Major Brian Shul, USAF (Ret.) SR-71 Blackbird 'Speed Check'
Why Hacker News recommends it
Shared as the pilot's own telling of a famous, amusing SR-71 anecdote that never gets old.
What it is
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.
Recommended by 2 HN commenters across 2 different months, 2018 to 2021.
What Hacker News said
Recommends sundvor · 2018-01 · on “When volcanic ash stopped a Jumbo at 37000 feet (2010)”
Awesome. This story never gets old. I just found this recent video of it as well: [this video] EDIT: Speeds mentioned in vid are 100 knots higher in the video than GP's link (1942 vs 1842)?
Recommends linsomniac · 2019-03 · on “The SR-71 Spy Plane Was So Fast, It Outran Every Missile Fired at It”
If you haven't heard the "SR-71 Speed Check" story, it's pretty amusing. As told by the pilot: [this video]
Cites larrywright · 2020-09 · on “Airline pilots landing at LAX report “a guy in jetpack” flying alongside them”
I thought it was apocryphal as well, but this is the pilot who did it. [this video] Not saying it’s impossible that he made it up or embellished, but it seems likely that it actually happened.
Cites toomuchtodo · 2021-01 · on “SR-71 Blackbird's ground speed check story”
Shul telling the story: [this 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.")
Cites TimMeade · 2021-11 · on “The slowest SR-71 Blackbird fly-by”
Here is the pilot telling the story. I think it's the same pilot as top story as back seater is Walter. [this video]
Cites missedthecue · 2021-11 · on “The slowest SR-71 Blackbird fly-by”
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. [this video]