[bedolido]

I didn't know the Foxbat could do Mach 3. The SR-71 could do it... I don't even think F14's can (not sure)

[Blood of Tyrants]

F-14 did a max of about Mach 2.1.

[Snake Eater]

The Foxbat was designed to do Mach 2.8, but they set a redline of Mach 2.5 as any faster caused damage to the engines. US radar once tracked one over Israel at just over Mach 3. When it landed in Egypt its engines were total losses.

[CCCV]

I don't even think F14's can (not sure) Nope. F14's supposed to be a bit slower than the F15 (again not from first-hand knowlege), but the F15(A,B& C's, Don't know about the new Strike Eagle) can run around mach 2.2 or so; but not for long, it burns a tremendous amount of fuel at that speed.

[CCCV]

I don't even think F14's can (not sure)
Nope. F14's supposed to be a bit slower than the F15 (again not from first-hand knowlege), but the F15(A,B& C's, Don't know about the new Strike Eagle) can run around mach 2.2 or so; but not for long, it burns a tremendous amount of fuel at that speed.

[CCCV]

I don't even think F14's can (not sure)
Nope. F14's supposed to be a bit slower than the F15 (again not from first-hand knowlege), but the F15(A,B& C's, Don't know about the new Strike Eagle) can run around mach 2.2 or so; but not for long, it burns a tremendous amount of fuel at that speed.

[Tony in Hawaii]

The MiG-25 was originally designed in response to the North American XB-70.

[CCCV]

WOW Looks like I got a TRIPLE post on that one. Not sure how - Sorry

[af_vet_rr]

I didn't know the Foxbat could do Mach 3

Oh yes, it could do Mach 3, however even though that was played up a lot, in reality, they preferred not to do it because it burned way too much fuel (big enough engines can make any fighter go that fast). I believe it was declassified (I'm sure it was), but we've had access to a few over the years before the end of the cold war, and the technology was not that impressive. Let's just say lots of steel plating (adding weight), and lots of vacuum tubes, which a single round going through the the electronics bay would wipe most of the avionics.

The Mig-25 was really supposed to be a counter to the XB-70 Valkyrie, which never went into production. It was not that impressive outside of its speed, and at top speed it had some control problems, so they limited it to just under mach3 . The missiles it carried at first did not have that long of a range, negating their speed advantage to an extent since they had to get close to fire and at short range our guys would have a better chance of taking them out. The radar was impressive - you could really have some interesting results if you cranked it up on the ground - very powerful.

I dug this page up from a usenet posting, about the one that a defecting pilot landed in Japan in the mid 70s - "My God! Look what this thing is made of! Why, the dumb bastards don't have transistors; they're still using vacuum tubes! These engines are monsters! Maybe the Sovs have a separate refinery for each plane! Jesus! See these rivet heads sticking out, and look at that welding! They did it by hand! Hell, the pilot can't see a thing unless it's practically in front of him! This contraption isn't an airplane; it's a rocket!

The page is here but it's geocities, so don't expect much.

[Fred Hayek]

The Foxbat can do Mach 3, sustaining it like the Blackbird is another matter. It was originally designed with the purpose of intercepting the B-70 Valkyrie (which never went into production), then it may have been used to attempt to intercept the SR-71 (no success there).

[Tom Bombadil]

I didn't know the Foxbat could do Mach 3.

The Foxbat was built to counteract the B70 Valkrye (sp?) which was built but never went into production.

[Itzlzha]

I didn't know the Foxbat could do Mach 3. The SR-71 could do it... I don't even think F14's can (not sure)

Well, I'm not sure this violates the "Loose Lips" mandate, but US planes have LONG passed that 2000 mph.

The SR-71 top speed is still classified, but is well past 5000 mph.

As far as the F-14, I have been told that it took a squadron 55 minutes to cross the US from California to a Carrier leaving South Carolina...and that was with 2 slowdowns for re-fueling. You do the math.

Don't ask for "source" or "proof". Take the info or leave it, no sweat off my front.

[razorbak]

Mig Foxbat doing Mach 3 sounds like Russian propaganda to me. I heard that these kinds of claims for Russian Migs, when they weren't total lies, applied to special planes rigged for a speed test and that they ruined the engines reaching their top speed for a very brief time.

And yes the SR-71 could do Mach 3 or very close. It could fly at over 2000 mph. That's Mach 3 territory. I've only read a few posts so someone else may already have enlightened us.