The Time a SR71 Blackbird Called Los Angeles Tower For a Speed Check

The skies above us seem empty and tranquil when we gaze up into the sky, however, there is a lot of moving parts when it comes to air travel and the operations and regulations needed to keep the pilots, passengers, and all of us on the ground safe. 

Contact with airports and regional towers is required to ensure that aircraft are heading in the right direction, flying at the right altitude, and of course to prevent collisions.

In this video, we hear a military pilot recall a funny interaction he had with an Air Traffic Controller while flying an SR71 Blackbird (capable of speeds in excess of 2,200 miles per hour) and requesting a speed check. The controller's response is pretty funny, and the rest is history.