Sled Driver

Introduction
In 1966, I was still in high school. That same year the SR-71 Blackbird was already
being brought on line in the U.S. Air Force inventory. For the next quarter of a
century, this unique aircraft roamed the globe performing its role as an intelligence
gathering platform for the United States. When it was first introduced into service,
it was the fastest, highest flying air-breathing jet the world had ever seen. When it
retired in 1990, the same could still be said.
Working in secrecy, chief SR-71 designer Kelly Johnson, and his team of experts
built an airplane in the 1960s that both mystified and impressed the aviation world.
The end product showed what could be achieved when talent and dedicated effort
were not impeded by constant budgetary constraints. The SR-71 represents the
blending of engineering genius, the willingness to break new ground, and superb
project management. It was impossible to be associated with this aircraft and not
feel the intense pride and dedication which went into every aspect of its
construction.
My association with this aircraft, and subsequent love for it, occurred late in the
plane's military life. In 1983 I came to Beale Air Force Base, California ready to begin
training in a jet I had long considered out of my reach. I knew it was the world's
fastest plane, but that didn't begin to really describe this black machine, this
sensuous design of blended metals and elegant lines. The SR-71 had a lure for pilots
all its own; it had an exciting combination of grace, speed, and danger. It was
affectionately called "The Sled" by those who flew it. Here was a plane with a
mission, and the heart to perform it with impunity.
This is not a story of the making of the SR-71 , nor is it a technical digest of the
many intriguing facts and figures about the plane. (For a comprehensive book
detailing its history and capabilities, I highly recommend Blackbird, by Paul F.
Crickmore, Osprey Publishing Limited, 1986.) Instead, this book is one man's view
ofwhat it was like to fly the world's fastest jet. I never imagined I would someday fly
the SR-71. It was yet another exciting chapter in a life already blessed with many
rewarding experiences.
This is a love story too, because I could not fly this airplane and not love it. I have
purposely avoided certain specifics throughout the text, because they are not the
focus of this story. The reader won't find secrets revealed in this book. Someday,