OT SR-71 LA Speed Check

[EmGo]

While we're rehashing old Brian Shul stories, look up the "what's the slowest you ever flew ?" one. It's a classic.

 

[John Garner]

The start-cart Buick engines were built by Ed Pink, and had a federal stock number. There were, in the 1970s, a number of Air Force tales about those engines being ordered by Transportation Squadrons "by mistake". There were other tales about start-carts and spare engines being positioned at SAC bases in case an SR71 should mistakenly land there.

Edited to add: Toward the end of July, 1975 I found myself on an American Airlines DC-10 from San Francisco to Chicago. A few minutes after leveling off at our cruise altitude, somewhere between Sacramento and Reno, the pilot came up on the PA system and said something to the effect that those of us on the left side of the cabin should look down-and-back out our windows, that in two or three minutes we'd see something we'd never forget.

Moments later, an SR-71 screamed past us at what looked like a 45 degree climb. The SR was in sight for maybe 15 seconds, and it was indeed an unforgettable sight.

 

[maynah]

I just watched the vid:

LLESA Author Series | "Sled Driver: Flying the World's Fastest Jet" by Brian Shul

This is the presentation where he tells the "LA Speed Check" story from above.
If you have an hour and 11 minutes and even if you don't, it's an excellent watch.
He's a fantastic speaker and very motivational.
He's also a great photographer with lots of his pictures in the presentation.

LLESA Author Series | "Sled Driver: Flying the World's Fastest Jet" by Brian Shul - YouTube

 

[clay27bsouthbend]

Best hour 10 minutes and 56 seconds spent. WOW

 

[gbent]

'Cause a like just ain't enough!

I just watched the vid:

LLESA Author Series | "Sled Driver: Flying the World's Fastest Jet" by Brian Shul

This is the presentation where he tells the "LA Speed Check" story from above.

If you have an hour and 11 minutes and even if you don't, it's an excellent watch.
He's a fantastic speaker and very motivational.
He's also a great photographer with lots of his pictures in the presentation.

LLESA Author Series | "Sled Driver: Flying the World's Fastest Jet" by Brian Shul - YouTube

 

[maynah]

Sad to read Brian Shul passed away at 75.
He's truly flying with the Angels now.
(Or he'd probably say the Thunderbirds)

 

[Limy Sami]

Back in the day when travelling between my native Kent and adopted Norfolk, when passing Mildenhall air base, if I was VERY VERY lucky I might catch a glimpse of the SR 71.
Living <> 40 miles from Mildenhall we used to hear them both leaving and departing, but only ever saw one with 8x30 binoculars and was high enough to be little more than a shaped speck in the sky.

 

[Matt@RFR]

Back in the day when travelling between my native Kent and adopted Norfolk, when passing Mildenhall air base, if I was VERY VERY lucky I might catch a glimpse of the SR 71.
Living <> 40 miles from Mildenhall we used to hear them both leaving and departing, but only ever saw one with 8x30 binoculars and was high enough to be little more than a shaped speck in the sky.

My parents house is about 50 miles North and pretty much directly below the flight path coming in to Beale Air Force Base. We saw SR71's overhead somewhat regularly, along with U2's. It never got old to spot either one.

 

[moonlight machine]

My parents house is about 50 miles North and pretty much directly below the flight path coming in to Beale Air Force Base. We saw SR71's overhead somewhat regularly, along with U2's. It never got old to spot either one.

Ya well a C47 with invasion stripes lumbered over my house 2 days ago!

 

[jaguar36]

Ya well a C47 with invasion stripes lumbered over my house 2 days ago!

Hah, I saw one this weekend too! We must be getting invaded! (Actually I was at the Mcguire AFB air show)