This may be the single greatest aviation story ever told, its about the iconic sr71 blackbird whose full operating specs are still classified to this day. There were a lot of things we couldnt do in an sr71, but we. The story, from the now outofprint book sled driver by former sr71 jockey brian shul available. The fastest guys out there written by brian schul former sled driver there were a lot of things we couldnt do in an sr71, but we were the fastest guys on the block and loved reminding our fellow aviators of this fact. Sled driver brian shul shares with us his story of being one of only 93 pilots to ever fly the sr71 blackbird. In his book, sled driver, sr71 blackbird pilot brian shul writes.
I was flying the sr 71 out of raf mildenhall, england, with my backseater. Posted on august 4, 2017 posted in gun camera videos. A fantastic sr 71 story welcome to airline pilot forums connect and get the inside scoop on airline companies if this is your first visit, be sure to check out the faq. Jun 25, 2019 the story behind this famed sr71 blackbird super low knifeedge pass. Welcome to airline pilot forums connect and get the inside scoop on airline companies. There was a longer than normal pause aspen, i show 1942 knots. There were a lot of things we couldnt do in an sr71, but we were the. Recap of the sr 71 flyover and static display at beale afb air fest 97. A fantastic sr71 story airline pilot central forums. The sr71 blackbird groundspeed story the insomnia sessions. Reddit gives you the best of the internet in one place. His presentation includes a slide show of his incredible sr71 photography.
The story of the sr71 blackbird that outran gaddafis sams. Major brian shul is the author of a famous book about the sr71 blackbird entitled sled driver. Written by brian schulformer sled sr71 blackbird driver. This is an excerpt from sled driver by brian schul. If you wish to include brian as a guest speaker at your next forthcoming event, contact me and i will forward your request on to him. While the authorpilot is not named, it is most likely brian shul. I am sure many of you have had this emailed to you, but i could not help but post it here. Sled driver brian shul shares with us his story of being one of only 93 pilots to ever fly the sr 71 blackbird. Air force inventory in 1966, the sr71 was the fastest, highest flying jet aircraft in the world. By brian shul, usaf sled driver as a former sr71 pilot, and a professional keynote speaker, the question im most often asked is how fast would that sr71 fly.
Written by brian schul former sled sr71 blackbird driver. Jul 09, 2019 nevertheless the blackbird wasnt an easy plane to fly as sr71 pilot brian shul recalls in his book sled driver. People often asked us if, because of this fact, it was fun to fly the jet. This is the thrilling story of brian shul and his lockheed sr71 blackbird, as he zoomed through the skies of qaddafis country. Brian shul born 1948, is a vietnam warera attack pilot and a retired major in the united states air force usaf. In april 1986president reagan ordered the bombing of muammar qaddafis terrorist camps in libyaqaddaffi labeled a no. Brian shul is a man among men and author of one of the definitive works on the sr 71, sled driver. Test pilot bill weaver was flying an sr 71 blackbird on an experimental evaluation flight when. Major brian shul retells the famous sr71 speed check story. Author and former sr 71 blackbird pilot brian shul is an inspirationalkeynote speaker, tailoring his acclaimed presentation to your. In his book, sled driver, sr 71 blackbird pilot brian shul writes. Walter and i had just completed the 100 hours required to attain mission ready status in the jet. Aug 08, 2019 sr71 blackbird pilot tells the story of his famed ground speed check. I came across this story a couple of years ago, and while it isnt as mindblowing as the greatest ground speed check ever, its still pretty awesome and was way more mindblowing for those that were there.
Brian also has a love of photography and owns one of. In this award winning book, a former blackbird pilot shares the intensity and magic of flying 80, 000 feet above the earth at 2. Sr71 pilot brian shul recalls in his book sled driver. The story of how the sr71 incredible performance allowed them to hold their course and outrun the missiles before returning home safely to raf mildenhall is. His first book, sled driver, is nothing less than a love story about a pilot and an airplane as brian describes his experience in the sled and the amazing characteristics and history of the aircraft itself. Written and beautifully photographed by sr71 pilot brian shul, this remarkable book intimately reveals what it was like to fly the worlds fastest and highest flying jet. I dont know of any ludicrous speeding tickets so i cant participate in todays qotd, but it did remind me of my favorite sr71 story. Nicknamed the sled by those who flew her, the sr71 was the worlds fastest, highest flying jet in the world.
The sr71 blackbirds most spectacular flyover was also its slowest. The incredulous controller, with some disdain in his voice, asked, how do you plan to get up to 60,000 feet. The following is brian shuls memoir of flying the sr71 in april 1986, following an attack on american soldiers in a berlin disco, president reagan ordered the bombing of muammar qaddafis terrorist camps in libya. This is a video of him retelling the famous speed check story. The media transcript given to the press at the time still had the earlier rs71 designation in places, creating the story that the president had misread the. And of course there was the 14 yearold model builder who very accurately called to let me know that the. Every author hopes that his book is a success, but i could have never predicted the widespread popularity of my first book, sled driver, in 1992.
Written and beautifully photographed by sr 71 pilot brian shul, this remarkable book intimately reveals what it was like to fly the worlds fastest and highest flying jet. The story of the sr71 blackbird that outran gaddafis. One of the most legendary stories related to the sr71 blackbird has nothing to. I ran across this sr71 story that i thought was interesting. I was flying the sr71 out of raf mildenhall, england, with my backseater. Welcome to gallery one, home of the most sought after book on the legendary sr 71 blackbird, sled driver. Brian is a guest speaker at many aviation events throughout the country. The sr 71 blackbirds most spectacular flyover was also its slowest.
Limited edition is destined to be the classic sr 71 blackbird book of all time. This is another really good story from sled driver, about the slowest hes flown. Flying the worlds fastest jet, about his experiences in the sr71. Brian also has a love of photography and owns one of the best collections of photos of the sr 71 ever. Recap of the sr71 flyover and static display at beale afb air fest 97.
Sr71 blackbird pilot tells the story of his famed ground. Ill always remember a certain radio exchange that occurred one day as walt my backseater and i were screaming across southern california, miles high. Brian schul wrote this book about being an sr71 pilot. The sr71 blackbirds most spectacular flyover was also its.
Flying the worlds fastest jet by brian shul 1992, hardcover at the best online prices at ebay. Brian also is known for his nature photography, which is on display at gallery one in california. Shul himself, we get the other end of the speed spectrum. The interesting back story about how someone transported 3 beat up, surplus b17s from a boneyard in texas all the way to england is a book. What was the slowest you ever flew in the blackbird. Nevertheless the blackbird wasnt an easy plane to fly as sr71 pilot brian shul recalls in his book sled driver. Apr 17, 2018 the story of how the sr 71 incredible performance allowed them to hold their course and outrun the missiles before returning home safely to raf mildenhall is told by shul himself in his book sled driver. The speed check story is directly lifted from its pages. It came across my screen a few years ago, and all efforts to find it on the web in subsequent years failed. I dont know of any ludicrous speeding tickets so i cant participate in todays qotd, but it did remind me of my favorite sr 71 story. This is the thrilling story of brian shul and his lockheed sr 71 blackbird, as he zoomed through the skies of qaddafis country. Jun 08, 2018 the story behind this event is quite interesting and is explained by brian shul in his book sled driver. Center, aspen 20, you got a ground speed readout for us.
The story behind this famed sr71 blackbird super low knifeedge pass. Test pilot bill weaver was flying an sr71 blackbird on an experimental evaluation flight when. Flying the worlds fastest jet, first published in 1991, now in its sixth printing. The story behind this famed sr71 blackbird super low. Surviving, he returned to full flight status, flying the sr 71 blackbird.
If youve never read the text below, i suggest you take the time to do it because it will not disappoint you. Brian shul born 1948 is a vietnam warera attack pilot and a retired major in the united states air force usaf. This story has been kicking around the internet for awhile, but man oh man oh man is it worth a read. Air force inventory in 1966, the sr 71 was the fastest, highest flying jet aircraft in the world. Sr71 blackbird pilot tells the story of his famed ground speed check. Nicknamed the sled by those few who flew it, the aircraft was shrouded in secrecy from its inception. Past archive records of the demise of the blackbirds in the halls of the congress and the pentagon. There were a lot of things we couldnt do in an sr71, but we were the fastest guys on the block and loved reminding our fellow. Perhaps it was because of the original photos, or the mystique of the plane it hon. Brian shul spent 20 years as an air force fighter pilot, and now is a popular keynote speaker. Jun 07, 2012 heres another story about the sr71 from brian shul if you havent read the groundspeed check story, you must check it out as well. There were a lot of things we couldnt do in an sr71, but we were the fastest guys on the block and loved reminding our fellow aviators of this fact.
His comeback story culminated with flying the sr71, which he detailed insled driver. Needing no fiction whatsoever to captivate his audience. Limited edition is destined to be the classic sr71 blackbird book of all time. Heres another story about the sr71 from brian shul if you havent read the groundspeed check story, you must check it out as well. You will be proud to own one as it is sure to become a treasured collectors item, to be passed down to future generations of aviation enthusiasts for a long time. Advertisement this is an expanded excerpt from brian schul s book sled driver.
Shul was the first pilot to write a book about flying the sr71. Sr71 blackbird wallpapers book sled driver story photos. About the author major brian shul is the author of sled driver. Sled driver brian shul, left, with new atlass loz blain, reno air race 2016. Apr 17, 2019 major brian shul is the author of a famous book about the sr71 blackbird entitled sled driver. Shuls comeback story, from lying near dead in the jungle of southeast asia to. Some stories first appeared in richard grahams sr71 blackbird. The story behind this event is quite interesting and is explained by brian shul in his book sled driver. The famous sr71 sam outrun story the insomnia sessions. I can be assured of hearing that question several times at any event i attend.
Author and former sr71 blackbird pilot brian shul is an inspirationalkeynote speaker, tailoring his acclaimed presentation to your. The story behind this famed sr71 blackbird super low knife. Surviving, he returned to full flight status, flying the sr71 blackbird. Sr71 blackbird pilot tells the story of his famed ground speed. He flew 212 combat missions and was shot down near the end of the war. Of all the blackbird stories i have heard, this one is my favorite. The pilot obviously a sled driver, responded, we dont plan to go up to it, we plan to go down to it. Welcome to gallery one, home of the most sought after book on the legendary sr71 blackbird, sled driver. I was flying the sr71 out of raf mildenhall, england, with my backseater, walt watson.
Sr71 blackbird pilot trolls arrogant fighter pilot with. Nicknamed the sled by those few who flew it, the aircraft was. The ultimate ground speed check tales from the blackbird. The fastest guys out there sr71 pilot sled driver story. Shot down in vietnam, he spent one year in a burn ward. Oct 18, 2017 this may be the single greatest aviation story ever told, its about the iconic sr71 blackbird whose full operating specs are still classified to this day. The story of how the sr71 incredible performance allowed them to hold their course and outrun the missiles before returning home safely to raf mildenhall is told by shul himself in his book sled driver. In april 1986president reagan ordered the bombing of muammar qaddafis terrorist camps in libyaqaddaffi labeled a no flyzone for american pilots which he called the. He was so badly burned that he was given next to no chance to live.
1301 723 1351 47 1316 350 1192 1196 305 222 163 102 770 1139 1222 502 1340 1058 1284 1587 159 456 979 104 1209 805 330 826 913 994 1159 670 1048 769 456 346 1409 547 1244