I was saddened to hear te passing of Maj. Shul earlier this year. I still enjoy watching his motivational talks on RUclips. Thank you for your service, Brian. May your spirit soar as fast and as high as the aircraft that you cherished.
This guy is incredible. Humble and Funny, Too. My father who is 83 was a pilot for Lockheed Martin in the late 50's and early 60's. He know a few men who flew the SR-71. So Cool. Love to see him speak.. it's on my bucket list!
Go find his talk given at Lawrence Livermore Laboratory -- probably the best one I've seen of most of what's online. From flight school to Viet Nam to the hospital and getting flight qualified again. Then, the road to the SR. Talk about drive, initiative, and perseverance!
Now this is a proud American and rightfully so. Your gift from God allowed you experience the lords handy work. Well done sir now enjoy another 60 walking on one of God’s blue marbles and continue to capture all the glorious pictures.
@8:25 -- Technically, Tom is right -- the plane IS a member of the Blackbird family but it's not an SR-71. It's a derivative of the A-12, the ORIGINAL Blackbird. That plane with the drone mounted on the back is known as the M-21. They modified two A-12s into M-21 aircraft. (They reversed the numbers to disguise the plane's identity -- clever, no?) These planes had a second seat where a specialist controlled launches of a triple-sonic ramjet-powered drone called the D-21. "M" for mother aircraft; "D" for daughter. Anyhow, only two M-21's were built and one of them was destroyed in a fatal accident when a D-21 pitched down and crashed into the M-21. The M-21 pitched up and literally broke its back. The Blackbirds were NEVER built to maneuver aggressively (I think I heard they had a 3-G limit in horizontal turns?) and if you raised the angle of attack TOO high the aircraft ran a serious danger of snapping its back which happened during 1 or 2 accidents at least. The neck was literally held onto the rear fuselage by a few bolts. The surviving M-21 was put into storage with the A-12s when the A-12 program ended in 1968. It was bailed to the museum it's at in the 1990s and that's when they mounted a D-21 (stored out in the open for years with nobody knowing WHAT the D-21 was used really used for!) on its back. This particular M-21 actually flew as a chase plane for its sister craft when that M-21 had its fatal accident. The pilot of the M-21 in the accident survived. The drone launch officer unfortunately drowned in the water because there were oxygen valves on his flight seat that weren't sealed off properly and he took in water before they could get to him. Same thing nearly happened to astronaut Gus Grissom, btw, when his Mercury capsule sank after his suborbital flight.
Used to watch the SR71 coming ito Mildenhall in the 80s, would go around to cool off before landing. Was replaced by the Aurora around 90, but it has not been detected recently. Dead, replaced, or dead secret?
I don't think the Aurora ever went into operation. And the codename "Aurora" was really used for the B-2. There were stories about hypersonic planes in development at Lockheed in the 1980s and even an item about it in at least one book published about Lockheed in the 1980s that I saw. I think whatever they were doing proved to impractical to use in service and that it got shelved for the time being. I have doubts the engine technology is there for sustained hypersonic flight and they have demonstrated problems with it at least as far back as the X-15 and the way the second X-15 got toasted on its ultimate speed flight. They were trying to reach Mach 8 in stages but the plane got charred to a crisp at just under Mach 7! The SR-71 was brought back into service for a few years but NASA used it for at least 5 years after the USAF retirement. There's definitely a feeling among the intelligence community that they retired it TOO EARLY the first time. They could have used it during the first Gulf War for sure. After 2000? It's questionable the worth but during the first Gulf War there were intelligence deficiencies identified and the SR-71 would have been a very useful asset to have in reserve. The USAF wanted to get rid of the plane for probably 15 years prior to the original retirement and they got their wish the second time!
@@AvengerII I knew a worker at Macrihanish Scotland who remembers the Aurora landing and departing there at night, and a mil radar op in UK who would be briefed before the Aurora would show up on the scope, years ago.
The more of these presentations of Major Shul I watch, the more sad I become that we have lost such an incredible human being.
I was saddened to hear te passing of Maj. Shul earlier this year. I still enjoy watching his motivational talks on RUclips. Thank you for your service, Brian. May your spirit soar as fast and as high as the aircraft that you cherished.
Thank you N2Eternity for this video. I've been fascinated by Brian Shul's story and the SR-71 for many years.
Brian is AWSOME.... what a true Gentleman
Many thanks Mr Shul for sharing your memories and experiences with us mortals.
Mr. Shul is a quality individual. Proud to have him serve! Thank you Mr. Shul.
"We show you 1,992 knots across the ground"
"Ahh, LA Center, were showing more like 2000..."
One of my favourite stories!
. . . Walter and I became a crew . . . . Chokes me up every time I listen to L.A. Speed Check.
Were showing a little closer to 2000
It’s the Navy, and the Navy must die!..
Such a great interview! Love to listen to Brian speak. Very inspiring!
Just imagine what great courage it takes to have a biography like Brian Shul... This guy can eat nails.
the word resilient comes to mind. A real survivor who could thrive after his recovery. Well done.
And crap brass tacks!!!!
This guy is incredible. Humble and Funny, Too. My father who is 83 was a pilot for Lockheed Martin in the late 50's and early 60's. He know a few men who flew the SR-71. So Cool. Love to see him speak.. it's on my bucket list!
Brian Shul, an American inspriration and hero !
The guy is super humble, but he's full on beast mode. :)
Go find his talk given at Lawrence Livermore Laboratory -- probably the best one I've seen of most of what's online. From flight school to Viet Nam to the hospital and getting flight qualified again. Then, the road to the SR. Talk about drive, initiative, and perseverance!
ruclips.net/video/BY3nRtRsdKg/видео.htmlsi=I9vt3dwwWhxav9Iu this is another talk Brian did a couple months before he died with his back seater Walter
an american Hero!! I've watched (different versions) at least a half dozen times. Watched it yesterday!!! Might tomorrow!!!
What a great guy you can tell he enjoys life .
Thank you for your Service.
What an amazing story and an amazing man. True Patriot. God Bless
Absolute legend in my eyes!
Now this is a proud American and rightfully so. Your gift from God allowed you experience the lords handy work. Well done sir now enjoy another 60 walking on one of God’s blue marbles and continue to capture all the glorious pictures.
There should be a national holiday for this guy
Rest in Peace Brian
Miss Tom Snyder love Brian Shul.
Great interview
He is what America should be!
RIP Brian Shul
@8:25 -- Technically, Tom is right -- the plane IS a member of the Blackbird family but it's not an SR-71.
It's a derivative of the A-12, the ORIGINAL Blackbird. That plane with the drone mounted on the back is known as the M-21.
They modified two A-12s into M-21 aircraft. (They reversed the numbers to disguise the plane's identity -- clever, no?) These planes had a second seat where a specialist controlled launches of a triple-sonic ramjet-powered drone called the D-21.
"M" for mother aircraft; "D" for daughter.
Anyhow, only two M-21's were built and one of them was destroyed in a fatal accident when a D-21 pitched down and crashed into the M-21. The M-21 pitched up and literally broke its back. The Blackbirds were NEVER built to maneuver aggressively (I think I heard they had a 3-G limit in horizontal turns?) and if you raised the angle of attack TOO high the aircraft ran a serious danger of snapping its back which happened during 1 or 2 accidents at least. The neck was literally held onto the rear fuselage by a few bolts.
The surviving M-21 was put into storage with the A-12s when the A-12 program ended in 1968. It was bailed to the museum it's at in the 1990s and that's when they mounted a D-21 (stored out in the open for years with nobody knowing WHAT the D-21 was used really used for!) on its back.
This particular M-21 actually flew as a chase plane for its sister craft when that M-21 had its fatal accident. The pilot of the M-21 in the accident survived. The drone launch officer unfortunately drowned in the water because there were oxygen valves on his flight seat that weren't sealed off properly and he took in water before they could get to him. Same thing nearly happened to astronaut Gus Grissom, btw, when his Mercury capsule sank after his suborbital flight.
Used to watch the SR71 coming ito Mildenhall in the 80s, would go around to cool off before landing. Was replaced by the Aurora around 90, but it has not been detected recently. Dead, replaced, or dead secret?
I don't think the Aurora ever went into operation.
And the codename "Aurora" was really used for the B-2.
There were stories about hypersonic planes in development at Lockheed in the 1980s and even an item about it in at least one book published about Lockheed in the 1980s that I saw.
I think whatever they were doing proved to impractical to use in service and that it got shelved for the time being.
I have doubts the engine technology is there for sustained hypersonic flight and they have demonstrated problems with it at least as far back as the X-15 and the way the second X-15 got toasted on its ultimate speed flight. They were trying to reach Mach 8 in stages but the plane got charred to a crisp at just under Mach 7!
The SR-71 was brought back into service for a few years but NASA used it for at least 5 years after the USAF retirement.
There's definitely a feeling among the intelligence community that they retired it TOO EARLY the first time. They could have used it during the first Gulf War for sure. After 2000? It's questionable the worth but during the first Gulf War there were intelligence deficiencies identified and the SR-71 would have been a very useful asset to have in reserve.
The USAF wanted to get rid of the plane for probably 15 years prior to the original retirement and they got their wish the second time!
@@AvengerII I knew a worker at Macrihanish Scotland who remembers the Aurora landing and departing there at night, and a mil radar op in UK who would be briefed before the Aurora would show up on the scope, years ago.
Unic fantastic person !
And then a tr 3b comes on the air and asks for a speed check..
R.I.P. Major Shul 🤥
Who the hell thumb’s downed this!!? Shame on you
The best
Man, people on television from decades ago were so much more articulate and intelligible than today. Hella disappointing.
Air breathing is key.....we have other modes.
Aspen 3-zero ground check?
TheNyarcangel “Aspen 30 we show you at 199twooo across the ground. “
@@hvydutytow “i think we’re showin a lil closer to uh...2000