Jurry
6103
Superb
Aug 06, 2019,02:41 AM
Great picture.
One of the reasons the bird was able to reach Mach 3+ is fact that it was “cruising” at very high altitudes. The higher you are, the lower the air density thus lower is speed of sound.
Within the Airforce pilots community there is (perhaps was) a famous anecdote about this high altitude operation.
Airspace in the US is mostly controlled by civilian airspace control centers. But they have control up to approximately 45-50,000 ft (flight level 450-500).
In those days that was considered sufficient as most passenger aircraft didn’t get any higher than approx 30,000 (nowadays an A380 cruises at 40,000)
Above that altitude it’s basically uncontrolled or military
So if a military jet was operating above civilian controlled airspace, and wanted to descent, he had to contact control and request a certain flight level
The anecdote is
SR71 pilot to control: “control this is mission BB001, requesting flight level 650”
Control;” mission BB002, you’re cleared FL650, and if you can make it let us know when you get there (muffled laughing)
Pilot: “roger, BB002 descending to FL 650”
Control (with surprised voice) “BB002, state altitude”
Pilot (with big laugh): “classified”
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Superb
By: Jurry : August 6th, 2019-02:41
Great picture. One of the reasons the bird was able to reach Mach 3+ is fact that it was “cruising” at very high altitudes. The higher you are, the lower the air density thus lower is speed of sound. Within the Airforce pilots community there is (perhaps ...
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