SR71/A12 book

[Rubberduck]

As a massive habu fan, i have been itching to get hold of a copy of 'Sled Driver' by Brian Shul for ages.

 

For those not in the Know Brian is a retired USAF Major and a Ex Blackbird Pilot, flying missions over Libya after the F-111 strikes.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Shul

 

Also a founding member of the the first operational A-10 squadron, from wiki :-

He went on to fly the A-7D, and was then selected to be a part of the first operational A-10 squadron at Myrtle Beach, SC, where he was on the first A-10 air show demonstration team. After a tour as an A-10 Instructor Pilot at Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona, he went on to instruct at the Air Force’s Fighter Lead-In School as the Chief of Air-to-Ground Academics

He wrote this book about his experiences of the SR71 and also took most of the stunning photos, he published it and only a few were printed. They go on amazon for stupid money. Far more than I am willing to pay. I check regularly on Amazon for it, and often see on sale for many £££££/$$$$.

 

I checked in January and was very shocked to see a copy for 'just' £73 including shipping to the UK from Atlanta. So click and it was mine :) :)

 

It took around 4 weeks to arrive and I was gobsmacked to find, on opening the book that it has been hand signed by some of the legends of lockheed and the blackbird program.

 

I have signatures from Lou Schalk, Lockheed test pilot, sadly dead now.http://roadrunnersinternationale.com/schalk.html

 

 

Ken Collins http://roadrunnersinternationale.com/collins.html

another test pilot, Robert Galliland http://roadrunnersinternationale.com/gilliland.html

 

And Jim Easthan another test pilot http://roadrunnersinternationale.com/eastham.html

 

To put these guys in context they are contemporaries of pilots like Chuck Yeager, and will appear in any history of Area 51 (the ranch) or indeed Lockheed or the A12/blackbird development program.

 

Just goes to show bargains are available :)

 

If any of you have an interest in the A12/blackbird I urge you to try and get hold of a copy, it really is a great book, however it is very short ( read it in 2 days) but the photography is stunning.

 

You can get the reprinted book from Brian Shul's website but is still I think $400 :cry: :(

Edited February 22, 2013 by Rubberduck
spelling & added a quote

[Invader ZIM]

Awsome find, and congratulations on getting a multiple signed copy. Out of curiosity, did Amazon list it as used with writing inside? lol.

[Rubberduck]

It was listed as used, with shelf wear, nothing about writing or the signatures. It has a couple of lines of text that have been highlighted, again not listed, and I am not complaining lol. The dust jacket is really good condition and no folded pages etc.

 

 

Photo of the signatures :)

Edited February 22, 2013 by Rubberduck
added photo

[Invader ZIM]

Very, very cool!! Thanks for the photo!

[marcos]

I think there's a cool story in it about a mission over Tripoli if it's the same book.

 

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-vetscor/1981814/posts

[KLR Rico]

I checked out Sled Driver from the local library a while ago, I had no idea that they went for so much!

 

It was a great read.

[Yurgon]

Just goes to show bargains are available :)

 

Wow, that is amazing, congrats! :)

[Rubberduck]

I think there's a cool story in it about a mission over Tripoli if it's the same book.

 

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-vetscor/1981814/posts

 

 

Yep although, that story is not in my copy, it is mentioned in passing but not in so much detail. That is I think from the updated/later edition. There is also a story about speed checks over california and the story in the book although similar again doesn't go into so much detail.link below.:smilewink:

 

http://wesclark.com/burbank/sr_71.html

[Rubberduck]

Wow, that is amazing, congrats! :)

 

 

Thanks :smilewink: