‘Try that in any aircraft other than the SR-71. Besides, this is actually a true story.’ David Peters, SR-71 Blackbird pilot
The SR-71 Blackbird was engineered to penetrate deep into enemy territory, using its exceptional speed and altitude to evade interception. Its crew needed to wear pressure suits similar to those used by astronauts, as the SR-71 could safely operate at altitudes exceeding sixteen miles (25,908 meters or 85,000 feet) above the Earth and reach speeds up to Mach 3.3.
Given its remarkable performance, it’s no wonder the Blackbird broke countless speed and altitude records during its service. To really understand just how fast this legendary aircraft was, SR-71 pilot David Peters shares this extraordinary story.
‘I am really tired of hearing the “LA speed story,” so I thought I would relay a mission that gives real perspective to the speed of the Blackbird.
‘We were TDY to Det. 1 at Kadena AB, Okinawa. One of the birds was scheduled for a swap-out, and my back seater, Ed Bethart, and I were to fly it home. The replacement came in on Friday, and we were to leave Saturday morning. So, in true Habu tradition, we welcomed the incoming crew and went to happy hour Friday evening at the officers’ club.
‘We got up Saturday morning and got ready to go home. Departure was scheduled for 1000. Everything went well, and we departed right on time. Headed out to do a pass through the Korean DMZ, then into the tankers in the Sea of Japan. Good refueling and climb out headed for the Sea of Okhotsk and the Kamchatka Peninsula of Russia, and from there to more tankers off of Adak in the Aleutian Islands. Another good refueling, and on to Beale AFB, California. We arrived with a low approach, pulled up into a closed pattern, and landed. Following de-suiting and debrief, we deposited our classified flight documents, jumped in a car, and arrived at the officers’ club for Friday night happy hour at 1630, 17 1/2 hours before we left Kadena.
‘Try that in any aircraft other than the SR-71. Besides, this is actually a true story.’
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Photo by David Peters and U.S. Air Force
