Dean,
I invite you, or anyone else, to go to the site, link to the Vehicle Information page, then link to the Vehicle Performance Data PDF file done by Dryden Research employee Wayne Olson on our modified F-104. You'll find that he's calculated the vehicle in its current configuration, if run in full afterburner from a standing start, will achieve 835 MPH in 3.7 miles.
However, I should point out to you that we are using a J-79 that has been carefully balanced and modified to produce 52,000 hp. Robin Sipe of S&S Turbine Services in B.C. is one of the world "experts" on the J-79 and has had GE come to him about the kind of performance he's managed to produce from them.
Yes, Ed Shadle is very real and very experienced and knowledgeable when it comes to attempting something like this.