Sep 30, 2014 as we scooted across denmark in three minutes, we learned that a small raf base in the english countryside had requested an sr 71 flypast. Heres why, in 1986, gaddafis sams couldnt touch americas sr. A downed american spyplane pilot would put alot of pressure on the us. Robert gilliland first man to pilot the sr 71 brian shul sr 71 pilot and sled driver author walt watson sr 71 rso and coauthor of the untouchables ed yeilding sr 71 pilot of record breaking flight across. The sr71 nicknamed the sled was destined to be a unique experiment in.
I also have a copy of the untouchables signed by brian shul. There may have been a few pages deleted, but it isnt obvious from reading it. He gives insights to the sr71s performance that i never knew. That same day sr71 serial number 617958 set an absolute speed record of 1,905. Mecham is well qualified to discuss these spy planes.
These incredible sr71 images now have the quality exposure they aptly deserve. Sled driver the untouchables commemorative set, gallery one. As an aircraft mechanic for the navy and now as a civilian i can relate to them. This is an expanded excerpt from brian shuls book sled driver. Air force inventory in 1966, the sr 71 was the fastest, highest flying jet aircraft in the world. Sep 23, 2018 sr71 pilot brian shul states in his book the untouchables that he flew in excess of mach 3. Been looking around for a pdf version of brian shuls book sled driver but all the links ive found. In his first book, sr71 revealed, he did most of the talking. I am looking at my listing of the flights right now, and the speed high energy flights were made towards the end of the program. Fun would not be the first word i would use to describe flying this plane. A fantastic sr71 story airline pilot central forums. Recollections from the past guest book entrys for 2007. There were a lot of things we couldnt do in an sr 71 blackbird the air forcenasa super fast, highest flying reconnaissance jet, nicknamed, the sled, but we were the fastest guys on the block and loved reminding our fellow aviators of this fact. Jul 26, 2010 the sr 71 was an expensive aircraft to operate.
American aerospace engineer clarence kelly johnson was responsible for many of the designs innovative concepts. The us would not have risked a manned mission in any nonstealth aircraft, even sr 71, without being pretty damned sure the aircraft was at no risk. The untouchables mission accomplished twentieth anniversary. A place to discuss the history of the lockheed sr71 blackbird aircraft. Lockheed sr71 blackbird, century wings,herpa, inflight.
It was 15 april 1986, and he was flying over libya at the time, he said, and was forced to fly as fast as possible to dodge a missile. Special two book set includes signed copies of the commemorative editions of both sled driver and the untouchables, along with an etched sr71 blackbird book clip exquisitely detailed and plated in fine 24k gold. 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. There were a lot of things we couldnt do in an sr71 blackbird the air forcenasa super fast, highest flying reconnaissance jet, nicknamed, the sled, but we were the fastest guys on the block and loved reminding our fellow aviators of this fact. But most significantly in his career, he flew the sr71 blackbird, the highest flying and fastest. The infographics show 50 insane fighter jets facts that. I have been requested to include recollections from various personnel that have either worked on the sr71 or have been closely associated with the program through support operations.
Ive been kind of keeping an eye out for brian shuls book sled driver. Special sr71 blackbird first flight 50th golden anniversary edition the untouchables mission accomplished hardbound 11 x 14 book 184 pages 3 photographs. American aerospace engineer clarence kelly johnson was responsible for many of. It is a personalized message to donor of book to the san diego air and space museum. The spikes are full aft now, tucked twentysix inches deep into the nacelles. Sr71 pilot brian shul chats with new atlass loz blain at the reno air race, 2016.
Its great to page through this book while reading accounts of flying the sr71 such as sled driver or the untouchables it gives you a much better appreciation of whats going on. It was operated by both the united states air force usaf and nasa the sr71 was developed as a black project from the lockheed a12 reconnaissance aircraft during the. Aviation profile brian shul, sr71 blackbird pilot gar. Lockheed sr71 blackbird faster than a speeding bullet. We both smiled over it then and i still smile about it now. Fs sled driver and the untouchables, by brian shul. The aircraft was capable of reaching speeds and altitudes that were previously unheard of, and to many aeroplane enthusiasts, she became the ultimate flying machine. Would you happen to have the untouchables or any of his others. The us would not have risked a manned mission in any nonstealth aircraft, even sr71, without being pretty damned sure the aircraft was at no risk.
Major shul completed a 20year career in the air force. The tech that has been claimed to be in aurora sounds awesome. Now the thing to understand about center controllers, was that whether they were talking to a rookie pilot in a cessna, or to air force one, they always spoke in the exact same, calm, deep, professional. People often asked us if, because of this fact, it was fun to fly the jet. Jan 23, 2015 brian shul is a retired us air force usaf pilot. The following is brian shuls memoir of flying the sr 71 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. Sr 71 blackbird special centennial of flight embroidered patch sr 71 blackbird each limited edition sled driver personally signed by.
Another excellent book discussing the sr71 mission over libya in april 1986 when f111. American aerospace engineer clarence kelly johnson was responsible for many of the. Rich graham wrote a note to aopa several years ago when he heard that brian shul was going to be their featured guest speaker, basically saying a. Widdifield, reconnaissance systems officer rso holds the speed over a recognized course record for flying from new york to london. We are a roaring express now, and as we roll through the enemys backyard, i hope our speed continues to defeat the missile radars below. My local used book store would likely pay a decent amount for them, then charge a huge fortune. Literally could not put this book down and recommend it to anyone who has any feeling for the sr71 blackbird. What a man to recover from a crash in vietnam to be told hed never fly again and make the sr71 program is some achievement. Stories, tales and legends rich graham as an sr71 author, rich grahams score is now 20.
We devote our second book, the untouchables, to that, as it was certainly a very interesting time for us. Buy a cheap copy of the untouchables book by brian shul. Episode 15 brian shul talks about piloting the sr 71. I believe all the excerpts dealing with the missions over libya are actually from maj shuls second book, the untouchables, published in 1993. And i know they had to get security checked but alas they are still his and were still taken. Another excellent book discussing the sr71 mission over libya in april 1986 when f111 aircraft were sent into libya to attack qaddafi. Whereas sled driver is full of anecdotes about training in and flying the sr71, the untouchables is solely about the libya missions, from both aircrew and support points of view. I am sure many of you have had this emailed to you, but i could not help but post it here. Fs sled driver and the untouchables, by brian shul both. Unlike other stemtalk guests, shul is neither engineer nor scientist, but he piloted and knew intimately of one of the greatest feats of both. Written by the author of the sled, this is another interesting look at the sr71 blackbird. Sr71 rso and coauthor of the untouchables ed yeilding sr71 pilot of record breaking flight across america. I hope aurora was the reason the sr 71 was taken out of service. The untouchables about the sr71 experience i picked up a autographed copy of the book, when they.
The most significant cost was tanker support, and in 1990, confronted with budget cutbacks, the air force retired the sr 71. Jul 05, 2016 unlike other stemtalk guests, shul is neither engineer nor scientist, but he piloted and knew intimately of one of the greatest feats of both. Driver, the amazing book by one of the sr71 pilots, major brian shul. The complete illustrated history of the blackbird, the. Able to fly above 85,000 feet at speeds exceeding mach3, it was a peerless reconnaissance plane. It was developed as a black project from the lockheed a12 reconnaissance aircraft in the 1960s by lockheed and its skunk works division. Nicknamed the sled by those few who flew it, the aircraft was shrouded in secrecy from its inception. The sr71 community told rich to let it go, that 25 years of holding a grudge was enough. It was operated by both the united states air force usaf and nasa. But id rather they go to redditors i know will enjoy them. Jul 21, 2017 now there are obviously pictures in af,cia,nsa archives but these were his pictures. Jul 07, 2016 episode 15 brian shul talks about piloting the sr 71 blackbird spy plane.
The additional comments of the back seater and people who worked on the plane during its time in the air force really add another dimension to the book. Surviving, he returned to full flight status, flying the sr71 blackbird. Sled driver by brian shul sr71 book results 1 to 9 of 9 thread. The air cadet commander there was a former blackbird pilot, and thought it would be a motivating moment for the young lads to see the mighty sr 71 perform a low approach. The blackbird had outrun nearly 4,000 missiles, not once taking a scratch from enemy fire.
Flying to a coffee table near you comes the new paperback edition of this authoritative and illustrated history of the most mindbending military aircraft ever flown. His story is one with many twists and turns, but he has risen to prominence as a result of his time flying the sr71 blackbird, the photographs he took during that time and sled driver, the book he subsequently wrote. I think what made this book work for me on many levels was the combination of respect. I am now posting this sr71 fact in the memory of his sister concorde gboaf. You knew right away it was a navy jock because he sounded very cool on the radios. Lockheed sr71 blackbird wikipedia republished wiki 2. Sr71 blackbird pilot brian shul with his book, sled driver. It did things that no other airbreathing aircraft could do. Jan 01, 20 the sr 71 was one of the most remarkable planes ever built. Episode 15 brian shul talks about piloting the sr 71 blackbird spy plane. Sr71 pilot brian shul states in his book the untouchables that he flew in excess of mach 3. I spied on russia and korea from the worlds fastest plane vice. Sled driver and the untouchables chris broyhill books.
Not one was ever lost to hostile action and although, according to the author, they never overflew russia or china, they flew near enough to gather intelligence and provoke enemy action. This is an expanded excerpt from brian schuls book sled driver. Silent for so long, these dedicated specialists now, with great candor and. The special edition comes with sled driver and the untouchables and a few extras for less than original copy is going for now. There is a good chapter on the sr71 in ben richs book skunk works and some. If you like the sr71 and wanted to know more about it then this is one of the books you should have.
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. Mission accomplished by brian shul, walter l watson online at alibris. I remember quite well trying to make sure i got to see every episode of the untouchables way back when it was on the air. Another great story from the untouchables with the libyan coast fast approaching now, walt asks me for the third time if i think the jet will get to the speed and altitude we want in time. I hope aurora was the reason the sr71 was taken out of service. The untouchables by eliot ness goodreads share book. Rob edgcumbe sat down with him to find out more of his story. Johnson announced that the united states had completed the building of a new supersonic jet the sr71. The text too, has been expanded and in some places rewritten for better clarity. Sr71 covers every aspect of the spyplanes development, manufacture, and active service, all from the insiders perspective of one its pilots. Now the thing to understand about center controllers, was that whether they were talking to a rookie pilot in a cessna, or to air force one, they always spoke in the exact same, calm, deep, professional, tone that made one feel important. The stories form the people how kept her up and running are the best.