Comments on: SR-71: Now, That Was Some Airplane

By: Randy J

Randy J — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 03:04:52 +0000

As a retired A.F. crew chief I was thrilled to get to hear and meet Brian Shul at the Marine Memorial Association in San Francisco a couple years ago. His lecture and pictures amazed me. As many of you I loved the story from his book. His story about his life leading up to becoming a Sled Driver is equally amazing. I was in the A.F. for 22 years and never got to see one in person until they retired them. My first was at the Air Force Museum in Dayton, I have seen at least 6 others since. For those who say this is in anyway fictitious have no idea of what you are talking about. It is all true.

Thanks to Brian Shul for your service, your dedication, and your inspiration to others. Good Health and God Speed.

By: frums

frums — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 23:36:50 +0000

There are two on static display at Hill AFB Utah

By: ShaunKenney.com » SR-71: Now, That Was Some Airplane

ShaunKenney.com » SR-71: Now, That Was Some Airplane — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 10:48:18 +0000

[...] Great article about the SR-71 Blackbird: In seconds, we can see nothing but the expansive blue of the Mediterranean. I realize that I still have my left hand full-forward and we’re continuing to rocket along in maximum afterburner. The TDI now shows us Mach numbers not only new to our experience but flat out scary. Walt says the DEF panel is now quiet and I know it is time to reduce our incredible speed. I pull the throttles to the min ‘burner range and the jet still doesn’t want to slow down. Normally, the Mach would be affected immediately when making such a large throttle movement. But for just a few moments, old 960 just sat out there at the high Mach she seemed to love and, like the proud Sled she was, only began to slow when we were well out of danger. [...]

By: Frums

Frums — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 21:00:28 +0000

When in the USAF at Eglin we had an IFE called with 1 and a half minute ETI. Part of my job on the flight line was to grab a few emergency trailers from our AGE yard to aid the Fire / Rescue crews. The guy riding shotgun with me and I were wondering what was coming in with a dead stick. ( at 1 1/2 minutes you should see lights) There were no lights on the horizon.
My partner yelled out “look up at that!” A very bright light was coming straight down to our active runway from the West. It was a Sled that had called the IFE over Texas. It was on the ground in Florida in a minute and a half. The intake was stuck in a way that caused the turbine to blow at high mach. It used every bit of our runway to stop and coasted into our paint hanger 72. They brought their own crews in with all there own equipement fixed the sled and painted a Black Bird onto the water tower next to Hanger 72 for us. The two seater buzzed us once as she left… Great plane… Great crews with the plane too.

Frums

By: LM

LM — Wed, 06 May 2009 18:57:24 +0000

Haha, what good is K-12 if your country is constantly torn apart by conflict. It’s a shame how little people appreciate their freedom and recognize how little (in dollars) it cost. Defense spending is outstripped by every single entitlement program in the U.S., and the sum of those programs eats up 60% of the budget. Harry, you need to go check your facts.

It’s too bad, though, that the author chose to expand the Hollywood stereotype of our pilots. While highlighting his own cocky attitude, he neglected to display the incredible discipline and dedication required to achieve flight status; more so in the prestigious programs.

By: David

David — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 19:28:28 +0000

ANYBODY SEEN OUR SR-71? IT WAS STOLEN FROM THE MSP AIRPORT BY THE CIA A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO & IS REPUTED TO BE AT THEIR HQ IN LANGLY, VA.

By: harry seagoon

harry seagoon — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 02:27:31 +0000

Lovely- this is where are tax dollars have been going.

Imagine if we spent that sort of money on K-12 education.

It’s a shame we have to glorify this sort of thing, engineering marvel or not.

By: Ethan

Ethan — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 23:26:54 +0000

Damn, that must’ve felt incredible.

By: old shakey

old shakey — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 00:01:12 +0000

May 18, 1980 my son and I were at an airshow at Fairchild AFB at Spokane. We had spent about 30 minutes admiring the blackbird on display. She was scheduled for a flight demonstration in the afternoon. About noon we noticed a very large black cloud off to the West. I told my son a storm was coming and the flight demonstrations would be canceled. We were just starting to head for the car when the P.A. announcer eaid that Mt. St, Helens had erupted and the base was being closed and everyone was to leave immediately. It took the sr71 ground crew no more than 5 minutes to get their bird in a hanger.
As an old USAF mechanic (C124) I have a great respect for good aircraft. Habu was the best.

By: Wolgy

Wolgy — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 21:41:10 +0000

I was at Beale from 83-85 and saw Maj. Shul many times. I drove for him on a number of occasions. Last year I saw him at the Reno Air Races where he was selling his books. I recognized him immediately after 22 years as his face has some substantial scarring that he received in a plane crash in ‘74. It was a real treat for an aviation buff to be able to see the Blackbird streaking overhead every day. The engine test pad was about 4 miles from the barracks and when they lit both of those J-58s up the whole building would shake.

I was with the film crew for the TV show “Call to Duty” (starred Craig T. Nelson) as they were filming the SR doing touch and gos. One of the most memorable moments of my life, standing right next to the runway as the pilot was showing off for the camera. He came in for a landing and just before touching down hit full afterburners, cranked the rudders all the way to the right and “slipped” the plane down the runway at about a 30 degree angle and 10 feet off the ground. WOW!! Yes, I was twenty feet away from full afterburners and yes I covered my ears! I wish I could see that film, it must be in a vault somewhere.