According to the Wikipedia, forty-six years ago yesterday, a Lockheed F-104 Starfighter set a world speed record at 1404.19 MPH.
Joe Baugher's site says,
"On May 7, 1958, Major Howard C. Johnson reached an altitude of 91,249 feet in a zoom climb at Edwards AFB in California, setting a new altitude record. On May 16 (sic), 1958, Captain Walter W. Irwin flying a YF-104A set a new world's air speed record of 1404.19 mph flying over a 15/25 kilometer course at Edwards AFB. For the first time in history, the same aircraft type held both the world speed and altitude records at the same time."
The Federation of American Scientists have an illustrated fact sheet on the F-104; give a quick pass-through.
The Starfighter is arguably one of history's most excellent-looking aircraft of the jet age. It's also one of the longest-serving types, with the Italian air force still flying the Alenia-manufactured F-104S-ASA as of this writing.
Posted by Country Pundit at May 19, 2004 12:02 AM