Short Wave Sportfishing wrote:


controller by asking for a ground speed check from 81,000 feet,
clearly above controlled airspace. In a cool, professional voice, the
controller replied, 'Aspen 20, I show you at 1,742 knots on the
ground.' We did not hear another transmission on that frequency all
the way to the coast."


1,742 knots?

That was probably in second gear!