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AnthillOmbudsman t1_j9inmof wrote

Reply to comment by DerisiveGibe in TIL The Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird used an Astro-inertial Navigation System to track Stars and determine its position and altitude. At Mach 3, the navigation system was accurate enough to limit drift to 1,000 feet (300 meters) off course. by shamelessterminator

The story is horseshit, unfortunately. The pilots don't talk to anyone above FL600, and it's moving so fast it would be in one ARTCC sector and out the other in minutes. ATC centers are also not in the business of measuring speeds unless it's on the transponder data tag, and an SR-71 would not be broadcasting that stuff due to OPSEC. The pilots are also too busy for fun and games... the SR-71 is known specifically for being a high workload airplane. For a more accurate take, Col. Richard Graham's books are worth reading.

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