Ball Engineer Hydrocarbon AeroGMT Sled Driver Black Stainless Steel

Faster, further and brighter against all odds. Honoring legendary pilot Major Brian Shul, we’re proud to present the limited-edition AeroGMT Sled Driver. With inspiring perseverance, he overcame near-fatal wartime injuries to fly the SR-71 Blackbird – the fastest and highest-flying aircraft the world has ever seen. We’re excited to welcome him into the BALL Explorers Club with a cockpit-ready chronometer that displays the time in three geographic zones. Its beautifully curved sapphire bezel shines with micro gas lights for perfect 24-hour GMT reading in absolute darkness. Ultra-tough and extremely bright, the Sled Driver is built to challenge all headwinds – and charge endlessly forward.

With tremendous speed and stealth, the SR-71 rocketed around the world with virtual invisibility. As a fitting counterpart, the AeroGMT Sled Driver shines with ultimate visibility. Designed for darkness, the tool features powerful micro gas lights that illuminate all three time zone readings – without the need for charging. The 24-hour curved rotating bezel, predominantly used to track a destination city, integrates micro gas tubes below its sapphire surface for remarkable shine. In harmony with the gas tubes on the dial and hands, you can easily read time at a glance – whether soaring above the clouds in dimly-lit aircraft or exploring adverse terrain deep into the night.

From attack pilot in the U.S. Air Force to extraordinary aviator of the world’s fastest plane, the story of Brian Shul is awe-inspiring. While flying secret ops toward the end of the Vietnam War, Shul was shot down near the Cambodian border. Surviving the initial impact of crash landing in the jungle, Shul was trapped inside a fiery cockpit. Just as his helmet visor began to melt, he managed to free himself and crawl, severely burned, from the flaming wreckage. A Special Operations Pararescue team extracted the downed pilot by helicopter from hostile territory, and evacuated him to a military hospital where he was not expected to survive his burns. One year and 15 surgeries later, Shul astonished the military world by overcoming his traumatic injuries and passing every flight physical demanded of him in order to fly again. After flying fighter jets for 10 years, he applied to pilot the SR-71 Blackbird. With a titanium pin in his finger and nerves of steel, he became part of an elite group of pilots skilled enough to fly the famed spy plane. Brian Shul is proof that with the right attitude, all things are possible.


For Brian Shul, the unforgiving intensity of Mach 3+ flight required unmatched precision between man and machine. To this end, the AeroGMT Sled Driver is a certified chronometer with exacting precision ready to prevail in the most extreme conditions. Its trusted accuracy is safeguarded by our special crown protection system – its protective plate covers the crown to shield it from external knocks and to ensure it has been properly tightened.

Around the wrist, our patented triple folding buckle ensures lasting strength, capable of resisting up to 1,400 newtons of force. Its effortless comfort is heightened by the secure butterfly clasp and 22mm extension system for an ergonomic fit with sportswear – or in the case of Brian Shul, a space suit. Its titanium case back pays tribute to the SR-71’s titanium skin, which could withstand the extreme heat of 1,000° F.

A wonder of the modern world, the SR-71 first took flight in 1964 and served for more than 35 years. Respectfully dubbed “The Sled” by some, its design and purpose reinvented what a supersonic spy plane could be and raised the bar for aviation technology. After months of training, a crew of two would gear up in space suits and embark on highly-confidential reconnaissance missions around the world. With powerful jet engines punctuating its fireproof titanium skin, The Sled could quickly exceed 2,000 mph while at 85,000 feet. When in danger, Shul could simply outrace and escape any threat. More than 50 years later, both Shul and The Sled are still an awe-inspiring story.


Movement
Automatic caliber BALL RR1201-C
Chronometer certified COSC

Functions
44 micro gas tubes on hour, minute, second, second time zone hands, dial and bezel for night reading capability
Luminous three time zone indication
Hours, minutes, sweep seconds and date

Shock resistance: 7,500Gs
Antimagnetic: 4,800A/m

Case
Stainless steel
Ø 42mm, height 13.85mm
Bidirectional rotating curved sapphire bezel with micro gas tubes for night reading capability
3.2mm thick dome-shaped anti-reflective sapphire crystal
Patented crown protection system

Band: Tapered stainless steel bracelet with patented folding buckle & extension system or rubber strap with standard buckle