Sled Driver, SR-71 Blackbird pilot Brian Shul writes:
I'll always remember a certain radio exchange that occurred one day as Walt (my back-seater) 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 ground speed.
"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 ground speed that day as almost instantly an F-18 smugly transmitted:
"Ah, Center, Dusty 52 requests ground speed 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 like this was, I heard a familiar click of a radio transmission coming from my back-seat:
"Center, Aspen 20, you got a ground speed readout for us?"
There was a longer than normal pause . . . .
"Aspen, I show 1,742 knots"
No further inquiries were heard on that frequency.
Longer version__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
And another SR-71-Joke:
Pilot: Radar, Good Day, Airforce Blackbird, request FL 600(!)
Controller: Sir, if you can reach, you are cleared FL 600
Pilot: US Air Force Blackbird, leaving FL 800, decending Level 600
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The 30 Greatest Lies in Aviation
I'm from the FAA and I'm here to help you.
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Me? I've never busted minimums.
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We will be on time, maybe even early.
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I have no interest in flying for the airlines.
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I fixed it right the first time, it must have failed for other reasons.
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All that turbulence spoiled my landing.
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I'm a member of the mile high club.
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I only need glasses for reading.
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I broke out right at minimums.
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The weather is gonna be alright; it's clearing to VFR.
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Don't worry about the weight and balance -- it'll fly.
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If we get a little lower I think we'll see the lights.
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I'm 22, got 6000 hours, a four year degree and 3000 hours in a Lear.
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I'd love to have a female co-pilot.
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All you have to do is follow the book.
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This plane outperforms the book by 20 percent.
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We in aviation are overpaid, underworked and well respected.
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Oh sure, no problem, I've got over 2000 hours in that aircraft.
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I have 5000 hours total time, 3200 are actual instrument.
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No need to look that up, I've got it all memorized.
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We'll be home by lunchtime.
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Your plane will be ready by 2 o'clock.
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I'm always glad to see the FAA.
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We fly every day -- we don't need recurrent training.
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It just came out of annual -- how could anything be wrong?
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I thought YOU took care of that.
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I've got the field in sight.
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I've got the traffic in sight.
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Of course I know where we are.
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I'm SURE the gear was down.
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Center: "Flight 321, turn right 5 degrees!"
Pilot: "Sir, we are a Boeing 747-400 and not able to make such little turns!"
Center: "Roger flight 321, so turn right 20 degrees and report established on new heading!"
Pilot: "Flight 321 roger, turning right 20 degrees!"
Pilot: "Flight 321 established on new heading."
Center: "Roger flight 321, now turn left 15 degrees!!!!!"
Pilot: "Flight 321 roger, You won!"