Outflying SAMs over Libya at Mach 3

In April 1986, following an attack on American soldiers in a Berlin disco, President Reagan ordered the bombing of Muammar Qaddafi's terrorist camps in Libya. My duty was to fly over Libya and take photos recording the damage our F-111's had inflicted. Qaddafi had established a 'line of death,' a territorial marking across the Gulf of Sidra, swearing to shoot down any intruder that crossed the boundary. On the morning of April 15, I rocketed past the line at 2,125 mph.

I was piloting the SR-71 spy plane, the world's fastest jet, accompanied by Maj Walter Watson, the aircraft's reconnaissance systems officer (RSO). We had crossed into Libya and were approaching our final turn over the bleak desert landscape when Walter informed me that he was receiving missile launch signals. I quickly increased our speed, calculating the time it would take for the weapons-most likely SA-2 and SA-4 surface-to-air missiles capable of Mach 5 - to reach our altitude. I estimated that we could beat the rocket-powered missiles to the turn and stayed our course, betting our lives on the plane's performance.

http://maggiesfarm.anotherdotcom.com/archives/7821-Major-Brian-Shul-I-loved-that-jet.ht

Son of Concord to offer commercial flights at 3400mph

The revolutionary plane called A2 will fly at a top speed of 3,400mph and should be able to carry 300 passengers. To reach Mach 3 the plane initially generates thrust through engines similar to those used in conventional jet aircraft. Beyond Mach 3, the super-heated air is pre-cooled before it enters the turbines, preventing the engines from melting. The plane has a minimal carbon footprint because it is fueled by liquid hydrogen, producing only water vapor and nitrous oxide as exhaust.

The A2 will cruise at an altitude of 100,000ft. A ticket from Europe to Australia is estimated to cost around $4000.