Major Brian Shul, USAF (Ret.) SR-71 Blackbird 'Speed Check'

Major Brian Shul relays the true story of a ground speed check with Los Angeles Center, while piloting the SR-71 Blackbird over Southern California.
Hiller Aviation Museum
San Carlos Airport
San Carlos, CA
30. December 2016

[@cyberherbalist]

R.I.P. Brian Shul (February 8, 1948 - May 20, 2023). Now flying higher than ever before.

[@jeffpatterson2989]

I had not heard 😢

[@anthonyw1499]

Thanks for the update

[@BeardedChieftain]

R.I.P. Sir.

[@brianhemstock6702]

Rip Brian

[@tatianatub]

o7

[@oldflatbeder3218]

I worked with a ex SR pilot,he told me a story where a controller asked what his altitude was. His reply was " Don't worry there's nobody up where we are".

[@marvinflatt6947]

Just the space station and God......that's all

[@Fister_of_Muppets]

Hehehe, that is funny.

[@badandy102]

I heard about an SR pilot who requested an altitude clearance of 50 thousand feet. The control center replied, "If you can reach it, go for it." To which the SR pilot replied, "OK, descending to 50 thousand feet"

[@joeypriolo]

@Bad Andy Doubt

[@shadowprince4482]

I heard another great story similar to that. A pilot was requesting permission for an altitude of 50,000. Air control said if you can make it then you got it. Pilot responds with descending to 50,000 feet.

[@nx9100]

"A 12 year old was reaching for the mic" Men don't grow out of boys, they just get bigger toys....

[@HvyMetal4Ever]

He has a great video on YT, where that actually stems from. The older we get, the more expensive our toys get.

[@navnig]

Women grow up while Men only get older......=D

[@dnedlew]

@@navnig I'd much rather get older and have all of these wonderful toys to play with, why grow up when you don't have to. Besides, women will always say they grow up before men, so let them think that they do.

[@cdubbleyoo]

@@navnig mis. con. ception.

[@nx9100]

@Breaumance really?

[@ozskipper]

And out of all those guys, the Cessna guy is the only one who actually owned his own plane.. Go Cessna Dude!!

[@robgyanisu312]

Point!

[@danielhansen3982]

yeah my dream brother, giiief me that Cessna :D

[@islandchief2572]

🤣🤣😂🤣

[@reveal102]

yyyyyyup

[@ploppyjr2373]

I doubt that. Those things are expensive.

[@ictpilot]

Heard the story decades ago when 41000 ft was a stretch for Learjets. A pilot came on center frequency and asked for flight level 600 (60,000 ft). The controller thought it was an airline pilot messing with him and said "Hey if you can get there, you can have it." Then the pilot said "Roger decending to 600." Total silence. Then everybody realized it was an SR71.

[@roku_nine]

Ictpilot Ictpilot descending to fl600... Damn...

[@rumrnr78]

That's an awesome story!

[@oobaka1967]

Awesome

[@LightRealms]

haha. I've heard that one before and it is still funny every time!

[@StefanoLinguanotto]

Where can I find that? Thx

[@a120068020]

Perfect storytelling. One of my other favourites which I don't think is real: Allegedly the German air controllers at Frankfurt Airport are renowned as a short-tempered lot. They, it is alleged, not only expect one to know one’s gate parking location, but how to get there without any assistance from them. So it was with some amusement that we (a Pan Am 747) listened to the following exchange between Frankfurt ground control and a British Airways 747, call sign Speedbird 206. Speedbird 206: “Frankfurt, Speedbird 206 clear of active runway.” Ground: “Speedbird 206. Taxi to gate Alpha One-Seven.” The BA 747 pulled onto the main taxiway and slowed to a stop. Ground: “Speedbird, do you not know where you are going?” Speedbird 206: “Stand by, Ground, I’m looking up our gate location now.” Ground (with quite arrogant impatience): “Speedbird 206, have you not been to Frankfurt before?” Speedbird 206 (coolly): “Yes, twice in 1944, but it was dark,… and I didn’t land.”

[@RowdyBrian17]

Yeah, there's a really similar joke about an impatient French customs agent chastising an old man fumbling to find his passport. She's getting tired of waiting and she asks him if he had ever been to France before. The old man says "yes" and she sarcastically says that he should know to have his passport ready, to which he says he didn't have to show it last time. She flips out and says that it was impossible, people have always had to show their passport when arriving in France. The old man looks up at her and says that when he landed on Omaha Beach in 1944, he couldn't find any Frenchmen around to give it to

[@connorschmidt4175]

@@RowdyBrian17 they just don't make em like they used to

[@alexmartinez5859]

That generation’s humor was something else man. I’ve got another one: RAF Pilot and Flying Ace Sir Douglas Bader was giving a speech on his experience in a dogfight to a very prestigious all girls school. Sir Bader says, “So, there were two of the f***ers behind me, three f***ers to my right, another f***er on the left-“ before he’s cut off by the headmistress who is noticeably paler than a second ago. She says, “Ladies the Fokker was a German aircraft.” Now a more gentlemanly pilot could have recognized his crass language and corrected it, finished his speech, and gone about his life with nothing really changed by it, but not this madlad. The RAF pilot corrects the headmistress, replying, “That may be madam, but these f***ers were in Messerschmitts.”

[@jameswright2974]

Happy to send his children to die for 79 yrs for propaganda lies usa Todate still trying used 70 bbrain dead puppets North Korea still undefeated Ukraine to hard a basket west turns a a blind eye in Gaza to appease thier Israeli puppet

[@jameswright2974]

Love telling thier kids how they destroyed the Germans Vietnamese North north Koreans Afghanistan Iraq will not help Zelensky pissing in his ear tells him it’s rainin the last brain dead puppet 60th Guaido White House trashed;30 % of usa Infrastructure collapsing but the bird is in the propaganda museum

[@scooby45247]

"Not a broadcaster from Seattle to San Diego wanted to be on the com. And a 12 year old was reaching for the microphone." GETS ME EVERYTIME..

[@faustteufel9727]

Ditto

[@robertalexander5892]

Same. 😁

[@logandarklighter]

Never gets old, does it? :D

[@pBlackcoat]

For me it's "no, the navy must die"

[@spookmeyer970]

"No, its the navy, they must die".

[@HappyBeezerStudios]

"I'm reading closer to 2000" - "You might be right, your instruments are probably better than ours"

[@jimdecamp7204]

Absolutely. ATC radar only strings together transponder replies and estimates location from antenna pointing angle and time delay, and altitude code. The time between looks is about 12 seconds, and the angular resolution is only 1.4 degrees, or 360/256. Range to the target can be well over 100 nautical miles. At that range the uncertainty in velocity can be well over 100 kt. The SR-71 undoubtedly had state of the art inertial navigation (like the F-18). They knew their velocity to within a couple of kt.

[@Rl29F34R.V]

@@jimdecamp7204 aight mr professor we didn’t need all the no English shit my guy

[@DertyMike]

@@jimdecamp7204 you're just out here doing the most.

[@skankytrick]

​@@jimdecamp7204 Then you should also be able to apply this knowledge to know that this story is impossible.

[@skankytrick]

​@@Rl29F34R.V Not everyone is as retarded as you. You can't even speak English, let alone understand it.

[@svwingman7342]

I'm a former Navy pilot and even I love that story. There was no equal to the Blackbird.

[@fredferd965]

Well, there MIGHT be! I once met Ben Rich of Lockheed, just after the Blackbird was grounded - only saw him for a few minutes, he was a VERY busy man, and he was in our Lockheed facility, moving at the speed of light. But I said, "It's a shame about the Blackbird." He stopped, froze, turned around, stuck his face into mine, and whispered, "Don't Worry About It!." That's all he said - never broke security. LORDY, I'd love to know what's up there today!! -- Old Man Bob

[@FreaKeyy720]

Laura C apparently they are developing the sr72 which is twice as fast though it is unmanned.

[@Nairuulagch]

No they've launched UFA-01. Something creepy classified thing.

[@svwingman7342]

Max Hodges I don't think so. I'm no radio expert but most of it is line of sight and line of sight from 60,000 feet is pretty far. I think they are also out of controlled airspace that high so they are communicating to keep each other apprised of their intent and status and the controllers may not be as concerned with covering their normal sectors. I have no reason to doubt what he's saying.

[@petert3355]

It would have been so brilliant if the X-15 was still flying that day........

[@johnradwanski8344]

I was in Seattle when Brian told that story. The entire group loved it. I also loved that he invited all the kids to sit on the floor in front of him and then asked if they had any question.s. I saw my daughters hand go up and Brian called on her. As a dad I panicked what was she going to ask, because the SR 71 is her favorate plane. She asked what the pointy thing on the front if the engine did? Brian then went into a several minute technical explanation of what it did and how. At the end realizing what he had done he looked at my daughter and said " I apologize sweetheart you probably didn't understand any of that." Her answer was " it moves back and forth and makes the engine think it's going slower." The look in his face was priceless, as he did a drop Mike holding on to the cord and the place went wild.

[@IcedPlasma]

I'd be so proud lol

[@dwrdwlsn5]

@@IcedPlasma Good man, GREAT kid!

[@EyMannMachHin]

Sir! Your daughter is going places!

[@sean_connors]

What’s it like raising a future aerospace engineer? Can you keep up?

[@johnradwanski8344]

@@sean_connors She actually has a degree in Music/Art and Digital Imaging and Design. She still sings in the Alumni/community choir at her university and has received a invitation to a large Choir festival at Carnegie Hall in the spring from her choir director who will be conducting the festival.

[@cgamiga]

Hiller just reported that Brian passed away recently. A real treasure, amazing to see & hear his stories, great storyteller and aviator. RIP and Godspeed, Aspen 3-0...

[@kylesonsalla7620]

RIP

[@paladamashkin8981]

Wonder if someone has done a speed check on his new wings

[@charlessanders4337]

Rest In Peace 😔

[@fredcloud9668]

We're running out of men like him.

[@348Tobico]

@@paladamashkin8981 Gosh---I hope so!

[@user-vr6zw5ju4l]

Met him.once in Beale AFB Base Ops. I was but a lowly KC-135 copilot but I saw him standing across the room with a HABU patch on his sleeve and visible burn scars. I walked over and asked if he flew the SR and he said yes. I was stunned to be in the presence of aviation royalty. I can't remember any questions I asked or what his answers were but I remember that he had not an ounce of arrogance about him while talking with an obviously junior pilot. RIP Sir!

[@Hyper_drive214]

"The king of speed lived, the Navy had been flamed and a crew had been formed that day." Lol 😂😂

[@ahtishamirshad]

informed*

[@theredscourge]

*formed

[@FS2K4Pilot]

Flamed?! Burnt to a crisp, more like!

[@magneticpine]

I'd sure like to hear the story from the Cessna pilot's perspective. He was probably having the day of his life, and has laughed for years over that.

[@DenGreatshot]

@@magneticpine Haha absolutely. That guy was probably some late middle aged dad finally able to have the money to pursue a long held childhood dream of flying, got his own little plane to tool around in, still learning how to navigate, and innocently calls in for a speed check that becomes an epic oneupmanship.

[@garystone3286]

My dad developed film from the SR-71. He was stationed at Beale AFB and also served at Kadena in Okinawa. He served 20 years in the USAF and retired in 1970. I remember one time when dad parked our car near the end of the runway as a Blackbird flew over. Holy cow, whatta plane! Dad passed away a couple years ago. God bless dad, Lockheed and the USAF.

[@mattmarcotte5476]

That's awesome... The plane is amazing but without its information (film) it would have been pointless... Except to waste soviet missles.

[@NevilofMars]

I have seen pictures taken by cameras mounted in an SR 71, flying over North Vietnam, during the Vietnam war, flying at an altitude of 80,000 feet. You could tell if the North Vietnamese soldiers were wearing sandals or boots, the pictures were so good!

[@mattmcreynolds]

Thank you for sharing. Developing the film correctly is a very important job! Thank you for his service!

[@redcapote4760]

My step dad was a USAF mechanic out on Beale. Best time of my childhood out there. Miss it terribly.

[@lordfaladar6261]

Nuij nui

[@henryj.8528]

My cousin in the Air Force told me that he was in his B-52 and heard "Aspen 22" (or whatever the callsign was) request clearance to 60,000 ft. ATC told him, "Buddy, if you can get up that high you can have it." Aspen 22 replied "Roger, *descending* to flight level six zero zero."

[@MrBobtheknob]

May you Rest in Peace, Major Brian Shul.

[@dennissvitak148]

As a young weather specialist assigned to the US Air Force Global Weather Central, back in the mid '70's, I hand plotted every PIREP (Pilot Report) and AIREP (Air Report), and RECCO (Recon Report) on a massive chart covering the northern hemisphere. All of these came in on a teletype, in a very specific format, leading with latitude and longitude. I received one, spun the map around, and realized the lat/lon was unusual. Like over central Soviet Union unusual. I was in the non-classified part of the weather center, and I IMMEDIATELY shut down my machine, and notified my boss. I had to undergo a formal debriefing for having seen highly classified information. Best part was type aircraft "UNKN" and flight level... FL850...or eighty five thousand feet. Good times!

[@BigDaddy-yp4mi]

The ex-pilots and any interview or documentary always say "I want to make it clear that the SR-71 never overflew the Soviet Union...." I am direct quoting and not paraphrasing that. It was just post-Gary Powers times and I suppose that was the company line. The thing could get so high it probably didn't NEED to penetrate Soviet airspace for photographic intelligence. Signals intelligence they might have needed to get closer I guess? I know they always say it's ceiling is 80,000 as well when people have slipped up and said a specific figure that was 2-10K/ft higher. Lol, bet you never thought reading the weather report would accidentally get you involved in a Top Secret (probably SCI?) intelligence snafu!? That's the LAST place I would think that would be an issue but no that I think about it, from WW1 onward you had to know the weather....

[@perryallan3524]

@@BigDaddy-yp4mi You forget that the CIA had a 1 seater SR-71 Predecessor that was reported to fly higher and faster (the SR-71 was heavier by adding a 2nd seat and increasing the size). While the US Airforce has always maintained that the SR-71 never overflew the Soviet Union; I've never heard a similar statement about the CIA's predecessor. I personally believe that the CIA did overfly the Soviet Union with that predecessor to the SR-71.

[@dannyd7714]

​@@perryallan3524that was the A-12

[@soaringvulture]

@@perryallan3524 That was the Oxcart. Higher and faster than the Blackbird; so it was higher and faster than anything that breathed air.

[@CRCinAU]

@@BigDaddy-yp4mi Take it with a grain of salt, but I've heard of an SR-71 getting caught in a high-altitude photography setup once - perfectly in focus when the equipment was set to ~210,000 ft as a focal length. Sadly, never been able to find any concrete evidence of this though....

[@utubetommy]

I never tire of hearing this story. I was stationed in Okinawa from mid-'67 to spring '68. Was assigned to an ammo platoon at a small USMC camp called Camp Hague. We were about 3 miles off the end of the runway at Kadena AFB and were able to watch the B-52's and KC-135's take off in succession from the main runway on their way to 'Nam. They were just a couple hundred feet from the ground when they flew overhead, and the 52's made one hell of a racket. So did the 135's and of course the F-4's as well. But one day, I heard and saw this phenomenal black plane in the air with two engines that roared louder than anything I'd ever heard. It was the Blackbird, and I just couldn't believe it hadn't flown through a time warp from the future. It looked so much different and futuristic than any plane I've ever seen before, or since. Just plain beauty and power in the air. Gotta give it to Kelly Johnson and everyone at the Skunk Works... they made one hellova plane and it served our country well. Hats off to Brian Shul and all the other brave men that flew the Blackbird. Semper Fi.

[@vgt]

Fun fact, the SR-71 gained its nickname 'Habu' at Kadena AFB because the Japanese locals thought the aircraft looked like an indigenous snake that they called Habu.

[@johns9652]

@@vgt Feel silly now, because I was stationed in Okinawa for 2 years, and I always thought habu meant either jungle or woods. Every time we'd go on a PT run, or walk one of the little trails from the barracks to the motor pool that went through brush and trees, people would say "be careful of the habu" or something like that. I thought it was like saying "be careful in the bush" nobody ever told me they were saying look out for snakes.

[@vgt]

@@johns9652 haha, yeah, habu is a type of extremely venomous pit viper. count yourself lucky that you never had to find out the hard way what a habu is!

[@toosas]

@@johns9652 that made me spit my drink. Those poor people were worried about you and you thought they were being mysterious!

[@tomveatch2994]

Seeing the reference to Camp Hague was a blast from the past. I was there (NCOIC Btn Armory, H&S Btn, 3rd MARDIV) in '63 - '64. Semper Fi, bro.

[@badweetabix]

Major Shul was a legend even before he started flying the SR-71. He is a Vietnam War vet with over 200 missions. He was shot down near the Cambodian border and could not eject so he had to crash land his jet; severely burned and injured was rescued by Special Forces. Looking at him now, you would never have guessed he had to undergo 15 surgeries for the burns and injuries he suffered.

[@codymoe4986]

Ehhh, cool guy and all, but you'd have to be blind to not notice the scar tissue...

[@trumpanzeeslayer4036]

@@codymoe4986 Right? Lookin like Elmers glue guy up there.

[@kathleenokeefe3402]

Seeing him up close, it's more than obvious.

[@robertfreeman4656]

I've heard this story a thousand times... AND IT NEVER GETS OLD!!!

[@calvinnickel9995]

Also never let the truth get in the way of a good story. This never happened.

[@taitano12]

I heard a pilot telling this story up here in NW Washington. Another pilot spoke up, claiming he was the Cessna pilot. According to him, he was above the cloud cover and wanted to verify his position. He rolled his eyes when the twin Beech tried to show him up, smiled with satisfaction when the Navy boy chimed in, putting "Twin Beech" in his place, and couldn't help laughing when the SR-71 spoke up.

[@EyMannMachHin]

I can imagine beeing the Cessna pilot hearing all the others being put in their place! He must have had a field day 🤣🤣

[@117rebel]

F-18 pilot: What’s my speed? Tower: We’re showing you at 620 knots across the ground. SR71 pilot: I’m about to end this guys whole career!

[@maxwellmarsden7273]

...wee on the fire and call in the dogs!!!

[@siler7]

this guys

[@scottrackley4457]

@@siler7 nah, piss on the dogs and call in the fire

[@bricefleckenstein9666]

Nah, it was the back seat not the pilot. Worse yet in some ways....

[@Colin_Pole]

Shuttle pilot: "Can you guess our speed please?"

[@davewilson4528]

About once a year I listen to this all over again. A master story teller, and very cool man. Never gets old.

[@geogrejetson444]

Major Shul just passed, I have listened to this countless times still gives me a smile RIP MAJOR

[@toddrf]

I come back to videos of this story from time to time. I just found out that Maj. Shul died in May. Rest in peace. What a legend.

[@Beemerboy324]

An SR 71 driver doing stand-up. I definitely had never thought I would see that. Fun story.

[@gayxor]

driver

[@divyaranat2246]

Did this guy just say "driver"?!

[@ItsMonkeyNews]

@@divyaranat2246 he meant *captain /s

[@Jay-zs6ox]

@@ItsMonkeyNews captain?!

[@Matt_Kab]

​@@ItsMonkeyNews he is right with driver SR 71 pilots were called Sled Drivers

[@Mad21X]

I come back ever so often to listen to this legend

[@scarecrow108productions7]

Another legend we lost recently.... Fly high at Mach 3 in Paradise, Sled Driver...

[@shevetlevi2821]

This guy is so smooth and polished and his timing is like a standup comedian. I'm a low time non-IFR private pilot and I sweat everytime I have to use the mic. On the other hand one of my closest friends is a former AV8 Harrier pilot and I would've liked to hear his readout, "0 knots across the ground."

[@styler19721]

I could listen to this guy for hours. His whole story is nothing less than inspirational. He was shot down in Vietnam, rescued, almost died and coincidentally his doctors found that he could only drink fruit punch (or something similar my memory fails me). He persevered, and became a SR-71 test pilot. This story is truly deeper than the comedy of the LA Speed Check story, which is in itself hilarious. He is an inspiration to me.

[@DRAGONSLAYER1220]

It was cherry Kool aid.

[@maureenobrien4968]

Absolute gigachad.

[@user-jw4qz4rx8g]

Airman Magazine, mid 70's quoted him as saying it was some nasty tasting beer

[@stevehodgkins8801]

RIP. Fair Seas and Following Winds. This world is lost for your absence. Thank you.

[@armyguardmom]

I showed this to my son, an Army veteran and his co worker an Air Force veteran. They roared laughing.

[@mattmarcotte5476]

Thank you all for your service.

[@sayjack1328]

People on here really don't understand how high 89,000ft is. Your looking over the curvature of the earth.

[@boomstick900]

How can you understand how high 89,000 ft is when you can't properly choose between "your" and "you're"

[@SternLX]

Well not completely over it. You can easily see the curvature from 40,000 - 42,000 feet(nearly 8 miles up), the cruising altitude of most trans-continental commercial flights.

[@playereric7538]

Jonny B thank you I'll trust your judgement and not look it up for myself. Because it's scary out there

[@pranita2905]

SternLX From what I've heard, 40,000 ft. is the maximum altitude for most commercial jets.

[@wolfpat]

So, would that altitude account for the difference between the indicated speeds? If you're going 1942 knots on the ground, once you account for the curvature, how much distance are you adding at 89Kft?

[@micahphilson]

This is just like when someone from the ISS called in to Car Talk. "This is John from Houston. I drive a government vehicle, and twice, it's done this weird thing. It starts shaking for about 2 minutes, then runs smooth for about 6 1/2 minutes, and at that point, engine dies." (later) "Where are you calling from?" "I'm, uh, about 200 miles north of Hawaii." "How fast are you going?" "Oh, about 17,500 mph!"

[@mychevysparkevdidntcatchfi1489]

Car Talk - My Government Vehicle Shakes at 17,500 MPH kzbin.info/www/bejne/o6Ckoq2DadWno5o

[@micahphilson]

@@mychevysparkevdidntcatchfi1489 yep, that's it! I had to find it to be able to write the details.

[@GFRzeszutek]

That would have been a good one for Klik and Klak.

[@williammassey8514]

can't stop laughing.

[@xheralt]

ISS repeatedly trolling Car Talk is legendary...

[@danielfronc4304]

I swear listening to that story never gets old. Everytime it pops up in my recommendations I can't keep myself from listening to it.

[@robilon]

Same here😉

[@joriskylie6857]

A 12 year old reaching for the button beat out by an 11 year old in the back seat. This is a great story.

[@colemcleod941]

Brian Shul's impersonation of air traffic controllers is dead-on. Great comic talent.

[@rtyuik7]

when you hear em enough, talking back in your radio, you tend to pick up people's mannerisms lol

[@oscar_charlie]

The man was a fighter 'till the end, had a heart attack after a speech. Clear blue skies, sir!

[@ramosel]

RIP Brian. You were always a gentleman and a wonderful historian of the Habu... from one of those Navy Pilots who must die. I still cherish every meeting and every book. God's Speed Major Shul!

[@Dargonkin527]

I heard the story ended with an additional transmission from the tower stating that the planes equipment was probably more accurate then the towers would be Lol

[@tumppu1975]

Same. It's a cool story in any case. Those guys were riding the lightning.

[@Wolfmots]

I've probably heard this story 100 times, just can't get enough of how he tells it so perfectly.

[@nuclearweaselmist]

Among other things, I have been an Air Force officer, a judge, a law professor, and a karate instructor. I have used this video in many different capacities to make the point that one should never overestimate himself. There's always someone better. This is probably one of my favorite videos on the internet.

[@SammyTheDitchDoctor]

Rest your soul Brian Shul. Thank you for your service. You’ve been an inspiration to so many.

[@jasontieke8566]

Just heard he passed last night. Had to come watch this again!

[@Chant66]

“We bad” Recce pilots everywhere are drooling over this. Gives a new meaning to “Alone, unarmed, unafraid”

[@HappilyHomicidalHooligan]

Of course they're unafraid... VERY few missiles can go high enough and ever fewer can go fast enough to catch an SR-71...

[@miguelencanarias]

Ah, the famous story about how an F-18 pilot left the Navy and joined a monastery. I had been looking for it.

[@davidurban3357]

I'm sure KZbin tracks how many times I have watched this video, I've lost count. The story never gets old, leaves me smiling.

[@skyeye787]

I used to work at the museum during my college days and I had the honor and opportunity to talk to Brian during my breaks. He's such a humble person and thanks him and all of the talented aviators I met there I'm an aeronautical engineer and a pilot today! I definitely miss those days!

[@howardmccosh3472]

Brian, RIP Brave Warrior. Slow salute rendered. You were a valuable asset to the USAF and even more to this country--the USA. Thank you for everything you did to serve your country and to motivate other people to excel in their lives. I will continue to think of you often. I hope I get to meet you in Paradise when the time comes.

[@ronmerkus5941]

Know what would be funny if the space shuttle was entering and they called out a ground speed!!!!

[@MuchTooStress]

Ron Merkus imagine 10 years from now a space shuttle pilot is telling a story about an sr pilot asking for his ground speed.

[@jeremycox2983]

That would be very funny

[@colemcleod941]

aye... "we show you at Mach 22 over the ground...

[@yomeyo6622]

Oh boy. That would make everyone piss themselves lool

[@ceremyjlarkson9475]

We are showing. Wait. Am I reading this right? Orbital velocity? no, that ain't right. Ground control We're reading a little closer to escape velocity

[@davidpm10022]

There were a lot of things we couldn't do in an SR-71, but we were the fastest guys on the block and loved reminding our fellow aviators of this fact. People often asked us if, because of this fact, it was fun to fly the jet. Fun would not be the first word I would use to describe flying this plane. Intense, maybe, even cerebral. But there was one day in our Sled experience when we would have to say that it was pure fun to be the fastest guys out there, at least for a moment. It occurred when Walt and I were flying our final training sortie. We needed 100 hours in the jet to complete our training and attain Mission Ready status. Somewhere over Colorado we had passed the century mark. We had made the turn in Arizona and the jet was performing flawlessly. My gauges were wired in the front seat and we were starting to feel pretty good about ourselves, not only because we would soon be flying real missions but because we had gained a great deal of confidence in the plane in the past ten months. Ripping across the barren deserts 80,000 feet below us, I could already see the coast of California from the Arizona border. I was, finally, after many humbling months of simulators and study, ahead of the jet. I was beginning to feel a bit sorry for Walter in the back seat. There he was, with no really good view of the incredible sights before us and tasked with monitoring four different radios. This was good practice for him for when we began flying real missions and when a priority transmission from headquarters could be vital. It had been difficult, too, for me to relinquish control of the radios, as during my entire flying career I had controlled my own transmissions. But it was part of the division of duties in this plane and I had adjusted to it. I still insisted on talking on the radio while we were on the ground, however. Walt was so good at many things, but he couldn't match my expertise at sounding smooth on the radios, a skill that had been honed sharply with years in fighter squadrons where the slightest radio miscue was grounds for beheading. He understood that and allowed me that luxury. Just to get a sense of what Walt had to contend with, I pulled the radio toggle switches and monitored the frequencies along with him. The predominant radio chatter was from Los Angeles Center, far below us, controlling daily traffic in their sector. While they had us on their scope (albeit briefly), we were in uncontrolled airspace and normally would not talk to them unless we needed to descend into their airspace. We listened as the shaky voice of a lone Cessna pilot who asked Center for a read-out of his ground speed. Center replied: "November Charlie 175, I'm showing you at ninety knots on the ground." 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. I referred to it as the "Houston Center voice." I have always felt that after years of seeing documentaries on this country's space program and listening to the calm and distinct voice of the Houston controllers, that all other controllers since then wanted to sound like that and that they basically did. And it didn't matter what sector of the country we would be flying in, it always seemed like the same guy was talking. Over the years that tone of voice had become somewhat of a comforting sound to pilots everywhere. Conversely, over the years, pilots always wanted to ensure that, when transmitting, they sounded like Chuck Yeager, or at least like John Wayne. Better to die than sound bad on the radios. Just moments after the Cessna's inquiry, a Twin Beech piped up on frequency, in a rather superior tone, asking for his ground speed in the Beech. "I have you at one hundred and twenty-five knots of ground speed." Boy, I thought, the Beechcraft really must think he is dazzling his Cessna brethren. Then out of the blue, a navy F-18 pilot out of NAS Lemoore came up on frequency. You knew right away it was a Navy jock because he sounded very cool on the radios. "Center, Dusty 52 ground speed check." Before Center could reply, I'm thinking to myself, hey, Dusty 52 has a ground speed indicator in that million-dollar cockpit, so why is he asking Center for a read-out? Then I got it, ol' Dusty here is making sure that every bug smasher from Mount Whitney to the Mojave knows what true speed is. He's the fastest dude in the valley today, and he just wants everyone to know how much fun he is having in his new Hornet. And the reply, always with that same, calm, voice, with more distinct alliteration than emotion: "Dusty 52, Center, we have you at 620 on the ground." And I thought to myself, is this a ripe situation, or what? As my hand instinctively reached for the mic button, I had to remind myself that Walt was in control of the radios. Still, I thought, it must be done in mere seconds we'll be out of the sector and the opportunity will be lost. That Hornet must die, and die now. I thought about all of our Sim training and how important it was that we developed well as a crew and knew that to jump in on the radios now would destroy the integrity of all that we had worked toward becoming. I was torn. Somewhere, 13 miles above Arizona, there was a pilot screaming inside his space helmet. Then, I heard it the click of the mic button from the back seat. That was the very moment that I knew Walter and I had become a crew. Very professionally, and with no emotion, Walter spoke: "Los Angeles Center, Aspen 20, can you give us a ground speed check?" There was no hesitation, and the replay came as if it was an everyday request. "Aspen 20, I show you at one thousand eight hundred and forty-two knots, across the ground." I think it was the forty-two knots that I liked the best, so accurate and proud was Center to deliver that information without hesitation, and you just knew he was smiling. But the precise point at which I knew that Walt and I were going to be really good friends for a long time was when he keyed the mic once again to say, in his most fighter-pilot-like voice: "Ah, Center, much thanks, we're showing closer to nineteen hundred on the money." For a moment Walter was a god. And we finally heard a little crack in the armor of the Houston Center voice when L.A. came back with, "Roger that Aspen. Your equipment is probably more accurate than ours. You boys have a good one." It all had lasted for just moments, but in that short, memorable sprint across the southwest the Navy had been flamed, all mortal airplanes on frequency were forced to bow before the King of Speed, and more importantly, Walter and I had crossed the threshold of being a crew. A fine day's work. We never heard another transmission on that frequency all the way to the coast. For just one day, it truly was fun being the fastest guys out there.

[@michaelgaliga6609]

As a Cessna pilot I promise never to ask for a speed check!!! Great story!!!!!

[@edithbannerman4]

@Hello there, how are you doing this blessed day?

[@kukuc96]

Not that you would need one today, in the age of GPS.

[@gregiep]

I would love the F-18 pilot to own up, and tell the story from his perspective.

[@togglefire3537]

Talk about becoming a crew in that moment. You're the trainer and your trainee is already thinking on your level 😂😂

[@nagmashot]

he was the pilot and the guy in the back did the secret stuff.... other funny note from Brain ...if they ever cought us I say the guy in the back is the spy...I am only the driver :D

[@McCurtainCounty888]

Designed in the 50's and STILL the fastest bird in the air

[@Rabbinicphilosophyforthewin]

Lockheed’s website now says the Blackbird is the “fastest acknowledged.”

[@chrishammond2711]

Thanks for sharing this clip. I never tire of listening to Maj. Suhl's narrative of 'speed check'. I am so sorry to hear of his passing. Prayers going out to his family🙏🙏🙏. May his trip to Heaven be at least as fast as his quickest leg in the SR71...

[@MrTeckhead93]

This is by far my favorite aviation video on KZbin.

[@rogerdavies6226]

every time I come across it I have to stop and listen

[@RoughNek72]

Thank you for sharing!!!!

[@CableGula]

Check out the A-12 Oxcart video.....You're welcome

[@HalGore]

The vid with a dog going weightless in the back seat is a close second.

[@Xn2th3blue]

One of the coolest parts of the SR-71 was the engine design. They called it a TurboRamJet engine because of its functionality. It essentially had two different modes, or configurations if you will, depending on the velocity of the aircraft. At higher velocities when it changed modes, the engines would then begin to generate more and more thrust as the aircraft velocity increased. Theoretically unlimited speed so long as the aircraft could handle it. The absolute top speed of the SR-71 is still classified. Incredibly, 2,000kts was nowhere near its top speed. That's just cruising along for them.

[@calvinlitt4253]

I swear back in the day they use to build godly and unparalleled machines

[@sproctor1958]

@@calvinlitt4253 With sliderules.

[@marlonquintana3466]

There are unofficial stories from Sr pilots that claim they went as fast mach 4.9. 😳

[@peterhicks1093]

There are stories from the towers watching them do Mach 5-6 up and down Lake Michigan

[@RJALEXANDER777]

Y'know there has been cases of 71's disintegrating mid flight. You have to wonder if cases like that were due to maintenance failures, or the pilots pushing the plane too fast.

[@StormsandSaugeye]

"A 12 year old was reaching for the mic" Same. Same.

[@robertsullivan4773]

Sad to pass this on. Brian passed away May 20 2023. May he rest in peace. I'm sure he cleared our air space and is well on his way to Paradise and asking St Peter for a speed ✔️ I personally wish our young people knew more about people like Brian and other like him instead of the people they look up to now.

[@johnhennessy7887]

Funny, 98% of the audience looked like guilty Cessna 150 pilots...

[@gulfgypsy]

The Blackbird is and always will be, the most beautiful bird I've ever seen. Respect and appreciation to all those fly those birds and all those who keep them safe and in the air!!

[@oobaka1967]

If you haven't already, you should look for the book "Sled Driver" which is all about the SR-71.

[@AgeofMachines]

oobaka1967 Will check that out.

[@grendelum]

Nia the Gulf Gypsy - I actually think the *A-12* is prettier (the _”racecar”_ CIA model) but that’s just me. There’s a great video of *Frank Murray* giving a talk about the *A-12* here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/g3jHqaOnpth7opo

[@ryancmoore3000]

The Blackbird was done flying many years ago and will never fly again. But yeah, it was an incredible accomplishment to design, build, fly and maintain them.

[@chrismclaughlin7956]

Concorde

[@JayBaddAssCutler]

Just heard the news. Came back here to listen to the story again. RIP

[@centrans9]

AHHH, I NEVER GET TIRED OF HEARING THIS STORY!! FANTASTIC!!

[@jeffhoward5773]

"Taking his little hornet jet" lol what a guy

[@docohm50]

I remember Maj Shul and Walter. I was at Beale from 82'-86' as a avionics tech. The SR-71 was awesome.

[@earlyprimate]

The best military service "war story" ever!

[@berburt]

Can't believe the news. Of all the stories I've heard in my life this is easily top 5. Rip.

[@rawfusion]

I just finished reading "Skunk Works: A Personal Memoir of My Years at Lockheed." Perfect. Hahaha.

[@windwalker5765]

You know that Hornet driver has gotta be like, "Oh, COME ON!"

[@RobbieSongwriter]

I love this story so much, I must have played it well over a dozen times. Absolute classic, and Brian tells is SO well. Thank you Brian for sharing this FUN bit of the history of the SR-71 - the most beautiful bird ever to reach for the heavens.

[@georgebaird7890]

I was working at Mather AFB in the late 80s and planes from different bases would do touch and goes. I was watching the line of them come in and I saw in the distance a line with 2 big circles on it. SR 71 did a touch then punched it and disappeared. What a beautiful plane. I'll never forget how flat the fuselage looked coming in and how big those engines are.

[@JohnCoffins]

This is one of the best stories ever told in my opinion. What a legendary story. Absolutely incredible and unbeatable.

[@jeffsumeracki7263]

As a private pilot and a former Navy sailor, absolutely love this story…

[@edithbannerman4]

@Hello there, how are you doing this blessed day?

[@martybarbeau]

I was a Crew Chief on an F-4G Wild Weasle, and I love this story and have watched it at least 20 times in the last month! Wish I could have rode in this remarkable plane!!!

[@archiedavis1079]

No slacker Weasels... hat's off to all of you.

[@2410jrod]

F/A-18 I’m going 620 knots SR-71 (sigh) hold my beer Thanks for the likes everyone

[@TheMacemen]

😂😂😂😂

[@Fireguygary]

And you sir... Win the comments on this post.

[@tommygilliam8890]

Forgot the watch this, after gold my beer lol

[@biswajitmahapatra9662]

More like hold my fuel tanker

[@ailonilsson]

NASA (sigh)...

[@johnreyn19]

The black bird is indeed an amazing aircraft. Even more amazing is the fact that the aircraft was designed entirely by hand. They did not have computer aided design in the days the aircraft was built. You definitely have to respect the engineers who designed such an amazing machine and had to calculate everything manually.

[@alanjenkins6474]

John Reynolds bear hear 👂👍

[@brandongardner3073]

And am I right in saying that it was designed and built in Only 2years John?

[@AE86ofMtAkina]

There's a legend that they tried to redo the SR71 with CAD and they couldn't make any changes, it was already perfect.

[@tonkajjz109]

That's the problem these days to many computers not enough real engineers

[@zaltmanbleroze]

@@tonkajjz109 how is that a problem? It's called progress and without computer engineering we would never be able to land a rover on Mars or even colonize space in the future.

[@stijnvandamme76]

RIP Brian, thanks for the stories

[@beanhavok2287]

Just learned of this man's passing. RIP legend!

[@alexandermarken7639]

I don't care what people say Kelly Johnson was one of the best aircraft engineers the world has ever seen. He has a proven record of building the best and most cutting edge aircraft the world has ever seen. The SR-71 is also the sexiest aircraft out and about.

[@yomeyo6622]

This is by far my favorite story ever. I must have listened to it so many times, but I still laugh at it every time. When you watch his full speech, you finally understand what he ment by "12 years old". Awesome story!

[@luztictv]

RIP Brian, your wings will always meet the clouds ⛅

[@sherylbeasley4938]

Funny thing, almost every time I see or hear about the SR-71 on KZbin,I have to watch this video,

[@coreyscorner9142]

Everytime I hear this story, it always brings a smile to my face and this has to be one of my favourites

[@benabadie7351]

I’ve seen many recordings of this story but I still watch and laugh every time it comes up.

[@DannyRice01]

That's 2292.353 miles per hour for anyone asking. That's amazing and I came here from other videos to tell others so.

[@Tsyroc]

Mach 2.9876777992 :-D

[@DonAmnesia]

Cory Tollman They were at 89000 feet so Roughly Mach 3.33

[@2016709889]

Danny Rice I have closer to 2300. Lol.

[@hansonma9553]

/r/nobodyasked

[@mrhoffame]

Freakn' Awesome!!!

[@craigwoodley]

what an amazing chap i cant imagine the stories he had - RIP sir.

[@thesailjunkie]

RIP sir. This old retired sarge salutes you brother.

[@tomhamilton7511]

RIP Brother. Amazing life. Amazing story.

[@user-yy2tm6rz6u]

I once met a crew of an SR-71 at an air show where my father was doing police security in virginia beach, va. They flew from CA with 2 in flight refuels and still made it in 47 mins. Simply incredible...

[@ficklefingeroffate]

Uh, no, no they did not. Physically not possible for them to have flown from CA to Va Beach with 2 in flight refuels in that time. Each refuel would have required them to reduce speed to roughly 250 kts max, the refuel time itself would take upwards of 5-10 minutes to approach the tanker, synch speeds, approach, connect, refuel then detach. Lining up for approach to their arriving airport again requires substantial deceleration prior to landing. Additionally, you're looking at roughly 2700 air miles from LA(reference location) to VA Beach - the SR 71 had a top speed of roughly 2200 mph. Sorry bud, the math doesn't work.

[@Colbias14]

@@ficklefingeroffate tldr chud

[@apveening]

@@ficklefingeroffate "the SR 71 had an official top speed of roughly 2200 mph." FTFY, the math does work.

[@ficklefingeroffate]

@@apveening evidently reading for comprehension isn't a thing with you. Of you are landing or refueling, sure, the math works. However they refueled twice and landed.

[@apveening]

@@ficklefingeroffate See my fix to your post. Besides that, refueling is at higher speed than you stated.

[@plucknpick4244]

My Father in Law, Bob Walker, was the Chief Engineer of the SR71, Norton AFB, in San Bernardino. He never talked about his work. After his recent passing we discovered a small folder that hat his job description, he was the liaison to the CIA, Military and Congressmen overseeing the projects. Bob was a true patriot.

[@jacksonjohnson9674]

I was Navy, but this story is still awesome, I was F-14 maintenance, but if I were a Navy pilot even in the F-14, I would have been in awe of that 1900 knot reading.. lol!

[@mike158193]

Rest in peace sir!!! You were an absolute legend and inspiration to all of us!!!

[@PInk77W1]

SR-71 skin is made out of titanium. My bicycle is made out of titanium. Yes I’m 12

[@rickshaw5076]

You have something in common with a 60 year old, and he wont offer you candy.

[@PInk77W1]

Midland Moto NO my bicycle is way better

[@franklast7955]

The tires on the 71 are silver in color because the have aluminum in them to handle the heat during flight.

[@jamesmartin9401]

Heh, post again when you can pedal at 2100 kph.

[@tomriley5790]

Rather ironically the titianium for the SR-71 (perhaps your bike) came from Russia! No joke, they have the biggest reserves! the CIA had to set up fake companies - to mask it.

[@mikehunt3420]

Had to come back to one for the legend. Rip the baddest guy in the sky

[@Jake_Ro_X]

This story is pure gold! "The king of speed lived, the Navy had been flamed and a crew had been formed that day." :D

[@Grummar]

I love how the controller pretty much knew there was an SR-71 in the hood. Also love the term 'Cessna voice' !

[@stephanarizona9094]

I have only ever heard one SR-71 Pilot ever tell the truth about the top speed, to summarize he said "There is two top speeds, the public top speed and then the declassified top speed, and both are way slower than what we were capable of."

[@robertdawson9114]

I was stationed in Berlin when the Wall came down, Thursday November 9th 1989. I was working at Allied Checkpoint Charlie that weekend.👍😁😎

[@carlaaustin7223]

Thank you for your service to our country. One citizen who says thanks.

[@zekedia2223]

If that is true, I salute your service to your country. o7

[@MichaelJohnson-fz2ry]

Thank you, Brian and Walter.