LA Speed Check story: An SR-71 Blackbird Story That’ll Make You Laugh

LA Speed Check story: An SR-71 Blackbird Story That'll Make You Laugh

If you’re going to show off, make sure you really are top dog.

The SR-71 pilot was flying around the Western United States

To build up crew hours when small plane pilots started calling into air traffic control to ask their ground speed.

Read more: When A VIGGEN FIGHTER PILOT WERE ABLE TO ACHIEVE RADAR LOCK ON THE LEGENDARY SR-71

Shortly thereafter, a Navy F-18 pilot dials in to put them in their place

Asking the controller to broadcast his speed over the air, a cool 620 knots across the ground.

What the Navy pilot didn’t realize was that a Blackbird was soaring through the area, at speeds that were…just a little faster.

In the below video, you can see an SR-71 pilot telling an LA Speed story: An SR-71 Story That’ll Make You Laugh

 

The Lockheed SR-71 “Blackbird” is a long-range, high-altitude, Mach 3+ strategic reconnaissance aircraft that was operated by the United States Air Force. It was developed as a black project from the Lockheed A-12 reconnaissance aircraft in the 1960s by Lockheed and its Skunk Works division. American aerospace engineer Clarence “Kelly” Johnson was responsible for many of the design’s innovative concepts.

During aerial reconnaissance missions, the SR-71 operated at high speeds and altitudes to allow it to outrace threats. If a surface-to-air missile launch were detected, the standard evasive action was simply to accelerate and outfly the missile. The shape of the SR-71 was based on the A-12 which was one of the first aircraft to be designed with a reduced radar cross-section.

The SR-71 served with the U.S. Air Force from 1964 to 1998. A total of 32 aircraft were built; 12 were lost in accidents with none lost to enemy action. The SR-71 has been given several nicknames, including “Blackbird” and “Habu”.

Since 1976, it has held the world record for the fastest air-breathing manned aircraft, a record previously held by the related Lockheed YF-12.

Image Credits: Tommy WuVia Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird & YF-12A

 

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