 (Original Post) KS Toronado Jan 2024 OP
I can believe that story True Dough Jan 2024 #1
Johnny Carson asked a guest one time KS Toronado Jan 2024 #2
Even a large pizza True Dough Jan 2024 #4
Here's the video. rsdsharp Jan 2024 #3
Wow, thanks for that KS Toronado Jan 2024 #5
I have an SR-71 Blacking question PJMcK Jan 2024 #6
True LearnedHand Jan 2024 #7
Much appreciated PJMcK Jan 2024 #8
I knew someone who flew it The Blue Flower Jan 2024 #9

True Dough

(20,699 posts)
1. I can believe that story
Mon Jan 1, 2024, 01:33 PM
Jan 2024

except for the "For just one day" part at the end. Flying in a Blackbird would be fun almost every day!

KS Toronado

(19,669 posts)
2. Johnny Carson asked a guest one time
Mon Jan 1, 2024, 01:57 PM
Jan 2024

who was probably a SR71 pilot, "You know the only thing faster than a SR71?", guest had no reply
and Johnny then said "Domino's Pizza".

True Dough

(20,699 posts)
4. Even a large pizza
Mon Jan 1, 2024, 02:22 PM
Jan 2024

is a little more affordable than a Blackbird too! But I've never gotten heartburn from an SR71!

KS Toronado

(19,669 posts)
5. Wow, thanks for that
Mon Jan 1, 2024, 02:38 PM
Jan 2024

He had the speeds a little different but no big deal, proves this actually happened.

PJMcK

(22,991 posts)
6. I have an SR-71 Blacking question
Mon Jan 1, 2024, 02:51 PM
Jan 2024

Somewhere, maybe in The Right Stuff, I read that the seams on the SR-71's fuel tanks would leak but when the aircraft was flying at speed, the friction would heat up the plane's skin and expand the metal enough to seal the leaks. My (unremembered) source also indicated that the pilot would have to re-fuel after taking off because so much fuel had leaked.

Can you say whether any of that is true?

Thanks, in advance.

The Blue Flower

(5,642 posts)
9. I knew someone who flew it
Mon Jan 1, 2024, 04:23 PM
Jan 2024

And another who did maintenance on it. I worked at Lockheed in the 90s. Once it landed and got into the hangar, it was extremely hot from the friction of flying as fast as a bullet. As it cooled, there was a lot of condensation and it "poured sweat." I was told it went from LA to the east coast in 60 minutes.

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