SR-71 Pilot Landed in California Before Takeoff in Japan

An SR-71 Blackbird pilot recounts an incredible feat of speed and time travel.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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SR-71 pilot David Peters recently shared a legendary anecdote about a flight where he and his co-pilot, Ed Bethert, departed Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan on a Saturday morning and landed at Beale AFB in California later that same day, effectively arriving 17.5 hours before they had even taken off. This was made possible by the Blackbird's unparalleled speed of over Mach 3, allowing them to cross the International Date Line and reach their destination on the other side of the Pacific Ocean in record time.

Why it matters

The story of Peters and Bethert's 'time-traveling' flight highlights the incredible capabilities of the SR-71 Blackbird, one of the fastest and highest-flying aircraft ever built. It showcases the Blackbird's ability to perform intercontinental missions at breakneck speeds, redefining what is possible in terms of global reach and rapid response for military and intelligence operations.

The details

While swapping aircraft at Kadena Air Base, Peters and Bethert departed on a Saturday morning at 10:00 AM local time. After a mission through the Korean DMZ and the Sea of Okhotsk, they crossed the International Date Line at Mach 3+. This allowed them to land at Beale AFB in California and arrive at the officers' club for Friday night happy hour, effectively 'landing' 17.5 hours before they had taken off from Okinawa.

  • Peters and Bethert departed Kadena Air Base on a Saturday morning at 10:00 AM.
  • They crossed the International Date Line at Mach 3+.
  • They landed at Beale AFB in California and arrived at the officers' club for Friday night happy hour.

The players

David Peters

An SR-71 pilot who recently shared this legendary anecdote about a record-breaking flight.

Ed Bethert

The co-pilot who accompanied Peters on the Mach 3+ flight across the Pacific.

Kadena Air Base

A United States Air Force base located in Okinawa, Japan, where Peters and Bethert were stationed.

Beale AFB

A United States Air Force base located in California, where Peters and Bethert landed after their record-breaking flight.

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What they’re saying

“We got up Saturday morning and got ready to go home. Departure was scheduled for 1000. Everything went well and we departed right on time. Headed out to do a pass through the Korean DMZ then into the tankers in the Sea of Japan. Good refueling and climb out headed for the Sea of Okhotsk and the Kamchatka peninsula of Russia and from there to more tankers off of Adak in the Aleutian Islands.”

— David Peters, SR-71 Pilot (19fortyfive.com)

“Another good refueling and on to Beale AFB California. We arrived with a low approach pulled up into a closed pattern and landed. Following de-suiting and debrief we deposited our classified flight documents, jumped in a car, and arrived at the officers club for Friday night happy hour at 1630 17 1/2 hours before [italics added] we left Kadena.”

— David Peters, SR-71 Pilot (19fortyfive.com)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This incredible 'time-traveling' feat by the SR-71 Blackbird pilots remains a testament to the aircraft's unparalleled speed and endurance, redefining what is possible in terms of global reach and rapid response for military and intelligence operations. The story highlights the Blackbird's legendary status among aerospace enthusiasts and the lasting impact of its technological prowess.