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THE 456th FIGHTER INTERCEPTOR SQUADRON |
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THE PROTECTORS OF S. A. C. |
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Two Absolute World Speed Records |
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New York to London Pilot/RSO on the left; London to Los Angeles Pilot/RSO on the right
Record Setting Route Map for both flights
See The Picture Collections Of Both Flights Below
Speed of the Fastest Airplane
Bibliographic Entry Result
(w/surrounding text)Standardized
ResultBoyne, Walter. World Book Encyclopedia. New York: World Book, 1996: 208. "... a rocket plane the fastest kind of airplane... a speed of 4,520 mph" 2020 m/s Lockheed SR-71A. Air Force Armament Museum. Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. "... an SR-71 set two world records for its class: an absolute speed record of 2,193.167 miles per hour" 980 m/s Guinness Book of World Records 1968. New York: Bantam, 1968: 249. "... the official air speed record is 2,070.102 mph by Col. Robert L. Stephens" 925 m/s Guinness Book of World Records 1989. New York: Bantam, 1989: 204. "The official air speed record is 2,193.167 mph by Capt. Eldon W. Joersz in a Lockheed SR-71A" 980 m/s In the search for the speed of the fastest airplane in air speed, the first problem was to find the difference between regular speed and air speed. Air speed is defined as the speed of an airplane with relation to the air, as compared to regular speed, which is the speed relative to the earth.
In 1968, according to the Guinness Book of World Records, a record airspeed of 2,070.102 mph (925 m/s) was achieved by a Lockheed YF-12A. The 1989 Guinness Book states that a record airspeed of 2,193.167 mph (980 m/s) was achieved by a Lockheed SR-71-A, which is a newer version of the YF-12A. The online source from the AFAM web page agrees with this number to the thousandths place, and it was recorded 7 years later. As it says, this plane has held this record speed for 24 years. The 1996 World Book Encyclopedia has a different answer of 4,520 mph (2020 m/s). This difference in opinion can be explained by the fact that this record speed was performed by a rocket plane, which differs from the type of plane mentioned in the other sources.
The source from 1968 differs from the more recent data because since 1968, engines and designs of planes have been advanced due to technological advances so that planes can fly faster. Of course there are other faster speeds. The US Space Shuttle flew at a record 16,000 mph (7153 m/s). These machines aren't planes and they achieve these high speeds only during reentry.
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Standardized Result |
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"27/28 July 1976 Crew: Capt. Eldon W. Joersz and Maj. George T. Morgan Speed Over a Straight Course: 2,193.167 mph" |
980.4334 m/s | ||||
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"27/28 July 1976 Crew: Maj. Adolphus H. Bledsoe, Jr. and Maj. John T. Fuller Speed Over a Closed Circuit: 2,092.294 mph" |
935.3391 m/s | ||||
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"6 March 1990 Crew: Lt. Col. Ed Yeilding and Lt. Col. Joseph T. Vida Speed Over a Recognized Course - St. Louis to Cincinnati (311.44 mi) Time: 8 minutes 31.97 seconds Average Speed: 2,189.94 mph" |
978.991 m/s | ||||
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"6 March 1990 Crew: Lt. Col. Ed Yeilding and Lt. Col. Joseph T. Vida Speed Over a Recognized Course - Los Angeles to Washington D.C. (1,998 MI) Time: 1 hour 4 minutes 19.89 seconds Average Speed: 2,144.83 mph [1863 mph]" |
958.824 m/s [833.0 m/s] |
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"6 March 1990 Crew: Lt. Col. Ed Yeilding and Lt. Col. Joseph T. Vida Speed Over a Recognized Course - Los Angeles to East Coast (Coast to Coast, 2,086 MI) Time: 1 hour 7 minutes 53.69 seconds Average Speed: 2,124.5 mph [1843.44 mph]" |
949 74 m/s [824.1 m/s] |
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"1 September 1974 Crew: Maj. James V. Sullivan and Maj Noel F. Widdifield Speed Over a Recognized Course - New York to London Time: 1 hour 54 minutes 56.4 seconds Average Speed: 1,806.964 mph" |
807.7852 m/s | ||||
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"13 September 1974 Crew: Capt. Harold B. Adams and Capt. William C. Machorek Speed Over a Recognized Course - London to Los Angeles (5,645 MI) Time: 3 hours 47 minutes 35.8 seconds Average Speed: 1,435.587 mph [1488 mph]" |
641.765 m/s [665.3 m/s] |
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| "On September 1, 1974 Major James V. Sullivan, 37 (pilot) and Noel F. Widdifield, 33 (reconnaissance systems officer) (photo inset), flashed across the starting line (radar gates in New York) at approximately 80,000 feet and speed in excess of 2,000 miles per hour. Exactly 1 hour 54 minutes and 56.4 seconds later, they had set a new world speed record from New York to London England. The average speed was 1,807 statute mph over the 3,461 statute mile course, slowing to refuel one time from a specially modified KC-135 refueling tanker." | 807.6 m/s | ||||
| "Another historic speed record was set on the return trip to the United States. Capt Harold B. Adams, 31 (pilot), and Major William Machorek, 32 (reconnaissance systems operator), set a speed record from London to Los Angeles. They returned the Blackbird 5,447 statute miles in 3 hours 47 minutes and 39 seconds for an average speed of 1,435 miles per hour [1436 mph]." |
641.8 m/s [641.8 m/s] |
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World Record Speed Runs [poster]
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995.4571 m/s [809 m/s] 749.3929 m/s [643.0 m/s] |
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SR-71 Record Speed Runs [poster]
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812.3 m/s [805.6 m/s] 642.8 m/s [643.7 m/s] |
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Detailed Crew Maps of the Flight Routes
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812.3 m/s [805.6 m/s] 642.8 [643.7 m/s] |
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"New York to London Speed Run Clarification There has been minor discrepancies both in SR-71 publications and in data appearing on photos (to include the Lockheed photos on this web page) pertaining to the actual miles flown and the actual speed over the closed course. Major Jim Sullivan's certificate issued by the French Federation Aeronautique International (the governing body of aviation world records) reflects accurately the speed of 2,908.016 Kilometers Per Hour. Therefore: One statute mile = 1.609344 km. Therefore, 2908.016km/hr = 1806.957368 statute MI/hr. 1hr 54m 56.4s = 1.915666666hr. Rate times time = distance = 3,461.528 statute miles The correct New York to London Speed Run Data is: Time Flown: 1hour, 54min, 56.4sec Distance Flown: 3,461.528 statute miles Speed Flown: 1,806.957368 statute MI/hr. The correct London to Los Angeles Speed Run Data is: Time Flown: 3hour, 47min, 39 sec Distance Flown: 5,446.87 statute miles Speed Flown: 1,435.59 statute MI/hr." |
807.782 m/s 641.766 m/s |
Without a doubt, the SR-71 Blackbird is the fastest and highest flying airplane currently in operation. From the late 1960s to the early 1990s, it routinely set speed and altitude records. Unfortunately for aeronautic historians, many of these records are mathematically inconsistent.
Average speed is distance divided by time. When applied to the historic flights cited above, this simple formula can be use to detect flaws is record keeping. For each of the record setting events, speed was calculated from the distance and time provided by the reporting website. On several occasions, this calculated value differed from the reported value. Whenever this happened, the calculated value was inserted in square brackets [like this].
Some of you reading this might take this as a slam against the Internet or the websites mentioned above, but this is not the case. The maps and posters cited at sr-71.org were produced soon after the flights they are describing; presumably by Lockheed-Martin or US Air Force personnel. Somewhere back in the early history of these events someone got a little careless.
Possible sources of these inconsistencies include...
transposition of digits (123 becomes 132, for example);
sloppy conversions from nautical miles to miles to kilometers or knots to mph to km/h using approximate conversion factors for some calculations and more accurate ones later on;
incorrect averaging of segments without weighting (1 km/h for 8 hours and 2 km/h for 2 hours does not average to 1.5 km/h, it averages to 1.2 km/h);
significant digit fiascoes, where rounded values are used to calculate results that are then reported with an unnaturally high degree of accuracy; or the opposite problem
rounding errors, where an accurate number is rounded and then used in a calculation that is reported as highly accurate.
Once faulty data gets out, it's hard to recall. Error repeats error, repeats error, repeats error, ...
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The New York To London Speed Run |
Click on Picture to enlarge
"Kelly" Johnson
Click on Picture to enlarge
On September 1, 1974 Major James V. Sullivan, 37 (pilot) and Noel F. Widdifield, 33 (reconnaissance systems officer) (photo inset), flashed across the starting line (radar gates in New York) at approximately 80,000 feet and speed in excess of 2,000 miles per hour. Exactly 1 hour 54 minutes and 56.4 seconds later, they had set a new world speed record from New York to London England. The average speed was 1,807 statute mph over the 3,461 statute mile course, slowing to refuel one time from a specially modified KC-135 refueling tanker. The aircraft was placed on static display at Farnborough Air Show for 1 week. It marked the first time the secret plane had been on public display outside of the United States. Clarence L. "Kelly" Johnson (photo inset), the aircrafts designer, was on hand for the event. He remarked, "It (the SR-71) has exceeded all my expectations."
Another historic speed record was set on the return trip to the United States. Capt Harold B. Adams, 31 (pilot), and Major William Machorek, 32 (reconnaissance systems operator), set a speed record from London to Los Angeles. They returned the Blackbird 5,447 statute miles in 3 hours 47 minutes and 39 seconds for an average speed of 1,435 miles per hour. The difference in the two speed records was due to refueling requirements and having to slow over major US cities. Even so a large number of people in Los Angeles reported broken windows due to the sonic boom.
Detailed Crew Maps of the Flight Routes:
There are two detailed SR-71 Crew Maps of the Record Setting Flight Routes from Beale AFB, California to Farnborough, England and the return flight to Los Angeles. These maps show departure times, elapsed times over the routes and where refueling took place. They show the Start of acceleration to Mach 3+ speed (2100 MPH) and Deceleration to slow down for refueling with the KC-135Q Tanker. Map 1 shows the Continental United States. Map 2 shows the Atlantic and England. SR-71 9th Operations Planners looked at over 50 flight routes with the goal of setting the record in less than two hours. This is the one selected and flown. These images are in 640X480 Resolution.
Click on Picture to enlarge
U.S. Map
England Map
Click on Picture to enlarge
Major's James Sullivan and Noel Widdifield exiting SR-71A #972 at Farnborough, England after setting a new World Trans-Atlantic Speed Record New York to London.
SR-71 Flight Crew, Sullivan & Widdifield-New York to London
Click on Picture to enlarge
"Tribute to Kelly Johnson by the 9th SRW"
The Two Official Certificates:
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The Certificate of Official Speed Record Presented to Major James V. Sullivan, USAF by the French Federation Aeronautique Internationale, September 01, 1974 Verifying New York to London Speed Record. National Aeronautic Association Certificate Presented to Major James V. Sullivan, USAF
New York to London Speed Run Clarification
There has been minor discrepancies both in SR-71 publications and in data appearing on photos (to include the Lockheed photos on this web page) pertaining to the actual miles flown and the actual speed over the closed course. Major Jim Sullivan's certificate issued by the French Federation Aeronautique International (the governing body of aviation world records) reflects accurately the speed of 2,908.016 Kilometers Per Hour.
Therefore:
One statute mile = 1.609344 km.
Therefore, 2908.016km/hr = 1806.957368 statute mi/hr.
1hr 54m 56.4s = 1.915666666hr.
Rate times time = distance = 3,461.528 statute miles
The correct New York to London Speed Run Data is:
Time Flown: 1hour, 54min, 56.4sec
Distance Flown: 3,461.528 statute miles
Speed Flown: 1,806.957368 statute mi/hr.
Farnborough England Air Show
September 01, 1974
The World Record Speed Run-New York to London
Pictures
The following photos were extracted from various sources, however most were photographed by Joe Gulli (Lockheed), Jim Fitzgerald (Lockheed) and Leland Haynes (USAF) at Farnborough. Most photos have been enhanced.
Click on Picture to enlarge
Route Map Prep for Launch Takeoff from Beale AFB Coast of USA Over the Atlantic Pilot Did you ask How High and Fast? View from 80M feet 80M feet-fuel dumped for visibility Kelly Johnson-Aircraft Designer Pilot's Exiting #972 VIP's Congrats
L.A. to London Pilots Sullivan and Widdifield Sullivan and Widdifield Pilot Officers and Ground Crew Static Display Record Stats Rainbow's mean wet! Static Display Static Display Buck Adams, Pilot Ground Crews Rainbow City Ops Officer It was always wet Great shot from C-5
tailSR-71 & C-5 Farnborough Farnborough Farnborough Farnborough Security #1
Security Guards Homeward Bound Skunk Works Logo
More Pictures Of
The World Record Speed Run-New York to London
September 01, 1974
A large portion of the following images was taken by Lew Williams, Lockheed ADP Technical Representative at the Farnborough Air Show in August of 1974. The photos depict the arrival of SR-71 #972 after setting the World Record Speed Run from New York to London, England. Shown disembarking the SR is Pilot Major James Sullivan and RSO Major Noel Widdifield.
Click on Picture to enlarge
#972 Lands at Farnborough Taxi to Park PSD scramble to safety seats Ejection Seats Saftied FAI inspects for Certification Pilot and RSO Exits USAF Congratulations to Crew Swarm of News Reporters Reporters and VIP's Canopies Closed Sullivan and Widdified with FAI Officials So Hot you overflew Ireland? Enroute to Debriefing RSO Widdifield Quick Hangar Debrief with Lew Williams Major James Sullivan, Pilot Sullivan & Widdifield President Ford Congratulates Crew VIA Phone Crew with their Spouses Crew and Spouses Getting Unsuited Pilot James Sullivan and RSO Noel Widdifield Major James Sullivan, Pilot Major Noel Widdifield, RSO Sullivan and Widdifield with SR #972 SR-71 Lockheed and Maintenance Crew Lew Williams, Lockheed Skunk Works with #972 SR-71 Front Cockpit SR-71 Rear Cockpit Skunk Works Logo
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The London to Los Angeles Speed Run |
Click on Picture to enlarge
SR-71 Flight Crew, Adams & Machorek
Pilot Officers and Ground Crew Members
On Sept. 13, 1974, Capt. Harold B. (Buck) Adams, Pilot, with Maj. Williams C. Machorek, Reconnaissance Systems Operator, flew the SR-71 Blackbird across seven time zones from London to Los Angeles in a race with the sun. The 3 hour, 47 minute and 39 second flight established a record over the 5,447 statute mile route but an added aerial refueling over the longer distance produced a slower ground speed of 1,435 mph. The aircraft arrived (by California time) almost four hours before its London-time departure. For their record-setting flights, the pilots received the De La Vaulx medal given by Federal Aeronautique Internationale. The medal is awarded to individuals for establishing absolute world records for highest performance without regard to size of aircraft or power plant.
The London to Los Angeles Speed Run Clarification
There has been minor discrepancies both in SR-71 publications and in data appearing on photos (to include the Lockheed photos on this web site) pertaining to the actual miles flown and the actual speed over the closed course. National Aeronautics Association book of aircraft records issued by the French Federation Aeronautique International (the governing body of aviation world records) reflects accurately the speed of 2,310.35 Kilometers Per Hour.
Therefore:
One statute mile = 1.609344 km.
Therefore, 2310.35km/hr = 1435.59 statute mi/hr.
3hr 47m 39s = 3.79416666 hr
Rate times time = distance = 5446.87 statute miles
The Correct London to Los Angeles Speed Run Data is:
Time Flown: 3hour, 47min, 39sec
Distance Flown: 5,446.87 statute miles
Speed Flown: 1,435.59 statute mi/hr.
The London to Los Angeles Record Flight-1974
September 13, 1974
Pictures
The following 48 images was taken at Beale AFB, California on Sept. 13, 1974.
They are the only known images of this historic Blackbird flight.Click on Picture to enlarge
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07/06/2008 |
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