Among several anecdotes Carter recalled at Father Hesburgh’s memorial service, he shared how he made the “mistake” in 1979 of asking Father Hesburgh if there was anything he could do for him. Father Hesburgh told Carter he wanted a ride on an SR-71 supersonic reconnaissance jet, known as the Blackbird.
“I said, ‘Father Hesburgh, it’s not customary for civilians to ride on top-secret aircraft,’” Carter recalled with a smile. “He said, ‘That’s all right. I thought you were commander in chief.’”
Carter stood by his word and arranged for the flight.
As he recalled at the tribute: “I sent word to a pilot of an SR-71 that he would be having his first civilian passenger who was a special friend of mine. And, I asked him how fast the Blackbird had ever flown. He said 2,193 mph. It was the fastest plane on earth. I said I would be very pleased if he could go a little faster than that when he took up Father Hesburgh. And, on the last day of February 1979, Father Ted went up in an SR-71 Blackbird airplane and he and the pilot went 2,200 mph, which set a new world record.”