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

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

Jan Johnson
2 HN recommenders · discussed 2018–2021
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About this video

Retired Major Brian Shul tells the story of a ground speed check with LA Center while flying the SR-71 Blackbird. He recounts it live at the Hiller Aviation Museum.

Why it appears in the archive

Shared as the pilot's own telling of a famous, amusing SR-71 anecdote that never gets old.

AI-generated summary and labels from the source dataset; verify important details against the video. Source & credits.

From the Hacker News discussion

sundvor · 2018-01 · rec

Awesome. This story never gets old. I just found this recent video of it as well: [VIDEO] EDIT: Speeds mentioned in vid are 100 knots higher in the video than GP's link (1942 vs 1842)?

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linsomniac · 2019-03 · rec

If you haven't heard the "SR-71 Speed Check" story, it's pretty amusing. As told by the pilot: [VIDEO]

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larrywright · 2020-09 · reference

I thought it was apocryphal as well, but this is the pilot who did it. [VIDEO] Not saying it’s impossible that he made it up or embellished, but it seems likely that it actually happened.

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toomuchtodo · 2021-01 · reference

Shul telling the story: [VIDEO] ("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.")

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TimMeade · 2021-11 · reference

Here is the pilot telling the story. I think it's the same pilot as top story as back seater is Walter. [VIDEO]

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missedthecue · 2021-11 · reference

The pilot of the Blackbird maintains that it's true. Not sure you're going to find any confirmation other than that. But it isn't some joke or story cooked up by a random person for laughs. [VIDEO]

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