051 - SR-71 Blackbird
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- Опубликовано: 7 июл 2019
- * * * Update May, 2023: We just learned of the passing of one of our guests on this episode, Brian Shul. Rest in peace, kind sir. * * *
There are military aircraft that contribute to shaping US foreign policy. There are some that usher in cutting edge technology. Others set speed and altitude records. A few capture the lifelong imaginations of children and aviation enthusiasts alike.
And then there’s the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird.
Brainchild of legendary aeronautical engineer, Kelly Johnson, the Blackbird did it all as we learn on this episode with retired US Air Force Brian “Punchy” Shul. Known for his infamous ground speed story and numerous books-including Sled Driver-Brian offers a detailed look at what it took to build and fly the Blackbird, and how it played a significant role in shaping President Reagan’s negotiations with the Soviet Union. The SR-71 Blackbird is a truly iconic aircraft.
Now a renowned key note speaker, author, and aviation and nature photographer, Brian is the curator of Gallery One in Marysville, Calif.
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Bumper music by Jaime Lopez. Announcements by Clint Bell. Episode artwork by Janek Krause. 
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RiP Shul! Legendary "sled driver" thank you for your service.
So sad to hear of his passing, but thankful for his motivational speeches, aviation & nature photography that will live on.......
The LA speed story is one of the best EVER!!!!
I hate saying anything good about the Navy" Love it...classic Brian
The word hero is used lightly these days. Mr. Shul truly is one.
Major Shul has such a youthful voice, especially for a man in his early 70s. Very charming!
Best episode for now. Goose bumps. Thanks for your service Brian, youre real golden boy..
I've said this before ,if someone in Hollywood doesn't make a movie about Mr Shul's life they're crazy 👍👌
Here is another example of the fact about military aviation……. It’s about the people, their stories and service to their nations. Yes the aircraft are amazing, yes I have great affection toward many of the aircraft. But when it’s all said and done, I can learn about aircraft on many many sites……. This is why I love this show.
Re Shul getting buzzed...happened to me in 2005 driving through the same area....but it was an F-16.
Probably 100 ft off the deck, maybe 300 knots. My father was a engineer at Convair and worked on that plane....kept me awake the rest of the drive to my Utah stopover!
Shul gave a commander's call speech when I was in AF tech school in 85. It was the one CC that no one -- and I mean NO ONE, from the newest E-1 to the base CO -- wanted to ever end!
The A in A-12 is because CIA project was named Archangel and the 12 is because it was the 12th design. By the way amazing podcast and with the videos it just makes it that much better I love the behind the scenes especially.
Also, the A-12 flew slightly faster and higher than the "family model" SR. ^v^
Archangel is the U-2 program. The A-12 - Program:OXCART - plane name: Cygnus (spelling is different). They called them (Articles) they didn’t call it planes for secrecy reasons. Each plane was named A-1 A-2 etc but yes it was the 12th design so they loosely called it the A-12. But every Cygnus had a article number. The first one was A-1.
Every airplane Kelly Johnson worked on performed to the extreme!
Best episode to date, and I've heard them all. Thank you team FPP for all that you do.
Kind of you to say, Eric, thanks!
Incredible show. Please have Mr. Shul on again! To talk about his call sign and injury.
How about interviewing an RA-5C pilot next?!
We have a lead on a willing Vigilante pilot, just trying to arrange the interview.
RIP Major Shul. Thankyou for your service and thankyou even more for sharing your time and story with si many.
I had no idea about Brian. My heart goes out to his family. I know he above us and watching over our country. Flying fast. A true patriot.
Late to the podcast before the passing of Brian. He was truly a inspiration to all of us and truly an aviator great passion for flying and airplanes. Brian's legacy will forever live amongst us.
It’s hard to believe this man is even real, what an inspiration I could listen to him ALL DAY
Pure Gold! I have a few of Brian's books and footage of his talks but you unearthed some great new material. Well done. Archangel was the internal skunk works project name after the U-2 had been named Angel, the A-12 was the 12th design in the series which started in mid 1958 with the A-1. The CIA project name was Oxcart. I was buzzed by an F-18 in 2011 on an RV road trip in one of the side canyons in Death Valley, the pilot came around for a second pass over my RV. Wow! My kids have never seen me that excited... ever.
As a kid I was fortunate enough to live near Norton AFB and was able to see the SR-71 in person multiple times and see/ hear/ feel it fly. The only other aircraft that shook the ground and rattled your skeleton like that was the B-1B bomber in full burner - it was so loud it hurt your whole body.
Again another great podcast! This plane was a favorite of a dear friend of mine who sadly passed away… he had gone to see one of his speaking events ! And he pointed me to Brian schul! Hope to visit his gallery with my kids once we visit the USA. God bless
What a super cool (or heated) interview. Near perfect marriage of mission to aircraft design. Unreal tech achievement not only for its time, but for all time. Thanks!
Such a great interview in 2024
I just read of his passing on the DCS-related Air Warfare Group RUclips channel. "Juice" over there shared a great story about this great American. This interview was one of my favorites out of the 90-something episodes I've gotten through so far. I'll be sure to give it another listen soon. I'm grateful that this podcast has allowed some regular guy like me that's simply an aviation geek to hear so many stories like his - for the history, the technical stuff, and perhaps most importantly the inspiration and example set by so many of your podcast guests.
May he rest in peace.
Well said, Josef.
Thanks for the interview. The SR-71 is one of the most strikingly beautiful aircraft ever created, IMHO. It's silhouette is ominous, mysterious, graceful, and completely unmistakable. It's more than a great design, it's a technological icon. I can't imagine how incredible it must've been to be behind the stick.
What did he say, something like only 87 people ever knew. what that was like. Crazy!
Glad he mentioned DARYLE. Great movie
Great interview.
Fantastic with a respectful knowledgeable interview and obviously a remarkable guest
Another hero of mine, that I never crossed paths with, gone.
The SR-71 is that weird, nearly unique plane that STILL looks modern nearly 60 years later!
All its contemporaries are VERY 1950s/1960s designs including the F-5 which is another classic beauty. The 1950s designs are all dated -- but not the Blackbird!
Agreed!
He was one of those “brilliant” Brian was talking about. He worked for GE after he retired from the Air Force and he said that he could do work in a few hours on an engineering calculator that it took him a week to do on a slide rule when he was working on the project.
Thank you so much for your time and dedication providing this amazing content. All of these episodes are wonderful and I can’t tell you how much enjoyment I get out of listening, you can’t get this type of content anywhere. Keep up the great work.
Thanks very much, Eric. It certainly helps to know the content is well received. Kind of you to say so.
Wow, just wow.
😎
Man, what a plane!
190 knot approach speed? Wow, that's like a space shuttle approach!
And both the Space Shuttle and SR-71 pilots were expected to land it first time. Of course the Shuttle was a glider and flew like a brick and the Blackbird pilot could 'make fuel' for another go at the runway and flew a nice bird. A whole other level of pilot those guys.
Great presentation ...Truly inspirational.
What a legend bloke. That was fantastic really enjoyed it. Thank you
You're welcome.
Great interview as always guys! Love listening to Brian speak about the black bird. Also thanks for doing what you do, coming from a former grunt and student pilot.
You're welcome, Sean. We're having fun doing it so it's a win-win for everyone!
Absolutely awesome, thank you 👌
Has to be my favourite episode so far!👍🏻👍🏻
Another great episode guys. What an amazing story
Another great interview, I've always like the SR-71 and just thought It looked cool and from the future. and to hear how the engines worked was really cool. (at high altitude) I'm looking forward to the others as always you have in the future.
Recently finished the book "Skunk Works" in which they discussed the development and deployments of the SR-71. According to the book it was originally designated the RS-71. President Johnson misidentified it as SR-71 in the first public statement about the aircraft so the Air Force had Lockheed go back and re-identify all material associated with the project, to include the aircraft, to SR-71.
Great episode.
AMAZING!
Great interview. I was a 9th SRW engine troop at Beale from 81-85. Great assignment. J58’s on the test cell was unreal…
I can’t imagine!
Amazing interview, thank you. If possible could you do a segment on the U-2? Absolutely one of my favorite aircraft.
We’ll try, Randy!
Fantastic.
This is one of the best episodes on this podcast! Jello,thank you SO much for this episode and mr.Shul for his service to this country!
You're welcome!
Terrific episode! Really enjoyed the interview.
RIP! 😢
I was in a Patriot missile battery late eighties in Germany. We deployed from Germany to England for an exercise. After the exercise we had a few down days and there was an air show happening at RAF Mildenhal we got to go to. There was an SR-71 on display with roles about fifty feet away
Jello this is an awesome interview. If not the best, it is one of the best interviews you have done. People like Brian are an inspiration to people on overcoming obstacles in life.
It's was an honor work on the SR-71 and to know Maj Shul.
One simple mistake, the "J-85" is the engine used in the T-38 Trainer. The SR-71 uses P&W J-58. :)
My uncle was one of the performance engineers on the SR-71 project. He was stationed at Edwards AFB and flew out to Area 51 and back everyday. Since it was a black project, his family had no idea what he was doing.
"A" was for "Archangel", the CIA project name for the overall U-2 replacement project. A-12 was the 12th design in the Archangel series.
True.. Very True 👍
Excellent interview!
Thank you! There's another 15-ish minutes with Brian over on our Patreon page, if you're so inclined:
www.patreon.com/ftrpltpdcst
The most butifull 🐦 on the world.Love from Poland
Brian is Just one of the most brilliant and interesting aviation speakers I've ever heard, listening to him you can tell he's got another point of view on life than the average person. As a French I wonder where's from his lovely grooving accent? thanks a lot this was a delight ;)
You're welcome, Charles. Yes, I imagine he is shaped by his experiences--as we all are, but few people have experiences quite like he has.
What a great podcast
Incredible podcast as always!
Gods, the sound of that plane really was something else... Still havent heard anything like it.
Great interview, as usual! I read that it would intentionally leak fuel on the ramp to compensate for heat expansion during flight. Fantastic aircraft! Amazing pilot!
Subscribed, much luck and good work👌
It’s so beautiful 😭
and sinister at the same time, agreed!
Hell Yes!
The SR-71 is my favorite aircraft. Maybe not as heavily armed as the Eagle but it's gonna sneak up on them MiGs real quiet like and shoot them with its camera.
My neighbor is an old F-4 Phantom pilot. He saw a little action in Vietnam. I keep telling him to write a book. He had his share of close calls and narrow escapes from MiGs.
These are my 3 favorite aviation books:
- Her Majesty's Top Gun by Sharkey Ward
- A Reluctant Warrior by Kenneth Volker
- Great Fighter Jets of the Galaxy 1 by Tim Gibson
WOW!
That suit enabled 1 guy to survive a mach 3 break up of an SR-71 and survive it.
Most dominating, amazing aircraft of all time.
Definitely special.
SR 71 was shown in "X-Men First Class"
Beale runway is a "SAC Standard"12,001 x 300' slab of pavement. And the Tankers? He knows we were doing our best! We pushed up our engines and signaled our intent to fly faster... ;)
Yep. Q models. I ran the engines on test cell at Beale for a stint during my career.
Oh maaaan this is awesome!
Look up his "LA speed check" story.....Funny as hell. :)
I take it you wrote this comment before listening to our interview? We talk about it.
Thank you both for a great episode. Mr Shul ... I would buy a bird book that spoke about BOTH the icteric Blackbirds and the Protobothrops flavoviridis Blackbirds, especially if they were creatively weaved together throughout the book :D
...it's...difficult...to type this...because...my eyes just crossed.
@@FighterPilotPodcast Don't pull the loud handle!
I'm led to believe that in 1974 the SR71 that set the Atlantic crossing record got "Bounced" by an RAF EEL mid Atlantic
Just heard "Punchy" passed away. Rest in peace.
Yup. 💔
Yeeeesssssssssss!!!
Saw one or two people say the X-Men movie. The plane was featured in every X-Men movie, as well as the 1990s animated series and the comics. The plane is big enough to transport the team in. Basically the Blackbird version of the F-117 ‘Remora’ in Executive Decision.
Oh, it didn’t fly, but it did feature prominently in the movie “Space Cowboys.” Tommy Lee Jones’ character was a retired Blackbird pilot
The A-12 Oxcart designation was actually an intentional misnomer to confuse the KGB when they inevitably ran into the jet's paper trail. They likely wouldn't have had access to photos of the jet, so they would have naturally assumed that it was a slow, low flying attack jet like the A-10 rather than a high speed, high altitude reconnaissance aircraft.
It just keeps on getting more interesting!
@@TheGuidermichael Agreed. Thanks @combatant5.
@Steven Duncan Possibly. That would not comply with the convention the U.S. adopted prior to that but it seems plausible.
@Steven Duncan thus the point of the name to draw the opposition off of it's true nature.
@@Combatant5
Except it is well documented that the A-12 designation was carried over from the Lockheed design series.
The idea that it was an attempt at disinformation is not true.
Please read Kelly Johnson's autobiography for history.
Great interview . Greatest aircraft ever except maybe the Wright Flyer that got the ball rolling .
I suppose it depends on your definition of "greatest." Certainly something had to be the first but I don't believe that makes the Wright Flyer the "greatest."
Any further information on the super tanker project? What was it called so I can look it up?
Rip b shul
For anyone who is struggling with anything, Brian is looking down on you (us) saying, “It’s going to be okay, buddy.” Rest in heaven Mr. Shul.
I just requested to join your fb group and stated the F117 podcast was my fav, nope this is, so epic. We got you, we got you, we lost you hahaha
James Hewitt changing your mind is totally fine!!
I said out loud
Elisabeth Shue!
patrician taste my friend
patrician indeed
Okay, I admit, I had to look up 'patrician.' Touche!
Great interview and an another excellent episode. It was great to hear Brian Shul expand on the Speed Check story and give the background for it. I only wish his book was still available and not so prohibitively expensive.
I hope you don't mind if make a couple recommendations for sources of the history of the Blackbird that are not from Brian Shul.
The CIA published, in 2012, a program history: www.cia.gov/library/center-for-the-study-of-intelligence/csi-publications/books-and-monographs/a-12/Archangel-2ndEdition-2Feb12.pdf
And the best book I have found, with a ton of rare photographs, that covers the full program from the CIA A-12, the Air Force YF-12, to the SR-71 is Paul Crickmore's Lockheed Blackbird: Beyond the Secret Missions. It was updated in 2016 after more missions and events were declassified so there is a lot more information and more photographs than the original print.
Sounds like a great read, will check it out. Thanks!
Very interesting episode. I’d like to see what the military has classified in today’s times
Then it wouldn't be classified.
54:45
man that’s why he was and will always be my favourite president.
57:05
That was the best 😂 😂 😂.
Another great interview, wow. Any chance you guys have reached out to author and B-52 WSO Dale Brown? I loved the Coonts interview.
No. Just recorded a B-52 episode but not with Dale. Saving that one for "bomber month" coming up this fall perhaps.
The Fighter Pilot Podcast I would like to share this one incredible video regarding Linebacker 2. 44 audio minutes of a strike. I shared this with my dad recently who was an ATC on Oriskany at this very time and he found it fascinating. Maybe it could be a behind the scenes topic someday!
ruclips.net/video/60ihI7VU2OY/видео.html
Do AWACS!!!
We’ve some control segments, but we’ll work on that Bryce.
Amazing but I wanna fly the tic tac :)
Who doesn't!? Damn that'd be incredible.
this is an awesome podcast! How can I find the music?
rantam.bandcamp.com/track/the-fighter-pilot-podcast-2019-february-spy-aircraft
The Fighter Pilot Podcast thx
I was at the Cleveland show the Sr 71 looked like a UFO!
For the history nerds that are interested in the A-12 Cygnus fleet and A-12 VS SR71 specs
Serial # - Article # | Model | Flights | Hours
60-6924 - 121 | Flights: 322 | Hours: 418.2
60-6925 - 122 | A-12 | FLIGHTS: 161 | Hours: 177.9
60-6926 - 123 | A-12 | Flights: 79 | HOURS: 135.3
60-6927 - 124 | A-12 Trainer | Flights: 614 | HOURS: 1,076.4
60-6928 - 125 | A-12 | Flights: 202 | HOURS: 334.9
60-6929 - 126 | A-12 | Flights: 105 | Hours: 169.2
60-6930 - 127 |A-12 | Flights: 258 | Hours: 499.2
60-6931 - 128| A-12 | Flights: 232 | Hours: 453.0
60-6932 - 129| A-12 | Flights: 268 | Hours: 409.9
60-6933 - 130| A-12 | Flights: 217 | Hours: 406.3
60-6937 - 131| A-12 | Flights: 177 | Hours: 345.8
60-6938 - 132| A-12 | Flights: 197 | Hours: 369.9
60-6939 - 133| A-12 | Flights: 10 | Hours: 8.3
60-6940 - 134 | M-21 | Flights: 80 | Hours: 123.9
60-6941 - 135 | M-21 | Flights: 95 | Hours: 152.7
A-12 Total: Flights: 3,017 ---- Hours: 5080.9
A-12 | SR-71 spec comparison
Crew: 1 | 2
Length: 101.7’ | 107.5’
Wingspan: 55.7’ | 55.7’
Height: 18.6’ | 18.6’
Wingarea: 1,795 Sq.Ft | 1,800 Sq.Ft
Empty weight: 54,600lbs | 67,500lbs
Gross Weight: 0000000 | 152,000lb
Max Takeoff Weight: 120,000lb | 172,000Lbs
Fuel Pounds: 68,300lb | 80,000lb
Fuel Gallons: 10,590 gal | 12,404 Gal +/- 100
Power Plant: JT11D-20B | JT11D-20K
Dry Thrust: 20,500lbf | 25,000lbf
Wet thrust: 32,500lbf | 34,000lbf
Thrust-Weight: 0.56 | 0.44
Wingloading: 65lb/sq.ft | 84lb/Sq.Ft
MACH@ALT: 3.35 | 3.32
Supersonic Cruise V: M3.10 or 2,050MPH
Rate of climb: 11,820FT/Min
Service Ceiling: 95,000FT | 85,069FT
Max Speed documented: 2,208MPH | 2,193MPH
Range: 3,000Miles | 3,250Miles
Speed Of Sound @80’000KFT @-69.69F = 660.34MPH or 573.82Knots
Speed of Sound @95’000KFT @-48.87F = 677MPH or 588Knots
A-12 Max Speed Documented: 2,208MPH = M3.34
SR71 Max speed Documented: 2,193MPH = M3.32
Watched the HBO Documentary on Sinatra & in an odd response to a question about his business beyond music & performing he replies that he had recently started a Titanium Company. Could it be that his unique relationships w Kennedy’s & Clay Lacey gave him some early insight into the needs of the SR Project? I do realize that front Companies were utilized for the USSR purchases.
Hey Jello get stuff the name of that show yoy guys were talking about was Call to glory!
Wait. Isn't the actual altitude and speed of the SR 71 still classified?
Sort of. In theory it could go to approximately 100+ thousand feet. Brian talks about flying at 90,000 feet. After 100,000 feet there basically isn't any air to use.
Craig T Nelson- Elizabeth shue
Hello Jell-O, I'd like to write subtitles in French for my mates who do not speak English because I think your content is amazing and I know they'd love it too! How can I proceed, if you agree off course?
Fine by me.
@@FighterPilotPodcast Great I'll send you the file as soon as I have enough time to do it!
I have read somewhere that a SR-71 pilot once said that the SR-71 would be accelerating when it at Mach 3.7 would run out of gas.
I read that it could reliably hit up to Mach 3.4 but after that engine flameout was likely, which would be (at least) a near death experience. Since the spikes needed to adjust throughout, the speed where they reached the end of their travel would be fairly close to the hard limit I'd imagine
The problem isint power, or fuel. The problem was heat. If the engine's intke tempterature got too hot, it would cause engine failure. The colder the ambient temp, the faster they coud go, but it was still speed limited by heat over everything else.