CITATION
I'll always remember a certain radio exchange that occurred one day as Walt (my backseater) and I were screaming across Southern California, 13 miles high. We were monitoring various radio transmissions from other aircraft as we entered Los Angeles airspace. Though they didn't really control us, they did monitor our movement across their scope. I heard a Cessna ask for a readout of its groundspeed.
"90 knots" Center replied.
Moments later, a Twin Beech required the same.
"120 knots," Center answered.
We weren't the only ones proud of our groundspeed that day as almost instantly an F-18 smugly transmitted, 'Ah, Center, Dusty 52 requests groundspeed readout.
There was a slight pause, then the response, "525 knots on the ground, Dusty".
Another silent pause. As I was thinking to myself how ripe a situation this was, I heard a familiar click of a radio transmission coming from my backseater. It was at that precise moment I realized Walt and I had become a real crew, for we were both thinking in unison.
"Center, Aspen 20, you got a groundspeed readout for us?"
There was a longer than normal pause.... "Aspen, I show 1,742 knots"
No further inquiries were heard on that frequency
In another famous SR-71 story, Los Angeles Center reported receiving a request for clearance to FL 600 (60,000ft).
The incredulous controller, with some disdain in his voice, asked, "How do you plan to get up to 60,000 feet?"
"The pilot (obviously a sled driver), responded, "We don't plan to go up to it, we plan to go down to it."
He was cleared...
"90 knots" Center replied.
Moments later, a Twin Beech required the same.
"120 knots," Center answered.
We weren't the only ones proud of our groundspeed that day as almost instantly an F-18 smugly transmitted, 'Ah, Center, Dusty 52 requests groundspeed readout.
There was a slight pause, then the response, "525 knots on the ground, Dusty".
Another silent pause. As I was thinking to myself how ripe a situation this was, I heard a familiar click of a radio transmission coming from my backseater. It was at that precise moment I realized Walt and I had become a real crew, for we were both thinking in unison.
"Center, Aspen 20, you got a groundspeed readout for us?"
There was a longer than normal pause.... "Aspen, I show 1,742 knots"
No further inquiries were heard on that frequency
In another famous SR-71 story, Los Angeles Center reported receiving a request for clearance to FL 600 (60,000ft).
The incredulous controller, with some disdain in his voice, asked, "How do you plan to get up to 60,000 feet?"
"The pilot (obviously a sled driver), responded, "We don't plan to go up to it, we plan to go down to it."
He was cleared...
(merci à Robin Hood - 2nd FFS à qui j'ai piqué son post (et même pas honteusement))
Dans le même genre, autre anecdote :
CITATION
Années 80. Un SR-71 surveille Cuba, en restant en limite des eaux territoriales. Pour ce vol "court", il est "seulement" à Mach 2 et FL500.
L'ATC l'appelle et lui demande une altération de cap "cause trafic".
Cause trafic ? Au niveau 500 ?
Hé, oui, peu de temps après, le BlackBird croise un joli oiseau blanc, Concorde AF de Caracas vers Paris.
Et les pilotes-espions-en-mission-secrète-engoncés-dans-leurs-scaphandres-inconfortables de se poser des questions en constatant que les (fortunés) touristes en robe d'été ou chemisette, dégustant fois gras et champagne dans leur avion français, ont la priorité... Sigh...
L'ATC l'appelle et lui demande une altération de cap "cause trafic".
Cause trafic ? Au niveau 500 ?
Hé, oui, peu de temps après, le BlackBird croise un joli oiseau blanc, Concorde AF de Caracas vers Paris.
Et les pilotes-espions-en-mission-secrète-engoncés-dans-leurs-scaphandres-inconfortables de se poser des questions en constatant que les (fortunés) touristes en robe d'été ou chemisette, dégustant fois gras et champagne dans leur avion français, ont la priorité... Sigh...
++
Az'
