OK, FL640 is right up there, but it has to get up there. In its current middle east theatre the Global Hawk is thankfully able to climb up to its operating altitude within a Military Zone, though this will not always be the case. The U2 is doing likewise but busted airspace horribly a month or so ago with an ill informed U2 pilot who had a good look at a Royal Jordanian Flight and one or two others in the area at the time. Whilst operating in the big sky's of the US restricted areas they are stars.....but employed out in the theatres they were designed to operate from, with adjacent FIR's, civil traffic and camel farms, true ability is really on show.
The big sky theory is shrinking.....
PS Through a very credible source an airmiss today with a Malaysian Airlines jet and a "US military" unidentified jet No Comm(tanker or Buff) between the Pakistan Tactical entry point and Diego Garcia in the VABB FIR, military traffic crossed the civil airway same level (FL370) as the MAS aircraft, the military traffic "due regard" (with regard to what?????) not talking to anyone....This is one little happy story, there are many more...trust me!
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