The LA Speed Story (2020)
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- čas přidán 7. 10. 2020
- This is my take on "The LA Speed Story" told by Brian Shul, a retired major in the United States Air Force (USAF). I wanted to illustrate Shul's story (about being an SR-71 Blackbird pilot) by using various video clips, so that's what I did. :-)
Video clip credits:
(to be added soon)
UPDATE: My hard drive crashed shortly after I uploaded this video, so I lost the source video clips used in the project. I wanted to recreate the list manually, but it's near impossible. I'll try to add details over time, but here is a general list:
The Brian Shul speech
Clips from various SR-71 documentaries
Clips from the movie Airplane!
Top Gun Maverick movie trailer
The way he delivers the whole thing is the best part. Dude knows _exactly_ when to pause for effect.
must have perfected it over time, he definitely got the practice to show for with that story.
A true entertainer
The pause is EVERYTHING 😅
Blerp :)
He is a Pilot.
RIP Major.Shul
(8 February 1948 - 20 May 2023)
Fly higher than ever.
"The king of speed lived, the Navy had been flamed and a crew had been formed". Man I'd love that job! What a way to live your life!
Yep, be a few seconds late making that turn and you overfly Moscow and start WWIII.
Shit... even Navy guys will grudgingly acknowledge the truth of that story. Trust me.
I can’t imagine what it is like to be trusted with that kind of advanced technology. Speeds over 1900 knots. That’s 2186.481 mph. Wow 🤩
@@DirtyPaw1606 ,
That's faster than my Harley! lol.
But the reality is harder than the most think
Back in 1983, when I was with AWACS, rotating back from Saudi Arabia, we saw an SR crew at the O-Club at MIldenhall. I so much wanted one of their patches that was the shape of the SR and just said "Mach 3+"!! We thought, it would be so cool to watch them fly on radar and track their speed. Good fortune had us taxiing behind the SR the next morning and we were number 2 behind them for take off. The mission crew vowed to get the radar up and running as quick as possible after take off so we could try to catch and track the SR on radar. Rolling immediately after they broke ground, we got the radar up and running in about 10 minutes after take off. The unclassified radar tracking distance for the AWACS (back then) was 240 NM. For a high target you can imagine how much further the actual tracking ability really is. Just like the disappointment of the F-18 pilot that Brian mentions in his story, after only 10 minutes from take off, our illusive SR-71 was NO WHERE TO BE FOUND.
My grandfather worked on the SR-71. High speed electronics engineer. Ceil Smith.
"Aspen 3-zero, we show you at one thousand nine hundred and ninety two knots over the ground.." And then "LA Center, we're showing a little closer to 2 thousand." At those speeds I don't even know what to say. I've probably watched this little story over 20 times in various venues, and it never gets old. And lucky they didn't ask for an altitude readout.... "Aspen 3-zero, we show you at 8-niner thousand feet altitude above the ground."
Never gets old..
The way he rattles off cities west of the Mississippi as checkpoints the way you would rattle off street signs, gas stations, etc., as directions to your destination, freaking awesome.
Long haul truckers: I understood that reference!
"two hours, 21 minutes"
The "right turn at Alberquerkie" bit was a brilliantly placed reference too! 😂
all in under 2.5 hours.. greatness!
@@davecrupel2817 Albuquerque
I first heard this over a year ago, and every time I'm feeling down, I run it again. I've played it for non-pilot friends who don't understand it, but as a pilot, I understand it, and think it's the funniest thing on the 'net!
With you on the replays. I’m not a pilot, but I get it. What’s not to get?
I have no idea what a cockpit looks like but i get a similar feeling. Everyone likes a sheepdog.
I'm not a pilot... never even been inside a plane in my life (48yo), but I get it too! 👍
Its the age-old game of who's got the biggest... (insert relevant object or bodypart here)... or who is the best.
It's about wanting to show who's boss, wether you take yourself too seriously, or not... 😄
Did he stick his head out the window going mach 3?
Actually I think with the fun inserts this helps non aviation types get it fine.
As a Navy guy whose seen the Blackbird-I was like, Hey, its leaking fuel-to which one guy stated, its ok, it won't be leaking for long. It taxied, rotated and was GONE!
Later on, I learned that at speed, she "expands", leans into wind, and flies! One of the most beautiful aircraft ever designed. Always, always love to hear this story!
One of the biggest reasons I've heard pilots qualifying for the Blackbird washed out was refueling. It needed to be topped off ASAP after getting airborne. The kicker was, it's stall speed was barely below the maximum speed for the tankers. Flying that thing just fast enough not to fall out of the sky, while a KC-130 is screaming as fast it could go was NOT an easy feat.
To add to that, the USAF called up Shell to make jet fuel that wasn't flammable. And had to refuel like immediately after takeoff lol.
I love this story. But the one that really gives me chills is when they were flying over Libya, and SAMS were launched. They were already at Mach 3, and Walter told him to "push it up". Like, you are at Mach 3, and you've got some more in the tank. Wild.
The speed numbers attributed to the SR are all bunk. That plane is so much faster than they let on, and your missile story illustrates that. As I posted elsewhere, the true, open-throttle top speed is not possible since the air friction would melt the fuselage. Chills, indeed.
@@jupiterlegrand4817 I would not be surprised if the max of the aircraft was in the 3.5 - 4 range. And this thing was engineered with slide rules.
I never tire of this story! 😆 🤣 🇺🇸 🇺🇸
It was time for me to watch this again. The idea of becoming a team. The knowledge of the incredible tech and the voices of incredible pilots.
Worked the SR in Okinawa and was on the launch crew of the last jet to leave the island. It was about 0500 and it took off, made a loop around the island then flew low to us...right as it reached us the pilot cranked it straight up and disappeared. Still remember that like it was yesterday. Cool aircraft too, my job was was the fuel system, we measured the leaks in beakers and there was a large cross of drip pans under it as it leaked like a sieve after refuel before flight but was tight as a drum when it came back. This was 1950's technology guys...designed with a slide rule...imagine what they have now.
yeah, read a lot about the leaking. If it was flying at Mach3+, the heat resulting in expanding parts of the a/c sealed it
What they've had since 1993 when the blackbirds replacement was refitted with an autopilot w integral GPS is Aurora
@@johnnelson7930 1993 was 29 years ago (feel old yet?)...do you think they have not had something new since then as well? To be fair though, the current installed administration has been laser focused on the border and insuring Old Joe doesn't crap himself on live TV.
@@getsum697 I understand that there have probably been 4 different types of surveillance units since the blackbird, .....the cover story to the public for reinstating the SR71, was cost related, the truth was the replacement had suffered a catastrophic failure during operations. Imagine what happens to an airframe, that is mishandled at over MACH 7 to MACH 9 in the atmosphere, lots of tiny little pieces, the other side of the U2 performance window which is what, around a 5-6mph performance envelope variance, too little it falls out of the sky, too much and it disintegrates, welcome to physics. Neat stuff!
@@johnnelson7930 Interesting!
This story will never get old
I remember reading this one in Reader's Digest back in the early 80's. It's even better to hear Brian tell.
... I love the story Brian tells of being shot down in Vietnam ... laying in the jungle w/ the "recon" squad that found him ... And the helo pilot refused to land to pick Brian up ... the squad leader pointed his weapon up at the helo pilot and said ... " either you land that chopper here (and pick-up this wounded pilot, now) ... or I will shoot you down ... !!! " a nameless grunt/ground pounder and their team that saved Brian's life ...
He also had a funny joke about when his plane was going down. He assumed he'd be in heaven in a matter of seconds. When he woke up surrounded by flames, he thought he went to the other place. :-)
Never leave anyone!!!🇺🇸
I have heard this story MANY times, still to this day it is fantastic to hear that last line to ATC.
i agree! I still chuckle a little bit.
Brian is a good friend. One of the funniest guys I know! Check out his full length talks for his whole story, absolutely amazing.
One thing Brian has been doing is helping Rotary International by doing fund raising talks. He’s helped raise many thousands of dollars for Rotary, is a Paul Harris recipient (the highest award an individual can receive in Rotary) and donates significantly to Wounded Warrior Project.
Truly a great guy and great friend. We’re like teenagers when we get talking, he brings out the kid in me.
What a guy! Do you know Walter too? They don't make 'em like that any more. :-) I hope I have done justice to their story.
@@daapdary I don’t know Walter but Brian has told me lot about him. Apparently Walter had a really cool SR-71 pic that Brian took and hung it on the wall in the living room. His wife saw it and said ‘Not in here! Guy pictures belong in your room!’
@@daapdary That story never gets old! The ‘Airplane’ video clips are especially hilarious!
It was so funny. Do you know where I can hear anymore of his stories. ?😀
@@marvinsmall5002 you will really enjoy this interview with Brian on Fighter Pilot Podcast:
czcams.com/video/apRliU4_QWo/video.html
OMG... I did not know about Major Shul's crash and survival story... BEFORE becoming an SR-71 pilot. I'm honestly, seriously, in awe. If you need motivation or a pick-me-up, I don't think he would mind me saying to watch it. Thanking him for his service is not enough.
I've heard this bit 50 times and it makes me laff out loud every time I listen to it. Major Shul's timing and delivery are perfect. Thanks for sharing the experience.
i have to re-hear this story every year or two. I think it's gotta be one of the best stories EVER told. Apologies to the Apostles!
My favorite story about the SR-71 was when the flight engineer asked for clearance to FL500. The tower replied, you are clear for FL500, good luck if you can make it. To which the flight engineer replied, Tower, I am requesting clearance to descend, repeat, to descend to FL500. Silence, then roger you are cleared to descend to FL500.
LOL, no joke?!
ROFL !!!
@@martinsuper4545 No joke.
I've heard that story from Ron Machado at the I think Palm Springs AOPA convention and was wondering if there is an audio or video link somewhere?
can you please explain this in a bit more detail
didn't really get it lol
I grew up in Plamdale Ca. Right between Edwards AFB and Skunkworks. And right under the flight path of the SR71. Let me tell you that is a LOUD bird. It would set off EVERY car alarm around and for a few months it was being flown every morning at 0730. BEST ALARM CLOCK EVER!
My late uncle-in-law lived very near Palmdale. He told stories about aircraft he had seen - and likely very few others had.
I’ve met him three times in my life, twice at his seminars and once (my first time actually) was a Starbucks. My father, who owns and read his book (big fan!), was absolutely tongue-tied but he finally went over and asked him: “Are you Brian Shul?”
Brian looked at him, smiled at him and said “Yes, I am!”
My dad started fanboying so much, called me over, (I was about 10 at the time) and introduced me to him.
Guy was so down-to-earth (heh heh 🤣) answered all my dad’s questions and even had the courtesy to answer mine as well.
When we later went to one of his seminars( with Walt!) I brought my program up to ask for an autograph from both of them.
I started fanboying myself when Brian actually remembered both myself and my dad and called Walt over for a group photo with us! Probably one of the coolest moments of my life was getting to be photographed with two of the “fastest men alive!”
One of the best flying stories ever. Brian Shul made it live. BRAVO ZULU!
I saw Brian as keynote speaker at a conference several years ago, what an amazing life story. Coming back from being shot down in Vietnam with severe burns to flying the Blackbird. Go out of your way to see this guy.
Listening to this guy is such a treat
This video will pop up on my feed every now and then. And I’ll watch it every time
I could listen to this story 1000 times and still be giddy
"It is the Navy they must die"
As a Navy guy, that had me rolling
620 kts vs 1,992 kts
Game, set, match.
@@starguy2718 center, we’re showing a little closer to 2000….
@@starguy2718 except the SR-71 doesn't do anything but fly high and take pretty pictures for someone else to analyze. Naval Aviators take off and land on very short strips at sea (called aircraft carriers) in all kinds of weather. Let's see an SR-71 come to a complete stop in 2 seconds after touching the deck lol.
@@jeffburnham6611 Jealousy.
@@jeffburnham6611 try reading Ben Rich’s memoir, Skunk Works.
In it he shares the story where they actually developed a fighter interceptor version that would fly the same speed and altitude and drop AMRAAMs down towards Soviet bombers flying underneath.
Air Force declined to pursue the concept since it would compete with the Eagle for funding.
And then there’s his complaints of how Navy was too short sighted to take advantage of submarine-applied stealth or the Sea Shadow concept
Why hasn't this been turned into a movie?!?!
Major Shul. He lived a big life
(and best video edit on this story I've yet seen on the interwebs)
I never get tired of that story. Watch his full presentation. He’s got the “right stuff”. This man has an incredible story to tell.
I think this is the original source. The LA Speed Story (the part that I used) starts at about 56 minutes in:
czcams.com/video/hFJMs15sVSY/video.html
The major deserves The Medal of Freedom, The Medal of Honor, and the most Distinguished Medal in the C.I.A.. GOD BLESS HIM AND THE U.S.A.🇺🇲👍🌎🌍🗺️🌏🗽🦅🚀
4:00 "Walter and I became a crew at that moment." [chef's kiss]
probably heard this 20 times by now but it's still fun to come back to. Weird seeing the new top gun clips in a 2 year old video
The gift that keeps on giving
Ya know, us US Air Force Airman are actually, contrary to popular belief, largely disassociated from flying in our daily lives. Less than 1% of the force flies as part of their job, and only a few percentage more actually walk on the flightline regularly (aircraft maintainers). But from the cooks, to the cops, to the dirt boys digging fence post holes... all of us; collectively; love this fucking story. You can ask any Airman you see about "the SR-71 speed check story" and we've (almost) all heard it and love it.
We also love the roar of the aircraft taking off. It interrupts our conversations, it can be annoying, and someone always yells the cliché "that's the sound of freedom" while waiting for the jet to pass.. but deep down, we are all 12 year olds at an airshow, and we fucking love it.
-Cyber Airman.
R.I.P. Major Shul. Thank you for your service and your enthusiasm.
I don't know how many times I've listened to this, but it makes me smile and laugh every single time!!!
I have watched that full presentation of Major Shul's talk about the SR-71 at least a dozen times, it never gets old. We Americans take for granted how well-served we were and are by our Military.
Every once in a while this story pops up via the CZcams algorithm,
Every time I see it, it’s a must watch and or listen to….
Never fails to put a smile on my face as wide as that pilots view up there…🤣
Possibly the greatest fun story a pilots ever passed on to us grounded civilians.
Thank You for the post..👍🏻❤️🍻😎
Although they might be able to do that, they only have about 30 minutes to meet up with a tanker and top off the tanks. It is one of those things where a plane can fly with a heavier weight than it can take off with.
American ingenuity. American exceptionalism. Hats off to Skunkworks. 🇺🇸
I shouldn't keep watching this but it is so much fun to hear the story and the delivery
Best story teller ever
I admit it…I come back every year or so to watch this again….😁
This never gets old to me and when it’s in my feed I watch!
To the tears... what an amazing story from a person who actually has gone through it in person, and the way he says it, priceless.
Just standing next to the SR71 gives me chills. What an awesome conglomerate of the ultimate machine & intestinal fortitude.
I've heard it for a while but when it shows up on screen that 12 year kid in me clicks that button to play it lol. I love the other story about a SR71 buzzing the control tower. I think it was San Francisco but I might be wrong
Either San Fran or Sacramento
@@stampede122 it was sacramento. I watched again
Sac. great story.
It was nice to have a dad that worked on it for 10 years. It was cool being that kid.
My wife and I had the pleasure of escorting Brian at Castle Air Museum back in 1994 and what a great guy. Interesting plane in the background of the thumb nail picture at that was one of the EC-135H airborne command posts I used to work at Mildenhall between 1988-1990
I have listen to this at least a dozen times.....and it is just as good and as funny as the first time. The Major was the
perfect story teller for this....Great job and Thanks for your service
Absolute hilarity. I was fortunate to live a block away from plant 42 in palmdale in the1980s and saw these slow pokes all the time. I was at the final coast to coast run in 1991 watching from the viewing perch on Sierra hwy. wat a great time and place to be in the antelope Valley in the 1980s
I watch this- no matter what -when it hits my feed
I saw an SR71 in flight twice, once at an air show in Canada, where one did a horizon to horizon flyby in something like 30 seconds. The second time was bitter sweet - I was at the airfield when the one going to the Air and Space Museum made it's final landing.
One of the BEST stories I have ever heard! Great delivery👍
I'm no pilot but there's nothing better than hearing great story telling of a guy broadcast himself as the best only to get blown out of the water moments later
I've heard this story several times but still sit through the entire story every time I come across it. Love it.
If you tell stories that good 👍 I bet you are a super star in the AIR...
Long Live the Kings of Speed! This story just never gets old. I could hear this tale a thousand times and it would never be enough.
I’ve seen this a few hundred times and still watch all the way through . My grandpa was a Air Force pilot for 40 years .
What can you say. The SR is just the badest plane built by man, and still is. And Brian tells it so well.
i remember going to the Museum of Flight near Seattle when I was a kid and sitting in the cock pit of a black bird I still dream ill get to fly that thing such a cool air craft
I listen to this on bad days to have smile and a better day. Never fails!!
I could listen to this a day long
Well, we've heard this story over many years on different CZcams channels. And it's great EVERY time.
As a "co pilot" who flew with my father for 35+ years we had some great stories to tell... This story can be described in one word: Fabulous!
So awesome. Felt like I was on frequency listening in!
First time I saw an SR-71 was as a kid, in Paradise CA, 100 miles(?) north of Beale AFB. It was shortly after LBJ had flubbed the public announcement of the SR-71 and my kid brother and I knew everything from the papers, including the pictures. Heard some planes flying over, looked up, and it was an SR-71 and two chase planes. Recognized that shape instantly, stared in awe, we knew what it was, and then it started accelerating and left those two other planes in the dust. Don't remember any sonic boom or much else at all, whole thing was over in 5-10-15 seconds, an eternity for us.
I've read this a hundred times. I've read the reverse (slow version) 10 times. This is my first time actually watching the video after resisting clicking the thumbnail for the better part of a decade. The man knows how to tell a story, that is for sure.
This is the BEST VIDEO to accompany this story in all of YT.
Thank you Brian and Walter for your service. Brian, like you say, You bad. ;)
R.I.P. Brian.
I've heard this probably 100 times since getting my pilot cert and it still puts a smile on my face. So good.
"We're showing a little closer to. . .2,000. . ."
That's a cool cat, right there. 😎
My great uncle Jack Dupuis, was part of the original skunk works team and helped design the sr-71
Brian Shul is a living legend. He went through hell, met death and managed to come back as a 12-year old. And then he lived again.
I had an uncle who was a part of this project, so hearing his stories back before youtube existed felt like a sci-fi fiction.
I have loved this for over a decade, y'all please keep breaking barriers.
Every time I hear that story, it brings a smile to my face.
I can never get enough of this story.
Whoever did the video….awesome….I heard the “click” of the mic from the rear…..perfect
Just love this tale, heard it a number of times and put a smile on my face...thanks guys and thanks for your service.
Great story. Have been flying my whole life.. Super cubs, 185 & 210. All tail draggers.
This made my day. The rivalry between services is a good and bad thing. I may have been a "lawn dart" but it was our boots that were on the ground, when they say "boots on the ground". Each branch does it's job. The navy just does it from a distance.
This story will never get old, and Walter seems to be just as cool as Brian.
Wonder what Walter's up to?
@@daviddecuir5021, apparently he and his driver still appear together at certain events…according to someone’s comment in the thread.
I tend to watch this video one about every 6 months or so. Just makes me happy.
Love the visual gags. Airplane's ATC stuff was made for this.
thats gotta be the best flight related story i've heard in a long time
I’ve heard this story a dozen times. Every time it pops up in CZcams I watch it. So good! Would love to grab a drink with this guy
3:58 I like how this moment just randomly pops up
I've listened to his story six times or more and it doesn't get old. Walter is a cool dude.
What a life story prior to the SR71. Nothing but respect for these bad ass aviators.
I've watched this loads of times, it never gets old!
What a GREAT story!!!!! And thank you both for your service.
Brian Shul you freaking legend...
This guy can show you...it doesn't matter how bad you feel...you can change your life...if you want to!!! He went through hell and did more than most of us would ever do!!
This is the greatest Air Force story ever told.. legendary!
You could play that 100 times and still smile!!
Never gets old
R I P Brian , we lost him on May 20, 2023 🇺🇸😢🫡 I always have to watch this every few months , his story telling is over the top !!!
I want his book called Sled Driver , but man its expensive !!!!
This is a story I will show my grandkids.