I understand many pilots occasionally engage in a little \u201ccomparative appendage measuring\u201d regarding who\u2019s fastest while they\u2019re flying.\u00a0 I have no firsthand knowledge of this (I\u2019m not a pilot), but having grown up around and worked with with plenty of aviators I can certainly see where this is almost certainly true.<\/p>\n
Well, one day that seems to have backfired big=time for a certain pilot.\u00a0 And I have to say what follows warmed my heart \u2013 and made me laugh out loud.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s how the purported the radio exchanges went.\u00a0 ATC Facility involved was the Los Angeles Center.<\/p>\n
First call was from a Cessna, callsign NC125.\u00a0 In a bit of a shaky voice, the Cessna pilot requested a groundspeed check.<\/p>\n
LA Center\u2019s response:\u00a0 November Charlie 125, I have you at 90 knots on the ground.<\/em><\/p>\n Next, to one-up the Cessna the pilot of a twin Beechcraft requested a groundspeed check.<\/p>\n LA Center\u2019s response:\u00a0 I have you at 125 knots of ground speed.<\/em><\/p>\n Well, the Beechcraft pilot certainly \u201cgotcha-ed\u201d that Cessna pilot, didn\u2019t he?\u00a0 But he soon got his comeuppance.<\/p>\n Seems this day, a military aircraft – reputedly an F\/A-18, callsign Dusty 52 from NAS Lemoore – was in the air and decided to show everyone he was that day’s “speed champ”.\u00a0 The next radio exchange:<\/p>\n Dusty 52: \u00a0\u00a0Center, Dusty 52, ground speed check.<\/em> For the curious, 620 knots is about 713 MPH – a high subsonic or low supersonic speed at pretty much any altitude most aircraft operate. At sea level, that airspeed would be roughly Mach 0.938; at 50,000 ft it would be roughly Mach 1.08.\u00a0 Airspeed may be different from ground speed depending on wind – but 620 knots ground speed means the airspeed also will be pretty damn fast, regardless of wind.<\/p>\n Now, at this point I\u2019m sure the individual piloting Dusty 52 was feeling damn proud of themself for being that day\u2019s \u201cspeed champ\u201d.\u00a0 Normally, they would have been – and that would have been the end of the “measuring contest” for a while.<\/p>\n But it turns out, that day things were anything but normal.<\/p>\n You see, that day just wasn\u2019t that particular hotshot pilot\u2019s day.\u00a0 Because a few seconds later, the following rather unexpected transmission came over the air \u2013 delivered in a cool, matter-of-fact, professional voice:<\/p>\n Los Angeles Center, Aspen 20, can you give us a ground speed check?<\/em><\/p>\n LA Center\u2019s response (also delivered very professionally):\u00a0 Aspen 20, I show you at 1,842 knots across the ground.<\/em><\/p>\n You see, that particular day there just happened to be another aircraft within radio range, flying a training flight in uncontrolled airspace at or above 13 miles altitude. (Generally, in the US anything above 60,000 ft is normally uncontrolled airspace; 13 miles altitude is 68,640 ft.)\u00a0 At that altitude, neglecting wind effects on airspeed a ground speed of 1,842 knots corresponds to an airspeed of roughly 2,119 MPH<\/em><\/strong> \u2013 or Mach 3.2+<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n You guessed it: Aspen 20 was a Blackbird, AKA an SR-71.<\/p>\n The conversation continued.<\/p>\n Aspen 20:\u00a0 Ah, Center, much thanks.\u00a0 We were showing closer to 1,900 on the money.<\/em> <\/p>\n The moral of the story:\u00a0 it’s probably a good idea to think twice (or more) before \u201cmeasuring\u201d some things in public. \u00a0Because you never know when someone out there might have a bigger . . . plane.\u00a0 (smile)<\/p>\n Damn, I wish we still had the Blackbird in the USAF inventory.<\/p>\n – – –<\/strong><\/p>\n FWIW:\u00a0 This incident very likely actually happened.\u00a0 Here\u2019s the source<\/a><\/em>.\u00a0 (Hat tip to a longtime commenter at TAH – Roh-Dog, maybe? – for originally posting the source link in comments a some time ago.)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\nCenter\u2019s reply:\u00a0 Dusty 52, Center, we have you at 620 on the ground.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nLA Center:\u00a0 Roger that Aspen.\u00a0 Your equipment is probably more accurate than ours.\u00a0 You boys have a good one.<\/em><\/p>\n