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Sled driver
First published 1991 · 168 pages
Strap into the cockpit of the world's fastest jet for an exhilarating, firsthand ride to the edge of space.
What it feels like
Reading this book feels like sitting at a bar with a legendary aviator who is eager to share the secrets of the sky. The pace is brisk and exhilarating, mirroring the sheer speed of the aircraft it chronicles, yet it frequently pauses to marvel at the majestic, silent beauty of the stratosphere. Shul's prose is a masterful blend of technical precision and poetic reverence, capturing both the grueling physical toll of wearing a pressure suit and the transcendent joy of outrunning missiles. The mood shifts seamlessly from the high-stakes tension of hostile airspace to the warm, humorous camaraderie of the pilot community. It is an absolute delight for aviation geeks, history buffs, and anyone who has ever looked up and wondered what it feels like to touch the edge of space.
- Mood
- exhilarating
- majestic
- tense
- nostalgic
- Tone
- authoritative
- passionate
- awe-struck
- humorous
- earnest
- Pace
- brisk
- Themes
- limits of human endurance · technological marvels · military camaraderie · romance of flight · pushing boundaries
- The writing
- Engaging, conversational, and highly descriptive, blending technical precision with the poetic reverence of a true aviator.
- The arc
- Moves from the grueling, humbling rigors of intense training to the transcendent, awe-inspiring majesty of flying at the edge of space.
- Who it's for
- Aviation enthusiasts, history buffs, and anyone captivated by the sheer romance and extreme engineering of high-altitude flight.
Content notes
- military conflict
- high-stress situations
About the book
No aircraft ever captured the curiosity & fascination of the public like the SR-71 Blackbird. Nicknamed "The Sled" by those few who flew it, the aircraft was shrouded in secrecy from its inception. Entering the U.S. Air Force inventory in 1966, the SR-71 was the fastest, highest flying jet aircraft in the world. Now for the first time, a Blackbird pilot shares his unique experience of what it was like to fly this legend of aviation history. Through the words & photographs of retired Major Brian Shul, we enter the world of the "Sled Driver." Major Shul gives us insight on all phases of flying, including the humbling experience of simulator training, the physiological stresses of wearing a space suit for long hours, & the intensity & magic of flying 80,000 feet above the Earth's surface at 2000 miles per hour. "Sled Driver" takes the reader through riveting accounts of the rigors of initial training, the gamut of emotions experienced while flying over hostile territory, & the sheer joy of displaying the jet at some of the world's largest airshows. Illustrated with rare photographs, seen here for the first time, "Sled Driver" captures the mystique & magnificence of this most unique of all aircraft.
Description from Open Library.
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