I got to eat dinner with an SR-71 pilot, then Major Brian Shul (who wrote several SR books) circa 1987 via a mutual friend who was into photography (talk about a wet dream for a 14 year old who was really into jets!), which was a hobby of Major Shul's, hence his photographs which led to a couple of books, "Sled Driver" being one.

(He had just transitioned to flying T-38s and was no longer in SRs but still had his black 280ZX, his "street-based SR-71".)

I remember Brian (Major Shul) talking about the max speed in vague terms, and saying "honestly", that it didn't go "too much above" the mach 3+ that was touted and that if ever the true numbers were declassified, it wouldn't be too big a suprise to many.

A short tribute to Brian: He was a prop-job pilot in Viet Nam (can't remember what a/c) and was shot down. He didn't pop out and crashed in-plane. The heat from the resultant fire burned most of his body, and while holding his breath to protect his lungs, his lips were sealed shut. He was told he'd never fly again.. he did. He was told he'd never make the SR program, a program that had standards as stringent as those of the astronaut corps... he did. There was an "Airman Magazine" article about him published circa May, 1988, that I used to have entitled "The Most Determined". Wish I still had it...

Tangientally, after dinner, Brian gave us a slide show of pictures he'd taken in his travels (again, Brian was big-time into photography). I was 14, knew that I wanted to go into the Air Force, and was active in AFJROTC at the time. I clearly remember a slide Brian showed us of him and his "GIB" ("Guy In Back") at Sigua Falls in Guam. 6 years later, when I was stationed in Guam, I got to go camping at Sigua, and remembered Brian showing us the slide. Kinda one of those really cool moments when you can really tie into someone you really look up to...

BTW, if anyone ever visits Marysville, California, Brian has a gallery up there (He retired from Beale AFB in the early 90s if I remember right.) I haven't had a chance to visit it yet and I don't know if he "makes appearances" or not, but if you get the chance to talk to Brian, he'll talk with ya... and talk, and talk, and talk... (he's a talker...)

Regards,

MrPex