Brian Shul
Encyclopedia
Brian Shul is a Vietnam-era USAF fighter pilot
and a retired major
in the United States Air Force
(USAF). He flew 212 combat missions and was shot down near the end of the war. He was so badly burned that he was given next to no chance to live. Surviving, he returned to full flight status, flying the SR-71 Blackbird
. Major Brian Shul completed a 20 year career in the Air Force. He has written four books on aviation and runs a photo studio in Marysville, California
.
in Honolulu, Hawaii in 1966 and from East Carolina University
in 1970 with a degree in History. That same year he joined the Air Force and attended pilot training at Reese AFB in Texas.
Brian served as a Foreign Air Advisor in the Vietnam War
, flying 212 close air support missions in conjunction with Air America. Near the end of all hostilities, his AT-28 aircraft was shot down near the Cambodian border. Unable to eject from the aircraft, Brian was forced to crash land into the jungle. After surviving, he suffered severe burns in the ensuing fireball. Crawling from the burning wreckage, he was finally found and rescued by an Air Force Pararescue team.
He was evacuated to a military hospital in Okinawa where he was expected to die. Barely surviving 2 months of intensive care, in 1974 he was flown to the Institute of Surgical Research at Ft Sam Houston, Texas. During the following year, he underwent 15 major operations. During this time he was told by physicians that he’d never fly again and was lucky to be alive. Months of physical therapy followed, enabling Brian to eventually pass a flight physical and return to active flying duty.
Two days after being released from the hospital, Brian was back flying Air Force fighter jet aircraft. 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 in Arizona, he went on to instruct at the Air Force’s Fighter Lead-In School as the Chief of Air-to-Ground Academics. As a final assignment in his career, Brian volunteered for and was selected to fly the SR-71. This assignment required an astronaut
type physical just to qualify, and Shul passed with no waivers.
Shul’s comeback story from lying near dead in the jungle of Southeast Asia, to later flying the world’s fastest, highest flying jet, has been the subject of numerous magazine articles and an inspiration to many. A significant part of him distinguishing himself for prime assignments was that he had made an Air Force safety video titled "Sierra Hotel" where he described his crash ordeal in explicit detail, motivating others to be more safety conscious and teaching them how to better survive such incidents.
After 20 years and 5000 hours in fighter jets, Brian retired from the Air Force in 1990. He went on to pursue his writing and photographic interests. In addition to running his own photo studio in northern California, he has authored five books on flying, for which he did all the writing and photography.
His first two books are about flying the SR-71 Blackbird. These books give the reader a first hand account of being in the cockpit of the world’s fastest jet throughout a variety of interesting missions. The books are filled with stunning photos from the author’s personal collection and have become the most popular SR-71 books. Brian’s third and fourth books are about America’s air demonstration teams, the Air Force Thunderbirds, and the Navy Blue Angels
. Again filled with unique aerial images, these books take the reader into the dynamic formations of these world famous teams. Brian is now the only man in America to have flown with both the Thunderbirds and the Blue Angels extensively as a guest in the making of his colorful books. His fifth book is a special remake of his original SR-71 book, entitled Sled Driver.
Brian’s story is unique, and he has been asked to speak at numerous functions nationwide on his varied experiences. His entertaining slide show and dynamic message make for an unforgettable presentation. He has been the featured speaker for medical groups, aviation safety seminars, and air museum programs, and frequently has been a motivational keynote speaker for a variety of corporations across America. Recently his patriotic talks concerning terrorist attacks against America have received national acclaim.
Brian was recently honored as an Outstanding Alumni from East Carolina University. He owns Gallery One, a photo studio in northern California, and divides his time between writing, photography, public speaking, and backpacking in the high Sierras.
Fighter pilot
A fighter pilot is a military aviator trained in air-to-air combat while piloting a fighter aircraft . Fighter pilots undergo specialized training in aerial warfare and dogfighting...
and a retired major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
in the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
(USAF). He flew 212 combat missions and was shot down near the end of the war. He was so badly burned that he was given next to no chance to live. Surviving, he returned to full flight status, flying the SR-71 Blackbird
SR-71 Blackbird
The Lockheed SR-71 "Blackbird" was an advanced, long-range, Mach 3+ strategic reconnaissance aircraft. It was developed as a black project from the Lockheed A-12 reconnaissance aircraft in the 1960s by the Lockheed Skunk Works. Clarence "Kelly" Johnson was responsible for many of the...
. Major Brian Shul completed a 20 year career in the Air Force. He has written four books on aviation and runs a photo studio in Marysville, California
Marysville, California
Marysville is the county seat of Yuba County, California, United States. The population was 12,072 at the 2010 census, down from 12,268 at the 2000 census. It is included in the Yuba City Metropolitan Statistical Area, often referred to as the Yuba-Sutter Area after the two counties, Yuba and...
.
Biography
Brian Shul was born in Quantico, Virginia, in 1948. He graduated from Radford High SchoolAdmiral Arthur W. Radford High School
Admiral Arthur W. Radford High School, known as Radford High School, is a public high school in the City and County of Honolulu, Hawaii, adjacent to the Halawa CDP.-Admiral Arthur W. Radford :...
in Honolulu, Hawaii in 1966 and from East Carolina University
East Carolina University
East Carolina University is a public, coeducational, engaged doctoral/research university located in Greenville, North Carolina, United States. Named East Carolina University by statute and commonly known as ECU or East Carolina, the university is the largest institution of higher learning in...
in 1970 with a degree in History. That same year he joined the Air Force and attended pilot training at Reese AFB in Texas.
Brian served as a Foreign Air Advisor in the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
, flying 212 close air support missions in conjunction with Air America. Near the end of all hostilities, his AT-28 aircraft was shot down near the Cambodian border. Unable to eject from the aircraft, Brian was forced to crash land into the jungle. After surviving, he suffered severe burns in the ensuing fireball. Crawling from the burning wreckage, he was finally found and rescued by an Air Force Pararescue team.
He was evacuated to a military hospital in Okinawa where he was expected to die. Barely surviving 2 months of intensive care, in 1974 he was flown to the Institute of Surgical Research at Ft Sam Houston, Texas. During the following year, he underwent 15 major operations. During this time he was told by physicians that he’d never fly again and was lucky to be alive. Months of physical therapy followed, enabling Brian to eventually pass a flight physical and return to active flying duty.
Two days after being released from the hospital, Brian was back flying Air Force fighter jet aircraft. 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 in Arizona, he went on to instruct at the Air Force’s Fighter Lead-In School as the Chief of Air-to-Ground Academics. As a final assignment in his career, Brian volunteered for and was selected to fly the SR-71. This assignment required an astronaut
Astronaut
An astronaut or cosmonaut is a person trained by a human spaceflight program to command, pilot, or serve as a crew member of a spacecraft....
type physical just to qualify, and Shul passed with no waivers.
Shul’s comeback story from lying near dead in the jungle of Southeast Asia, to later flying the world’s fastest, highest flying jet, has been the subject of numerous magazine articles and an inspiration to many. A significant part of him distinguishing himself for prime assignments was that he had made an Air Force safety video titled "Sierra Hotel" where he described his crash ordeal in explicit detail, motivating others to be more safety conscious and teaching them how to better survive such incidents.
After 20 years and 5000 hours in fighter jets, Brian retired from the Air Force in 1990. He went on to pursue his writing and photographic interests. In addition to running his own photo studio in northern California, he has authored five books on flying, for which he did all the writing and photography.
His first two books are about flying the SR-71 Blackbird. These books give the reader a first hand account of being in the cockpit of the world’s fastest jet throughout a variety of interesting missions. The books are filled with stunning photos from the author’s personal collection and have become the most popular SR-71 books. Brian’s third and fourth books are about America’s air demonstration teams, the Air Force Thunderbirds, and the Navy Blue Angels
Blue Angels
The United States Navy's Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, popularly known as the Blue Angels, was formed in 1946 and is currently the oldest formal flying aerobatic team...
. Again filled with unique aerial images, these books take the reader into the dynamic formations of these world famous teams. Brian is now the only man in America to have flown with both the Thunderbirds and the Blue Angels extensively as a guest in the making of his colorful books. His fifth book is a special remake of his original SR-71 book, entitled Sled Driver.
Brian’s story is unique, and he has been asked to speak at numerous functions nationwide on his varied experiences. His entertaining slide show and dynamic message make for an unforgettable presentation. He has been the featured speaker for medical groups, aviation safety seminars, and air museum programs, and frequently has been a motivational keynote speaker for a variety of corporations across America. Recently his patriotic talks concerning terrorist attacks against America have received national acclaim.
Brian was recently honored as an Outstanding Alumni from East Carolina University. He owns Gallery One, a photo studio in northern California, and divides his time between writing, photography, public speaking, and backpacking in the high Sierras.