“Center, Aspen 20, you got a ground speed readout for us?”

In his book, “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 this was, I heard a familiar click of a radio transmission coming from my back-seater. It was at that precise moment I realized Walt and I had become a real crew, for we were both thinking in unison.

“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.

Thanks for the transcript of the book  to Sierra Hotel Vintage Aviation Clothing Collection >  Click on the patch below to buy museum quality aviation wear.

Moreno Aguiari

Born in Milan, Italy, Moreno moved to the U.S. in 1999 to pursue a career as a commercial pilot. His aviation passion began early, inspired by his uncle, an F-104 Starfighter Crew Chief, and his father, a military traffic controller. Childhood adventures included camping outside military bases and watching planes at Aeroporto Linate. In 1999, he relocated to Atlanta, Georgia, to obtain his commercial pilot license, a move that became permanent. With 24 years in the U.S., he now flies full-time for a Part 91 business aviation company in Atlanta. He is actively involved with the Commemorative Air Force, the D-Day Squadron, and other aviation organizations. He enjoys life with his supportive wife and three wonderful children.

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