Fastest Jet at Low Level?
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Fastest Jet at Low Level?
So what was the fastest aircraft (IAS) flat out at low level ie. 500 feet agl or so?
Some numbers I've been given over the years by type qualified pilots-Phanthom 750 kts,F3 860kts, Buccaneer 560kts .
Any others especially the more modern types?I've heard the F105 (OK- hardly modern)could do 1000 kts.That can't be right, can it?
Anyone actually achieved these speeds?
Thanks.
Some numbers I've been given over the years by type qualified pilots-Phanthom 750 kts,F3 860kts, Buccaneer 560kts .
Any others especially the more modern types?I've heard the F105 (OK- hardly modern)could do 1000 kts.That can't be right, can it?
Anyone actually achieved these speeds?
Thanks.
Well the record was taken by Red Baron, an F-104 'Bitsa' built from recovered airframes and parts by a US civilian. I understand that BAE once looked hard at sending an F3 to the low, low, low desert secure in the knowledge that the aircraft could easily exceed this record, but could not justify the costs. I believe that the Tornado (without LRMTS, without the intake mod, etc., so probably an F3) is the fastest low level jet in service.
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Surely the F-105?
Heard a story from a USAF pilot in the 70's who flew them in Vietnam.. after dropping his bombload he headed South in the weeds and reached 1000 kts .. only to be overtaken by another 105 !!!
Cheers, TP
Heard a story from a USAF pilot in the 70's who flew them in Vietnam.. after dropping his bombload he headed South in the weeds and reached 1000 kts .. only to be overtaken by another 105 !!!
Cheers, TP
Pigs might fly...
)
Presumably you mean Thrust SSC?
'Dead Dog' could have used a great put down line when asked about what it felt like to go back to the Tornado B Mk 3 after breaking the LSR..... "Huh. Call this a fighter - I've driven faster cars......."
The whole Thrust SSC story was probably the last time Britain did something Great. With a fair bit of help from lots of private individuals and sponsors who made donations. But DD, Richard, the car and the team came back to a mostly indifferent media (except Sky News, whose live bulletins from the Black Rock Desert were excellent) and were quickly forgotten by the Great Unwashed. What a shame.
'Dead Dog' could have used a great put down line when asked about what it felt like to go back to the Tornado B Mk 3 after breaking the LSR..... "Huh. Call this a fighter - I've driven faster cars......."
The whole Thrust SSC story was probably the last time Britain did something Great. With a fair bit of help from lots of private individuals and sponsors who made donations. But DD, Richard, the car and the team came back to a mostly indifferent media (except Sky News, whose live bulletins from the Black Rock Desert were excellent) and were quickly forgotten by the Great Unwashed. What a shame.
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Heard a tale that the test pilots couldn't get the F.3 to go beyond 810kts, despite their best efforts. Was then discovered that the ASI on the HUD wasn't calibrated beyond that. Don't know if it's true .....
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I have to defend the good old Bucc.
I had one at 617kts once at 100ft. It was going sideways and bucking about a bit (rudder blanking and the shock wave playing on the tailplane!).
I understand that the F-111 and the flanker are no sluggards at low level.
I had one at 617kts once at 100ft. It was going sideways and bucking about a bit (rudder blanking and the shock wave playing on the tailplane!).
I understand that the F-111 and the flanker are no sluggards at low level.
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Bananas Bananas, I don't know of any F3 mate that hasn't gone supersonic on the deck. I saw several guys practicing out-running missiles in 1990. They were well supersonic with their own shadows nearly touching the jet. Only teasing.....
I would have thought that the big old proper jets without bypass must have been able to haul the mail. What about the 104, that had no wing, was pointy and was rated at 1.2 or so on the deck.
There is no doubt that the F-111 knocked spots off anything that I saw. The Flanker is awesome at medium altitude not sure what it is really like on the deck, a bit square at the front end.
But what about big jets? The B1 does supersonic low-level pretty well. An F3s limiting speed as per RAF regs is 750kts, the Lancer runs to about 800 (1.2) so who knows what the real limit is. Plus, an F-3 in full blower throws all the fuel (and occasionally engines) over the side in a heart beat. A B-1 could keep going forever.
I would have thought that the big old proper jets without bypass must have been able to haul the mail. What about the 104, that had no wing, was pointy and was rated at 1.2 or so on the deck.
There is no doubt that the F-111 knocked spots off anything that I saw. The Flanker is awesome at medium altitude not sure what it is really like on the deck, a bit square at the front end.
But what about big jets? The B1 does supersonic low-level pretty well. An F3s limiting speed as per RAF regs is 750kts, the Lancer runs to about 800 (1.2) so who knows what the real limit is. Plus, an F-3 in full blower throws all the fuel (and occasionally engines) over the side in a heart beat. A B-1 could keep going forever.
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My money would be on the F-111. Going back a few years now but the Upper Heyford jets were not so pokey (E models?) but the Lakenheath jets (Fs?) left a lightweight F-4 well behind.
Its quite entertaining seeing an oil rig going supersonic past your wingtip with an F-111 accerating away in front of you!
Its quite entertaining seeing an oil rig going supersonic past your wingtip with an F-111 accerating away in front of you!
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the Bone for sure
Uncle Sam's B-1B goes very very fast at very low level and for a very long time, plenty of go-go juice in the big bomber with internal fuel bladders in one of the bays
believe nothing (!) can catch it on the deck at max dash, even reaction time for manpads, Hawk or Patriot virtually nil when using the terrain contours correctly
my suggestion, a sharply coordinated squadron strenght lowlevel flyby downtown Bagdad at the early hours before opening the ground assault
also, wan't the now Museum piece TR-1 orso a mach 2 thing at the deck?
believe nothing (!) can catch it on the deck at max dash, even reaction time for manpads, Hawk or Patriot virtually nil when using the terrain contours correctly
my suggestion, a sharply coordinated squadron strenght lowlevel flyby downtown Bagdad at the early hours before opening the ground assault
also, wan't the now Museum piece TR-1 orso a mach 2 thing at the deck?
Last edited by mvand003; 20th Jan 2003 at 12:02.
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May be pulling this one out of the woodwork - but isn't there the (urban myth) story of the TSR2 going supersonic throught the lake district on trials forcing the lightning trail a/c to bang up out of the turbulence?