Hair Trigger
US Veteran
Retired USAF Major Brian Shul passed away after collapsing and going into cardiac arrest yesterday. He had just finished a presentation at the Nevada Military Alliance annual gala.
Major Shul was a combat pilot during Vietnam, flying AT-28 ground attack aircraft. He was shot down, survived the crash with severe burns over more than 50% of his body, including his head, face and hands.
He was not expected to live, but against all odds he not only survived, but regained flight status and then qualified to fly the SR-71. He was also a world-class photographer, and published several books of photography after his retirement. He has probably the largest collection of SR-71 photos, many of them made while the aircraft was still classified.
He was a well known speaker, relating his experiences flying the world's fastest aircraft, and was known for a rapid-fire delivery and singular wit. Two of his best stories are these:
[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3xaF1sT90U[/ame]
http://blog.cosmo.org/2011/08/how-slow-can-sr-71-fly.html
I had the privilege of meeting Major Shul a couple of years before he retired in 1990. He spoke to our group of officers at our Military Indoctrination for Medical Services Officers (MIMSO) at Sheppard AFB in 1988, telling us the story of his shoot-down and the medical care he received that allowed him to return to flight status and then qualify for the SR-71.
Fly with the Angels, Major Shul.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/obit...hul-sr-71-fighter-blackbird-pilot-dies-at-75/
Major Shul was a combat pilot during Vietnam, flying AT-28 ground attack aircraft. He was shot down, survived the crash with severe burns over more than 50% of his body, including his head, face and hands.
He was not expected to live, but against all odds he not only survived, but regained flight status and then qualified to fly the SR-71. He was also a world-class photographer, and published several books of photography after his retirement. He has probably the largest collection of SR-71 photos, many of them made while the aircraft was still classified.
He was a well known speaker, relating his experiences flying the world's fastest aircraft, and was known for a rapid-fire delivery and singular wit. Two of his best stories are these:
[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3xaF1sT90U[/ame]
http://blog.cosmo.org/2011/08/how-slow-can-sr-71-fly.html
I had the privilege of meeting Major Shul a couple of years before he retired in 1990. He spoke to our group of officers at our Military Indoctrination for Medical Services Officers (MIMSO) at Sheppard AFB in 1988, telling us the story of his shoot-down and the medical care he received that allowed him to return to flight status and then qualify for the SR-71.
Fly with the Angels, Major Shul.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/obit...hul-sr-71-fighter-blackbird-pilot-dies-at-75/
...Ben
