On Mon, 10 Mar 2008 06:31:16 -0700 (PDT), Tim
wrote:



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!

I wish I could find the title of that book about spy planes so I could
give you the exact quote, but it mentioned in the SR-71 discussion
that the engineers actually never knew just how fast that design could
go - there didn't seem to be an upper limit on the design itself - the
only limiting factor were the engines.

There has been some speculation that the oft rumored "Aurora" is
really a revamped, updated SR-71 design with a hybrid jet/scram jet
engine capable of extra-atmosphere flight.

Man, that has got to be a ride and a half.

--

"An idealist is one who, on noticing that
a rose smells better than a cabbage, concludes
that it will also make better soup."

H.L. Mencken