Thanks for another great piece of your history Puma. Again you remind me of what I missed never having any experience in fighter jets. Highest I ever flew was a Lear at F510 and it felt like crap. Thrust and wing just barely adequate. Never took it over F450 after that.
I wonder - did the years you spent in the 737 series (not sure if you flew other transport jets) not feel a little sluggish?
You remind me of an interesting observation. We routinely cruised the F-106 cross country at 45,000 feet or higher at Mach .92-94. At those altitudes, the only civilian aircraft I ever saw higher was a Lear Jet.
The 737, although a “heavy” in comparison, was reasonably responsive. The -200 was widely acknowledged as the best hand flying of them all. The 737 roll rate could be improved by cracking the spoilers slightly. Not an approved or accepted procedure but, if deployed slightly and forgotten, roll rate was impressive when a roll input was made. The 737, like any airliner, is less responsive at higher altitude.
