http://bluecrabboulevard.com/2008/03/09/i-show-you-at-1742-knots-on-the-ground/ Summum nec metuas diem, nec optes - Marcus Valerius Martialis Thu, 19 Apr 2012 09:00:56 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 http://bluecrabboulevard.com/2008/03/09/i-show-you-at-1742-knots-on-the-ground/comment-page-1/#comment-76601 Gary Gulrud Mon, 10 Mar 2008 17:02:26 +0000 http://bluecrabboulevard.com/2008/03/09/i-show-you-at-1742-knots-on-the-ground/#comment-76601 Verry cool. Thanks. Verry cool. Thanks.

]]> http://bluecrabboulevard.com/2008/03/09/i-show-you-at-1742-knots-on-the-ground/comment-page-1/#comment-76566 martian Sun, 09 Mar 2008 18:58:42 +0000 http://bluecrabboulevard.com/2008/03/09/i-show-you-at-1742-knots-on-the-ground/#comment-76566 It was a magnificent aircraft. As an Air Force Air Traffic Controller in the mid 70s I had the opportunity and priviledge to provide Air Traffic Control service to these birds several times. The aircraft was still secret back in 1975 the first time I had one overfly my base. The pilot called for weather information as he was approaching my airspace. Being a secret aircraft his transponder didn't give an altitude readout because that information was secret as well. So, when he called I distinctly remember saying "Speedbird 37 (the aircraft call sign), say altitude." His reply was a classic. He said, "I can't tell you that but I can tell you this - ain't nobody else up here!" As he crossed the 60 miles of airspace that were covered by my radar scope, the aircraft was painted on the scope just twice, once when he entered my airspace from the east and once just before he left to the west. - in a single sweep of the antenna. The antenna took about 9 seconds to make a full rotation. My friends, that is <strong><em>FAST</em></strong>! The second time I dealt with an SR71 it had landed at my base, I don't know why. But I was the departure controller as he was leaving. I heard the tower controller clear him for takeoff and clear him for an initial altitude of 25, 000 feet. I watched as his radar target began to move but then it stopped! Alarmed that there might be a problem, I keyed my mike and said "Speedbird 25, say altitude (me and my altitude!)", he said "Speedbird 25 passing 10,000 feet". The plane was going straight up over the end of the runway! Like I said in the beginning, this was a MAGNIFICENT aircraft! It was a magnificent aircraft. As an Air Force Air Traffic Controller in the mid 70s I had the opportunity and priviledge to provide Air Traffic Control service to these birds several times. The aircraft was still secret back in 1975 the first time I had one overfly my base. The pilot called for weather information as he was approaching my airspace. Being a secret aircraft his transponder didn’t give an altitude readout because that information was secret as well. So, when he called I distinctly remember saying "Speedbird 37 (the aircraft call sign), say altitude." His reply was a classic. He said, "I can’t tell you that but I can tell you this – ain’t nobody else up here!" As he crossed the 60 miles of airspace that were covered by my radar scope, the aircraft was painted on the scope just twice, once when he entered my airspace from the east and once just before he left to the west. - in a single sweep of the antenna. The antenna took about 9 seconds to make a full rotation. My friends, that is FAST! The second time I dealt with an SR71 it had landed at my base, I don’t know why. But I was the departure controller as he was leaving. I heard the tower controller clear him for takeoff and clear him for an initial altitude of 25, 000 feet. I watched as his radar target began to move but then it stopped! Alarmed that there might be a problem, I keyed my mike and said "Speedbird 25, say altitude (me and my altitude!)", he said "Speedbird 25 passing 10,000 feet". The plane was going straight up over the end of the runway! Like I said in the beginning, this was a MAGNIFICENT aircraft!

]]> http://bluecrabboulevard.com/2008/03/09/i-show-you-at-1742-knots-on-the-ground/comment-page-1/#comment-76563 No Runny Eggs » Blog Archive » Sunday reading - the fastest trip in the fastest jet Sun, 09 Mar 2008 14:55:18 +0000 http://bluecrabboulevard.com/2008/03/09/i-show-you-at-1742-knots-on-the-ground/#comment-76563 [...] (H/T - Gaius) [...] [...] (H/T – Gaius) [...]

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