SR-71 Blackbird. 1979.

I remember one of my squadron mates who had been taxiing out when a Blackbird was taking off. He said he watched it go down the runway, and it just sort of disappeared, it was going so fast. He followed it on the radio from departure to ATC. For those of you who are not pilots, above you in the sky is a section of airspace called the 'Positive Control Area.' When you enter it, you set your altimeter to 29.92 in. hg., and then fly what are called pressure altitudes. This ensures that you won't hit another airplane because their altimeter is set to a different setting, and they're actually on your altitude. The pressure altitudes are called 'flight levels,' to distinguish them from actual altitudes. The positive control area extends from Flight Level 180 to Flight Level 600. My squadron mate said the discussion went from departure control instructing the SR-71 to switch from their frequency to the ATC frequency, as follows: "Blackbird XXX, contact center on XXX.X" SR-71: "Roger. Switching center XXX.X." Two seconds later. "Blackbird XXX, center. Passing Flight Level one eight zero." ATC: "Roger, Blackbird XXX. Radar contact. Radar service initiated." Five seconds after that: SR-71: "Blackbird XXX, passing Flight Level six zero zero." ATC: "Roger, Blackbird XXX. Radar service terminated." It had climbed 42,000 feet in about five seconds. That's about 8,400 feet per second. The Phantom I flew had a maximum climb rate of under 700 feet per second. Now, that's fast.

Awesome. Thanks for sharing!

Oh look! Ryan Reynolds is flying it with no experience!

🫤😂

My favorite airplane

It still blows my mind that the SR-71 was built to drip JP-7 on the tarmac. Titanium panels were fitted loose so the airframe could expand several inches when it got hot; the tanks only sealed once friction heat kicked in at high speed. They took off light, tanked up in the air, then the mission began. That engineering still looks insane 50+ years later.

It's crazy that we haven't tried developing something to top the SR-71. With the goal of "Just because we can."

1953 full version X-15 imagine what we Actually Have Now

ガラスも凄いし（高温） 機体も熱膨張してちょうど良いようにつくるから燃料もれてますw

Is Clint Eastwood flying ?

Just beautiful aircraft 😎

"Habu".

Never matched (or caught or hit)! 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸