Just how high do these things go

[Brian Abraham]

The highest (and fastest) ejection was at an incredible M3.25 and 80K in an SR71 variant

Was not an ejection in the normal sense of the word. The aircraft was on a test flight to establish minimum cruise drag possibilities, and on this particular flight had an extreme rear centre of gravity. Too extreme as it turned out, the rear limit was then set somewhat further forward. The pilot was unable to control the pitch up when he had an unstart. Both crew were rendered unconscious from the pitch up G forces and the aircraft disintegrated. When regaining consciousness the pilot found himself in free fall. No actual ejection took place.

[FoxtrotAlpha18]

A similar event occurred with an M/D-21 during a test flight over the (California) Channel Islands in 1966.


The D-21 lifted off but crashed back into the M-21 mothership at M3+ causing both aircraft to lose control and disintegrate. Both pilot and LCO survived the impact, only for the LCO to drown.


M/D-21 was cancelled after, and D-21 was converted to GTD-21 for B-52 launches.


Clip here:

SR-71 Blackbird Midair Crash - YouTube

[Reader123]

916 Starfighter

SR71 story...

[thing]

A similar event occurred with an M/D-21 during a test flight over the (California) Channel Islands in 1966.

That's the one I was referring to.

[Timesgoneby]

In 67 we thought they were UFO's....Turning at right angles x mach 2...but at max range how could we guess they were turning and coming down from +70...

[Wageslave]

Originally Posted by Double Hydco

Had one come to Chivenor for a few circuits in 1988. Requested an unrestricted climb out of the pattern up to 40K+ for the transit back to Alconbury......

Well, most of us can only avoid the London TMA by LNAV rather than VNAV

What an utter genius Kelly Johnson was!

Here's his book - rates Top Shelf.

Kelly. More Than My Share Of It All. by - - do you have to ask? He ain't shy! ISBN 0-87474-564-0
A fabulous and totally un self-concious (and utterly deserved) FIGJAM autobiography beautifully and humourously written. Aerospace books like this are few and far between as befits real-life Giants like Kelly Johnson.

Also Skunk Works on the same subject and a little more subjectively by Ben Rich. ISBN 978-0-7515-1503-9

[Timesgoneby]

Blackbird ? 85000 ft. As the man says...'we'll wait and get him on the way back...

[PersonFromPorlock]

it appeared to climb at a 45 degree angle. Very impressive!

I remember seeing them launch out of U-Tapao; they seemed to pitch up at 45 degrees and then disappear vertically over the end of the runway. As you say, very impressive!

And loud, too.