Originally Posted By: Astro14
Wish I had a camera back in the day...I would have taken a picture of the view from a Tomcat at 60,000 feet...from the VACAPES, I could clearly see up to Richmond, and most of the way up the Chesapeake Bay....
Nice!!! As you know, it's a great view from way up, on a clear day. It's funny, but some days, it actually is hazy up high. And, on others, it's clear as a bell. I always blame it on dust from Africa, and I may not be far off. It's too bad you did not take pics. As they come out great from way up! I think I have some...
We may or may not have gone higher than 510 and found the real world service ceiling of the G550. Rumored to be... I will say that the G550, when light has very modest wing loading, and will easily do 45 degree banks at FL510. And, the engines are not near any mechanical or thermal limits at that alt.
Here is one from one of those "test flights"...
On a side note, I have a standing goal of reaching 70,000 feet someday. Mr. Rutan said hello to our "lowly" from FL700 one day. Not very nice of him...