Forum: Military Aircraft of the Cold War

Any preferences? I've got a couple of nice 'loaded' pics.

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...or how about an eleven ship formation?

...or some Prandtl–Glauert singularity...

...how about a unique right seat view?

darkvarkguy,
Thanks for the photos. The one with 48 Mk-82s reminds me of a similar flight a test F-111 made at Edwards sometime around 1970. It was an A model, loaded with 50 750 pounders. Some genius decided a photo of a 111 carrying 50 bombs is just what they needed to boost its somewhat tarnished reputation. After an exceedingly long takeoff run, it managed to get off the ground, make it once around the pattern and land. All the while in afterburner, even during approach and touchdown.

Thanks johnwill. Stations 1 and 8 were never used operationally for that reason but it makes for an impressive photo.

TC,

You are correct sir... The World Absolute Low Altitude Speed Record is held by the civilian F-104 flown by Darryl Greenamyer at 988.26mph on October 24th, 1977. He went over 1,000 but the “French” equipment did not record it properly. So he flew later in the day, and it got hotter, to set the 988.26 record.

He was going to break the Mig-25s altitude record when the main gear would not lock and he wisely elected to punch out.

Fly Fast, Zipper Fast!

TC wrote:

Gums wrote:

I heard that Darryl had his private 104 up there at really fast speeds trying for a record.

I think he unofficially had the low-level single engine record, before he had to punch out on the return run (would've made it official).

Perhaps JR will see this and chime in.

outlaw162 wrote:

Supersonic flight was also prohibited in the Tweet. I think that was because it didn’t have variable inlets.

Quote:

Fly Fast, Zipper Fast!

Challenging the F-104’s World “Absolute” low altitude speed record can be attempted by anything that moves, jet aircraft, Pontiac GTO or a jet-ski.

In 2011 the Brits are going to have a go at it with the “Bloodhound” SSC (supersonic car). It uses the same jet engine as in the Typhoon (EJ200) to get it to 350 mph and then a rocket motor which, as it’s envisioned, will take it to 1050 mph. The jet engine throttle can be modulated through out the run; the rocket is either on or off. (In 2010, as a warm-up, they’re going for 800 mph.) Shocked

Their goal is to clearly beat the 994 mph which was Greenamyer’s speed on his fastest run (He averaged 988, which means on at least one run he was dogging it at only 982). An RAF pilot is going to “drive” the SSC.

At this time, the Brits are dealing with three problems:

1. Finding a dry lakebed with a long enough stretch which hasn’t been cracked and deformed by global warming

2. $10 million dollars

3. Installation of a hands free cell phone

I’d buy him a pint if he pulls it off. And even if he does, the F-104 will still be the fastest “aircraft”.

OL

Let's clarify, the F-104 is the fastest aircraft that has participated in the run. You can't claim it as THE fastest without stating this as there may be faster aircraft that just have not attempted the record.

I tend to believe the F-111 was capable of being the fastest thing ever at low altitude also, having been outrun by them numerous times in my F-4.

But you gotta play to win.

Very Happy

OL

outlaw162 wrote:

I tend to believe the F-111 was capable of being the fastest thing ever at low altitude also, having been outrun by them numerous times in my F-4.

But you gotta play to win.

Very Happy

OL

I agree with you OL but I guess we'll never know. I just remember every Red Flag I went to we were restricted to Sub-sonic on egress after the first couple of days because of the damage the -111s were doing to the range equipment!

JR007 wrote:

He was going to break the Mig-25s altitude record when the main gear would not lock and he wisely elected to punch out.

I never quite understood that. He was close to Rogers Dry Lake. Why couldn't he have just raised the gear, run the tanks down to Bingo, and then put her down gear up?

I'm guessing that the 104 must not be very forgiving during a gear up landing, but I'd definitely rather try to do that as safely as possible, rather than pulling handles.

Then again, that level of skills and knowledge around the jet is what makes Darryl Greenamyer the pilot he is, and what makes me just another internet bum.

************************************************************

As for the plane which holds the single engine speed record at altitude...it belongs to the Six.

On 15 Dec 1959, Major Joseph Rogers broke the record previously held by a modified MiG-21 prototype by flying 1,525.93 mph, or Mach 2.31, at 40,000 ft. over an 11 mile course.

Unfortunately, 2 years later, like the Red Barron, this aircraft, 56-0467, was destroyed in a fire after landing at Edwards.

IIRC the F-104 had a really high landing speed because of the lack of wing area to provide slow speed lift. The high landing speed may have been too dangerous to land it 'wheels up'. Love those -106s and that 'hard light' burner. I used to love to see the ones from the FIS out of Otis AFB, MA stop in - beautiful jet, and that funny 'forked' control stick.

Yes, the hard burner light on the Six...that was the alarm clock of my childhood. If you lived near an F-106 base, you could simply wake up by the sound of the early morning Go.

890 KEAS is mach 2.83 at 36000 feet. I never knew the Vark could fly so fast! Might have to switch my favorite jet from the Foxbat to a mud mover...

Forum: Military Aircraft of the Cold War

Max Speed of Cold War Era Aircraft