In this article:
The Blackbird
From the shadows of the Cold War emerged an espionage platform that expanded the limits of human possibility and made the theoretical thrillingly real.
The fastest manned aircraft in the history of flight, the Blackbird family and its best-known member, the SR-71, streaked across the stratosphere faster than a bullet and delivered stunning intelligence data to the West.
According to the bookazine Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird, the futuristic image of the Blackbird conjures up notions of science fiction, literally pushing the envelope in speed, stealth, and high-altitude performance.
Major Brian Shul
Major Brian Shul was a Vietnam combat veteran who flew 212 missions and was badly burned, but he defied the odds and returned to duty to fly the world’s fastest plane. After a 20-year career in the USAF, Shul wrote four books including Sled Driver: Flying the World’s Fastest Jet.
He wrote:”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, it was fun to fly the jet. Fun would not be the first word I would use to describe fit. 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.”
Dilemma
Shul and Reconnaissance Systems Officer (RSO) Major Walter Watson were flying their final training sortie to gain 100 hours in the air and achieve mission ready status. Everything went smoothly over Colorado and the turn above Arizona. Strict protocols regarding the use of radio equipment were usually observed, and in the air it was the job of the RSO to handle the traffic as needed. Shul, however, listened in and found himself on the horns of a dilemma.
Civilian pilots in a Cessna and Beechcraft checked in with air traffic control at Los Angeles Tower, asking for speed checks and receiving the polite but business-like responses of 90 and 125 knots. Moments later, a US Navy F-18 Hornet pilot out of Naval Air Station Lemoore called in.”You knew right away it was a Navy jock, because he sounded very cool on the radios,” wrote Shul.”‘Center, Dusty 52,ground speed check.’ Ol’ Dusty here is making sure 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’.”
SR-71 Blackbird Speed Check
Shul thought to himself: “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.” Seconds later, Shul was grinning broadly when he heard the microphone click from the back seat of the Blackbird: “Walt chirped: ‘Los Angeles Center, Aspen 20, can you give us a ground speed check?’ There was no hesitation, and the reply came as if it was an everyday request:’Aspen 20, I show you at 1.842 knots across the ground’.
“But the precise moment 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 1900 on the money.’
“For a moment Walter was a god.
“We finally heard a little crack in the Houston Center voice, when it came back with: “Roger that Aspen. Your equipment is probably more accurate than ours. You boys have a good one.’
“It had lasted just moments, but in that short memorable spring 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.”
Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird is published by Key Publishing and is available to order here.
