Clayten

The aircraft still to this day looks like a space craft. I can only imagine the impressions of the pilots that seen it for the first time. So many years ago.

iker42

just did the calculations, his trip over the Mediterranean was 1.6mi/s -> 2574.9504m/s -> 5005.30315 Knots -> mach 8.74 or 5768.4 mph

PaulDaisy

It is indeed a neat airplane. I was lucky enough to be at Edwards and see one on the ramp. Indeed, leaked like a sieve. Once it was away, there was a contour on the ramp. We watched one fly; in the late 90s it was not a top secret anymore. It taxied past our hangar, and to the end of the runway. Looked thoroughly unimpressive, and we were a bit disappointed. We lost sight of it as it rolled to the end of the runway. And then, as if to prove us wrong, the pilot revved up a little bit. The deep roar of those engines was lower and louder than a 747 at take off. And then, it died off. We though, oh well, aborted... but no. It took off at near idle, and then gunned them again some 5 kft up, not quite as much as at first but enough to sent it out of sight in less than a minute.
It is a great aircraft, indeed. I feel blessed that I got to work around it and other equally cool birds. I missed out on Global Hawk. Friends tell me it is really neat too (when it works )

Matt400

My fav for sure, I had the opportunity to service this plane over an 18 month stay in Okinawa 78-79.
Watching takeoffs was never dull, pilot would lift off and fly parallel to the runway and at the very end turn the nose vertical and on the clearest blue day you could watch it climb till out of site and still hear the engines roar for a long time after that.

Night time test pad scenes were way cool, a super long deep purple after burner made the F4's look weak. I sat in one once, crew chief said it was ok but the SP on duty was quick to nix that.. something about my flight-line clearance didn't mean squat.