Inside Area 51 | Bill Yoak's Time With Lockheed and Skunk Works in Groom Lake

[@Dronescapes]

Click the link to watch more aircraft, heroes and their stories, missions: www.youtube.com/@Dronescapes

[@Str8murkufool17]

Always knew if a chunky fat Mig 31 could break Mach 3 the SR-71 must beam past that shit!

[@Str8murkufool17]

@My Name is ? shut up goofy

[@EnkiHkc]

😊

[@Paul_Hanson]

Did anyone actually verify this guy's story? Did he actually have the pins and other memorabilia he claimed to have gotten when he was accepted into the Skunk Works crew? He sounds like a teller of tall tails to me.

[@TheChristopher042]

😊😊p😊px I'm😊 PO 😅😊😊

[@raysmith5926]

My Great Grandfather worked for Lockheed skunk works a long time ago!! He was mechanical engineer. He build parts for the SR-71 among others! What’s interesting is my Grandfather was a full bird colonel and he had the honor of actually flying the SR-71!! I have the pictures of him in air flying the Blackbird!!! He served 37 years in USAF He was a brilliant man and a proud officer. God rest his soul!!🇺🇸

[@Dronescapes]

Bless him

[@raysmith5926]

@@Dronescapes thank you and god bless you!!

[@mattdaddy76]

That’s awesome!

[@davidbonnelle]

Ohhhhhhhhh how COOL is that! I am very proud and admire what was done there...

[@mavx318]

Love this. Thanks for sharing and God Bless your grandfather!

[@patyzinowiew1155]

Worked at Locheed in Burbank Calif in the 1980s. Was an electronic installation mechanic. Worked on the stealth fighter program. Moved to Rockwell after that and worked on the B1 bomber program as well as installing electronics on the Endeavor shuttle. Top of the list of my favorite jobs over my lifetime.

[@paul-ie6wi]

Amazing life man, i was just a humble post room guy then went into pest control in London….aint that just as exiting as your jobs ??😂😂😂. 😢…..b1 bomber….endeavor…..that’s so cool 😎

[@lmundiclan]

My dad worked at Lockheed for 20 years as Senior Aeronautical Engineer up till 1973 on the Syealth Bomber. He designed the cockpit and fuselage. Excited to hopefully see him in this . He worked Liaison with the pilots. He died in 1982, I miss my dad.

[@Dronescapes]

👍🇺🇸

[@getbrainseeds]

i had a great uncle worked there on the stealth program also... he was in charge of the coating they used on the outside of the craft, the new stealths he say are sprayed with a final coating made up of a meteorite dust mixture and he said it could withstand temps hotter than our sun, my uncle worked on the stealth program in the late 60s surprising how long the program has been around, he said they didnt use meteorite dust on the coating till later in the program in the 70s... he passed away like 4 years ago so i dont have n ofear letting out what i know

[@Dronescapes]

Bless them!

[@ShiftyRightNow]

I dont miss him.

[@jamiejones6994]

@getbrainseeds LOL when are you gonna 'let something out that you know' though?

[@kevinkelker4371]

That was amazing!!! Enginerring at its finest. Using drafting tables, slide rulers, and wind tunnels to create masterpieces of aviation. Hats off to all those men & women who made this possible.

[@jyellowhammer]

Men

[@Fleetwoodjohn]

Hearing a narrator describe the stats of the sr71 still gives me goosebumps. Kelly was an amazing guy 😎

[@PaulDostie]

My dad worked at the Lockheed Skunk Works for many years in Burbank. He was a Design Engineer. We lived in Granada Hills. Sometimes dad would have to leave for a week or two. We were little kids then and we never knew where he went. Lockheed had a emergency phone number mom could call if she had a home emergency. When Dad would come back from one of his trips he would give us kids silver dollars. I kept them all this time and I still have them. Of course they flew into Las Vegas and then on to a unmarked plane that went to Area 51. It wasn't until 1964 that President Johnson announced the existence of the SR-71. He worked on a lot of things there. One of the things he helped design was a periscope that was operated the rear seater. The purpose of this was to see if the mini SR-71, that was actually a drone, launched properly. The rear seater launched the drone. When I was in Junior high Dad took me to a lecture at the Skunk Works about the shoot down of Japanese Admiral Yamamoto. Yamamoto was the architect of the Peral Harbor attack that started WW2. He was shot down by a Lockheed P-38 Lightning. The pilot's last name was Barber as I recall. He shook my hand after the lecture. When I got back to school I told all the guys that I shook the hand of the pilot who shot down Yamamoto.

[@SolarWarden88]

Did your dad ever mention the supposed Aurora craft? Does he know what it was/is? 😅

[@therabbithole9606]

@@SolarWarden88 Aurora is code name for the new black projects. It's really not one craft, it's many. You want to know something really crazy, they also work with holographic tech, the UFO over Phoenix in 1997 was one.

[@SolarWarden88]

@@therabbithole9606 For sure, and if we take the official narrative of Aurora being "procurement line funding for the B2" being incorrect or a lie, what were the craft(s) of legacy from the mid-80s to the mid-late 90s. What did Chris Gibson see in 1989? Was crashed at RAF Boscombe in 1994? Did we have space-planes, extreme high orbit, operating simultaneously on top of the SR71? SO many questions! lol.

[@badabooms8841]

My dad worked at Lockheed Skunk Works and he not once saw Paul Dosties' dad there.

[@digitalsiler]

my daddy was a sewage technician he knew his shit

[@stubryant9145]

Normally any manager who was this extremely hands on would utterly sabotage anything he/she was involved with. So how did Kelly Johnson pull off this absolute magic? He surrounded himself with dedicated talent, then he actually listened to his people. Imagine that! I cannot think of any other who has accomplished what he did. Much less given his level of control- which is most often counterproductive. Kelly Johnson was as unique as the aircraft he and his teams designed.

[@michaelhilborn4204]

His secret was in getting rid of all the pencil pushers and letting his team get on with the job. Although he watched everyone like a hawk, he was smart enough not to stick his nose into things unless necessary.

[@sarge420]

Great video and acurate

[@billclark5943]

I would say first and foremost he was passion driven. Most everything else worked itself out as a result.

[@PRH123]

hmm, your idea that a "hands on" manager would "sabotage" a project is (please don't be offended) absurd... a hands on manager is what makes projects like this work, or not... Kelly Johnson was the epitome of hands on.... Case in point, space shuttle, hands off managers sitting in their offices working on their PowerPoint presentations... aircraft lost because they were so far from the front line that they thought their wishful thinking could overcome the reality of frozen leaking seals...

[@ME-im3ui]

I managed 5 franchise dealerships for 16 years. It was wild I left when COVID came about. Managing that many people (about 85) was just unbelievably difficult. I'm 38 now and retired thankfully. I don't think I can go back. Kelly Johnson was truly awesome. I live next to the air base at wpafb Dayton Ohio and to see some of their craft is truly amazing. God bless USA and Donald Trump!

[@724bigal]

My grandfather started at Lockheed in 1937 sweeping the floors on the Electra assembly line in Burbank he even said he got to meet Amelia Earhart when her Electra was getting some repairs before she disappeared. He was able to climb to better positions because of a aeronautical workers strike before the U.S. entered the war. He primarily worked on the P-38’s during the war and after Was sent to west Germany to help start the F-104 program the Germans were manufacturing them under license in Germany in the 50’s and 60’s. He also helped customize president Eisenhowers constellation Air Force One. The first 4 engine plane with that designation. He retired in 1972 from the research and development department at the empire plant Burbank California. And miss him very much. George W. Coombs

[@badabooms8841]

sounds like the prequel to Goodwill Hunting.

[@davidbiser7231]

Man, that sounds so amazing. What a life to be proud of. Started sweeping floors and worked his way up. Would love to hear more.

[@sukhoifockewulf]

Does that make you a *_coomer_*

[@efrainrodriguez9550]

We had F-104 on our flight line ready to take for their flights all the time.

[@350z33hr]

Nice fictional storytelling

[@billotto602]

This is the best video I've ever seen that spells out just what an incredible engineer Kelly Johnson was. He was always many years ahead of the men around him. I don't know if it will be possible to ever surpass him. He was a man of vision that surpassed anything from anyone in his profession. RIP sir 🫡🇺🇸 🙏❤️🙏❤️🙏❤️

[@Kenny-z4z7o]

He was good but the best out off the box aircraft designers back in those days came from the U.K. with out them it would have taken longer to break the sound barrier as it was brit engineering that enabled that also the F17 was designed by a Brit designer, the Americans stole all the out of the box british designers from Britain, he’ll look at the v bombers the Brits where flying back in the the 1950 and 60s the designs where light years ahead off the Americans

[@rossmeldrum3346]

I have a cousin who worked at Lockheed from the early 60's until her retirement in 2012. She was a manager over all the working drawings for all the projects Lockheed was working on. She kept them safe and controlled who had access to see or work on those drawings.

[@Simonj2109]

My grandad new a man who new a man that new a man that worked at Skunk works..😅😂

[@Wombats-1]

Imagine being the man who tried calling Kelly out on his advice to improve airplanes. Telling him to make it better if your such a genius, and he comes back to show you what time it is. He was incredibly gifted at engineering that I don’t see anyone ever coming close to again. Modern day computers couldn’t hold a candle to the knowledge he had back in those days. If I could go back in time meeting Kelly would be my top choice to meet. Man he was amazing

[@joeblow8982]

Johnson's Lockheed boss, referring to Johnson's Swedish ancestry, once remarked "That damned Swede can actually see air."

[@spyder6423]

​@@joeblow8982well the fluid mechanics of water and air are very similar so maybe he was good at internal visualization

[@Todaymma]

“He comes back to show you what time it is” gangster haha

[@nightowl5475]

Man, those guys had really cool jobs. I always thought those Northrop Grumman B-2 Stealth planes were so cool. Can you imagine being allowed to fly in one as a passenger. They really were awesome-looking aircraft. You could see how well-made they were gliding in the sky. Makes ya proud to be an American! 🇺🇸

[@christopherjohnson1803]

When you don't have much life left, life imprisonment doesn't scare you as much.

[@ltipst2962]

Nobody should die with secrets. IMO. Nobody. Unless it absolutely undisputedly saves lives. Gangsters think they're cool but imagine the amazing stories lost to time for no reason apart from paranoia.

[@FallenAngel53]

People with nothing to lose are deemed dangerous, too dangerous.

[@johnshelton1058]

Pppssycho and sad too have no legacy..

[@theaccountant465]

Or if you just don’t care because growing up poor you have been looking at life imprisonment your entire life many times before. Problem is they put fund you even tho you’re smarter than all of them. They’re just moving pawns ♟ and you’ve already had them in check and one move away from mate.

[@sarge420]

Exactly. Area51 was the highlight of my 29yr USAF career. Better then Desert Storm & Afghanistan. I'd do it again. I still see things...

[@Wombats-1]

Man how amazing it would have been to meet Kelly before he passed He was a one of a kind genius.

[@ZacVaper]

Bill Yoak did work at Lockheed and he did a wonderful job at moping the floors. He always had a wild imagination but that's why we liked him. He was one of Jerry's kids and if you're old enough, you get the meaning.

[@justachipn3039]

🤣🤣👍👍

[@ronjon7942]

Glad u commented. 10 seconds in, the guy seemed oily to me. Next video.

[@Badmotherfuckerism]

"Bill has been around warbirds and P-51s since an early age. He was a master sheet metal artist and learned the trade many years ago. He started out with a job at Lockheed where his stepfather was working. Yoak progressed and later obtained the highest clearance even working at the famed area 51. He was looking for more and started his own aircraft business. He was an accomplished pilot and began to gravitate towards warbirds. He eventually flew almost every type of single engined fighter."

[@ZacVaper]

@@Badmotherfuckerism Bill is also highly medicated.

[@Wombats-1]

I don’t know man, I’ve watched many interviews on people who’ve worked there, and the things he said line up perfectly with the lingo he spoke of. So he either has a perfect photographic memory of other peoples interviews, or he really did work there.

[@gohan2355]

This video is the holy grail of what little we know about Area 51 and I love it more then I do the u-2 and sr-71

[@ltipst2962]

Very very cool man, I'm very very grateful for his small insight. An obvious team player. He holds resentments for how secretive he had to be but he did an excellent job.

[@TechnikMeister2]

Kelly Johnson said this: "I'm not here to build the possible, but to overcome the impossible." When the first F35s were delivered to our Airforce in Australia, the aircrews and ground crews who had trained in the USA, were told when they first got to touch one, that "Kelly Johnson's dna is in this plane."

[@yourhandlehere1]

And here's hoping someday they finally get all the bugs out after close to 20 years.

[@WorldTravelA320]

No it isn't, the F-35 violated one of his golden rules. "NEVER do business with the Navy or Marines, as they will send you to the poor house."

[@flowers_4_alger-hans]

@@yourhandlehere1 shhhhhh

[@yourhandlehere1]

@@flowers_4_alger-hans Oh right... I meant uh..."get those bugs off the windshield". Haha silly autocorrect

[@flowers_4_alger-hans]

@@yourhandlehere1 thank you. That's better. 👌

[@julesverne2509]

If it weren't for these guys no one would believe aliens exist. Thanks a lot for that.....

[@PatWix-gq1jn]

What aliens? We are all the ones live in space here on God's earth okay. No aliens out in space.lts not true you know

[@seismicwhale5371]

​@PatWix-gq1jn ignorance is bliss huh.

[@kiwidiesel]

​@@PatWix-gq1jnI didn't realize you are a space traveler and know all of what's out there. Must have taken a few fill ups to cover all those millions of worlds😂

[@jamesborden4805]

NO BS HERE! Look at the way the man speaks! Just simple, straightforward and matter-of-factly!

[@JOHNSMITH-dc6lr]

It would be very impressive if he mentioned ANYTHING about antigravity tech, the Philly project or teleport secrets

[@ME-im3ui]

I thought maybe the tr3 would be brought up! (Edit for spelling)

[@timbrown8038]

I was fortunate enough to cross train with Air Force in my time in the US Army Air Cavalry. We spent some nights in Area 51. Many signs of No Cameras/Photographs around the area. Really the most fun was standing at end of runway at Nellis when the Thunderbirds landed.

[@No_ReGretzky99]

I grew up 30 years going to air shows at offutt Air Force Base in Bellevue Nebraska it's sac headquarters so I've seen the SR-71, stealth bomber, f-117 nighthawk, Thunderbirds and blue angels and so many other amazing aircraft the F-22 raptor😅😅❤❤

[@thopkins2271]

I didn’t know this about him. He skirted some rules once and did some tricks over the lake at Boy Scout camp. I know his son Scott who now flies that p-51 behind him in air shows. What an amazing story.

[@johncamp7679]

The sound of a F104 Starfighter is unique, there was an air show at Dobbins AFB in early 90’s and I heard one for the first time.

[@XAPSRxCasper]

My grandfather was a given one of those coffee cups by one of his customers. he even had the SR 71 +3 patch and a picture of five of the SR 71 pilots all signed .He was a barber near Beale Air Force Base ,He cut hair for almost sixty years. So he would talk to a lot of the people that worked out at Beale. They were coming to the shop all the time. So many pictures, signed, autograph,patches, etc..

[@areaone3813]

Wow. Absolutely amazing men of integrity and dedication. There is not much else to say.

[@legacymonument206]

My Grandfather, an aeronautical engineer, worked on many lockheed aircraft including the constellation, U2, A12, SR71,SST and many others.

[@Carrierdlr1]

Kelly was a great man, anyone who goes hands on in production they understand so much more!!

[@Dronescapes]

You are so right Rick 👍

[@BrickWilbur2020]

Just like Elon musk does.

[@samsonian]

I’m not necessarily complaining, but I’m not sure how Bill Yoak figures into this story considering he is only featured in the documentary for a couple minutes prior to over an hour of 100% Lockheed history and Kelly Johnson biography with the company.

[@danfreeman9079]

For 10 years, I worked on every part of all SR-71's and U-2's as the Section Chief of Metals Technology, Fabrication, Maintenance, Repairs, and Modifications. We made them fly faster and safer. It was amazing to be on the early morning launch support. Now I make rings from mission flown titanium parts of the SR-71 Blackbirds.

[@themaincrunch8773]

I took a look at your website! Wicked cool stuff! Would love to be able to afford something one day!

[@missieshainwhitaker9132]

I think your job is pretty amazing,.. which leads me to believe your a pretty smart guy..nothing Sexier than a smart man....

[@bengarrett4182]

How much for a ring?

[@ben-c5t]

Thats a fine work of a documentation! unseen pictures and movies.

[@Dronescapes]

Thank you

[@tkskagen]

Thank you so much for sharing this!

[@noahmac9231]

The most interesting thing about Area 51 is the fact that everyone loves who they worked with while there. Many great minds must be buried in there

[@matbasterson2128]

Could have left Area 51 completely out of the title. It is 99% about Kelley Johnson. He deserves top billing.

[@PawneeStormChaser]

Just found out recently that my grandfather worked on the SR-71. I don’t want to say what his job but I will say that it had to do with the reconnaissance systems (wink wink). Can’t describe how proud I am to be descended from a man of that caliber. I’ve got MASSIVE shoes to fill. He said that he remembered how parts of the engine were plated with gold (not sheets, plating) for thermal conduction and radiative management. Anyhow, hope somebody learns something from that, can’t begin to imagine what we’re working on nowadays.

[@bwmcelya]

I was privileged to work on SDI at the White Sands Missile Range back in the day. It is officially known as: The US Army White Sands Test and Evaluation Command. It was a thrill to see such cutting edge technology unfold in front of me. We still can’t speak of it. Significant dollar fines and likely imprisonment. Crazy business, and they paid me to do it. I would like to have seen 51.

[@stevenf7683]

I still visited White Sands as a member of special projects at LANL. I also got to go to Tonopah for some projects.

[@2FRESH-4U]

I had a friend who’s dad worked at area51 he was a firefighter working on burn pits he got really sick from exposure and retired around 97 he told me what he could witch wasn’t much he told me if he ever could he would tell me the truth but unfortunately he passed away a few years back

[@Starfish2145]

Too bad he didn’t talk before he died. Lots of old timers have done that

[@7071t6]

Dear Bill Yoak, thank you for your Service.👌✌👍😎

[@anchor4067]

I have always knew that the aircraft was definitely capable of exceeding the reported mach 3.4/3.5

[@clearingbaffles]

WoW 4.4

[@stubryant9145]

Engines were toasted after 3.3 or so. Overhaul required after. $$$$

[@speedycpu]

Him saying that breaks credibility with me, big time. Real pilots said they knew one test pilot who did 3.4, then both engines would quit due to shock cone ingestion or some such, so they kept the max at 3.2, 3.3 was emergency speed (missiles coming, etc). 4.4 is a lie beyond belief.

[@sarge420]

I always felt 6 Mach, but the "Aurora" was faster...

[@codered5431]

4.4 mach

[@centralbears3010]

great documentary. I hope America continues to build aircraft and not subcontract with other countries.

[@pauldavis5489]

Kelly was truly a remarkable Engineer and Leader, leaving his mark on many planes and all the teams of creative individuals that made it all happen. Sometimes you just have to watch one of these documentaries to just fathom the broad and extensive affect all of his body of work did for aviation history. RIP Kelly!

[@jfmax2000]

The A-12, YF-12 and The SR-71.. Three of The Most Awesomely Amazing Aircraft Ever Built..and Absolute Beauties 👊👊💯💯

[@skyhawk_4526]

Whenever I see KZbin include a "context" information panel below a video, I know the video is going to be good! (Thanks KZbin - best algorithm ever) 😜

[@southerncharmcreative]

What a dream job, even with all the threats for secrecy. My grandfather was an engineer for NASA and I was always so fascinated by what they do. Imagine working on projects only a few select people are privy to working on- amazing. The technology alone is fascinating

[@mikeet69]

While I like the video the title is a bit misleading. No real discussion of what Area 51 was or is or mention of Groom Lake and ties to the U2, SR-71, or F-117 much less other activities beyond mentioning in the beginning. Actually would probably be better to split video in 2. Beginning interview and a Clarence Kelley Johnson video IMHO. Also wish the upside down SR-71 on pole for RCS testing was shown too. Just my thoughts. Still enjoyed the video.

[@ThePrincessnowy]

Agreed. Misleading title. But great content.

[@b.c6015]

Imagine not knowing about the sr71 in the 60s now Imagine what they have now

[@joshuamontgomery4992]

Kelly Johnson raised in Ishpeming, Michigans upper peninsula. Not far from there is Huron mountain club. Lots of American history in that place, hard to find info on it for a reason.

[@danielmarshall4587]

WOW..... highly classified, CIA, we'll make a film about it, OUTSTANDING. Thank you for this video.

[@kolar]

Something's definitely up at our Groom Lake facility.

[@Badger69-96]

Imagine the feeling from a pilot when his craft just out speeds the opposition,( Me262 ) Imagine the relief from a pilot when his craft out turns the opposition ( P51 Mustang )

[@95EduAce]

People just don't appreciate how iconic and versatile Kelly Johnson was. American aviation, and the World's as well both military and civilian owes a lot to this one visionary.

[@kevinkaatz883]

In the 70s, My dad had a flight school at Burbank Airport - so I grew up on the outskirts of Skunkworks Burbank

[@tommorgan1291]

Worked two one day assignments on administrative issues concerning pay. Found the food great and inexpensive. Inquired about those who actually lived there and found out a lot.of nice inepensive things to do: trap shoot, movies, pool, bowling etc. Biggest complaint was distance from.workers homes. Saw many young security men in brown uniforms but could not tell who they were. Rumors were they were all Marines rotated in and out on short duty assignments. At the time it was no big deal. Just a place where advanced aircraft were flown. Did see a plane take off. After a short roll It shot straight up. Wow!.I thought wow!

[@stevenf7683]

I spent quite a few months there working on a special project for my employer. Family thought I was in Las Vegas but I took a Janet flight to Tonopah on a daily basis except a 2 month period where I was working both DOE and DOD projects at the same time.

[@tommorgan1291]

@@stevenf7683 Back in 1964 Tonopah was an impact range and I know of one tower shot there. What mess dead animals, wounded animals and pigs eating each ! In Tonopah the casino owner would let players see the dealer’s up cards blackjack.

[@stevenf7683]

@@tommorgan1291 I am quite aware of what has happened there. I worked at Los Alamos, Sandia, and Livermore National Laboratories in the past and had a few special projects I was assigned to that had testing done there. I am probably one of a very few people that got to commute by road between NTS and Tonopah Test Range as needed during a 3 month stretch of time. I got to drive between sites as much as needed for the 2 programs that were running concurrently. I think I did a total of 6 trips between the sites on a day once. Boy did my Q and TS-SSBI clearances get used back then -special projects are quite interesting.

[@efrainrodriguez9550]

This video was very well made, thank you very much.

[@Dronescapes]

You're very welcome!

[@Iskelderon]

That's a very exclusive club of people skilled enough that Kelly Johnson considers them worth hiring.

[@Dronescapes]

👍

[@Anzac1]

Dude i love your videos thank you

[@Dronescapes]

Thanks for watching and for the kind compliment NirvanaAndSirens!

[@KeithKman]

There it is! The SR-71 could fly mach 4.4. Incredible!

[@jamesoconnor8932]

YUP, it also says in the flight manual.

[@michaelharris5370]

I’m blown away with the amazing creation of the 71 blackbird and how cool does it look , Hats off to Kelly Johnson and to all the people involved with that epic craft , rip Kelly

[@stevenf7683]

Nope. Fastest it ever went was Mach 3.52 according to Blackbird pilot David Peters.

[@KeithKman]

@@stevenf7683 Did you watch the video you are commenting on? Clearly you didn’t. 😅

[@stevenf7683]

@@KeithKman I did watch it - the plane couldn't handle the inlet temperatures that high. David Peters was an actual Blackbird pilot and says that the fastest it ever went was Mach 3.52 because of an unusual weather event over Murmansk. I, for one, believes a pilot of the SR-71 over someone else's memory of an event that they were not a part of, especially since they comment on the TR-2, which was a British plane not built by Lockheed (The TR-1 was a tactical reconnaissance version of the U-2) . You need to remember that while the plane might have been designed to fly faster, it is still limited to the temperature of the lowest alloy. If that temperature is exceeded, the plane breaks apart in the sky.

[@sarge420]

I was honored to have worked there on the F-117A Stealth from 85-89. I'll never forget, and enjoyed working with my commrades and the Lockeed Engineers. Took polygraph tests every 6mo. TS-SBI

[@Dronescapes]

😯🙂👍👍

[@Horsepower_Stables]

What kind of stuff did you get asked?

[@leonardhpls6]

Waffle

[@JOMaMa..]

My grandfather is Bruce Galt

[@AZAce1064]

People like Kelly Johnson are one in millions. Remember folks he didn’t do it alone, he was a team builder.

[@magicman6739]

Total clickbait. Mr. Yoak says nothing for 8 minutes, then an quality homage to Kelly Johnson.

[@richardbas2948]

I feel sorry for the other people he named! If it's secret, he is not only playing with his own life, but with the wellbeing of all the other people he speaks about! 😔

[@mariano7699]

To be an excelent shepherd is not easy task, that is compensate by huge passion

[@johnmcdonald323]

Impressive story!! How I would have loved to have had a chance to work on aircraft like that!! That was amazing!! What's truly impressive is how the SR-71 was designed and built during a time before there were any calculators!! All that engineering work was done by hand and slide rules!! And then for decades they couldn't come up with another aircraft to surpass the success of the SR-71!! Amazing 👏!! They are now working on an SR-72 but in reality I don't think it will fly much faster than Mach 6.0 which still is truly amazing!! Mach 10.0 I think is unrealistic. At Mach 10.0 that's a rocket not an airplane!!!

[@Ghost1126]

Mechanical calculators have been around since the 1600’s. Commercially available since the 1800’s.

[@AJJordan]

My Father used to change the tires on an SR71 out in Robins Air Force Base in GA. I remember seeing it as a kid and thinking it was the coolest thing ever.

[@AJJordan]

Robins Air Force Base, located in Georgia, was one of the primary bases where the SR-71 was maintained and serviced. * I just learned this today

[@Dronescapes]

It was certainly one of the coolest, and it probably will forever be

[@CHARLESMOELLER-y4r]

I am very proud of those Americans who work at Area 51 today and in the past years. Americans can accomplish anything, most of it benefits all peoples.

[@iloveucupid]

Oh man this video got me going!!!!

[@DanielHill-re2wu]

Mk-Ultra Partical Physics, for jets, teleporting method, shape shifting, to weld injuries/damage

[@tminusnyc2915]

THIS. Is fcking AWESOME. Thanks for the post!!

[@Dronescapes]

Glad you like it!

[@UHK-Reaper]

After the military I worked for General Atomics then Lockheed Martin. Nothing fast but UAV's. Predators, Reapers & Avengers. We as the public as so far behind in tech. If and when any of the tech gets funneled down to the public by way of dual use technology it will still be years. Some pretty cool stuff as far as hardware but to be honest it's so compartmentalized you don't have a full picture by design. But if your curious and stay around and talk to enough engineers you eventually learn it.

[@jeffreyzaleski412]

I can’t believe that I am going to watch this video. PJ DOC MAGOO

[@valentinvetements]

Wow It's great to know that someone is still working and not staying at home and not doing anything, thank goodness that the military graduates with excellent grades and excellent military personnel who know their stuff work in these bases all over the world, we hope that they will also be able to decrease the costs for international management, for global warming and to find water in Africa and in case to be able to have much, much safer and more effective transport in Africa. all over the world in case there are always other countries competing

[@andrewfreeman1714]

I just found out kelly was born in the same town i was born and raised in. Ishpeming, Michigan. I thought that was so cool!

[@til159]

Is there a full version of the first interview ? Would love to hear it.

[@Explosive-Variety]

You all forget Howard Hughes without him you wouldn't be able to fly a AC-130 because you'd be trying to pull on the yolk that was cable driven, wil but we can always thank HH for his innovations to the hydraulic systems and secondary systems to help the pilot navigate such a big giant plane with all that weight. Howard Hughes , Hughes aircraft, started making their first-ever guidance chips, hrl Hughes research laboratories, invented the first laser, as well as the first ION Drive. Hughes's companies also developed the first digital satellite (Direct TV) in space that sent down digital signals for television. All of Howard hughes's companies have been absorbed more or less by Raytheon Lockheed Martin skunkworks as well as GM. All I'm saying is you guys need to remember the greatest innovator the one that had no schooling the one that was beyond his time by hundreds of years. ( Well maybe not that many but you know) . And one more thing Howard Hughes is the only private citizen To ever go head-to-head with the government and win. One last thing. Howard Hughes got so big so powerful with so many subsidiaries.He also to much power (so the government would say) so many companies. The government which now allows other companies to become egotistical giant bottleneck companies that own 10% of this ,& 20% of that. But they made him divest the company and sell off chunks. But now they promote the same exact thing he was doing. Having subsidiaries spin-off subsidiaries. You Americans we Americans need to wake up and stop letting the government screw us repeatedly. You all may be woke but your eyes aren't open. Yes I know this isn't all pertain to area 51 but Howard Hughes practically owned Vegas at one time so yes it kind of does. Not to mention he died in a plane, probably like how he wanted in a plane. Thank you Howard Hughes

[@sukhoifockewulf]

*He also to much power so many companies* Should also be remembered he had 7 inch poop encrusted fingernails.

[@apachedevil44]

Dude you are a flake.

[@laellewis7787]

ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL VDEOS IVE EVER SEEN.

[@Dronescapes]

👍👍🙏

[@gottspeed]

I wish I could upvote this twice

[@Dronescapes]

🙏🙏

[@daveeastern7023]

I like how he points out the seat belts in the chase car are a good idea.

[@JimSchoenwetter]

The original program was code named Oxcart and it was a CIA aircraft designated A-12. The US air force wanted their own version with mods and that was designated the RS-71. The President presented the aircraft and mis-spoke and called it the SR-71. So that stuck. Groom Lake is the name of the actual test area for many classified programs. Saying Area-51 is like using just your house number on your street. There is a lot more there than just Area-51. The CIA will still redact "Groom Lake" on the Oxcart and U2 declassified documents. The U-2 was basically a glider that they then added an engine to. CIA didn't think the aircraft could be detected but they based their info on previous experience with older Russian gear. It turns out that the Soviets knew of every U2 fight and were not happy - until they shot one down.

[@apachetamizha]

The most crucial, highly sensitive and secured govt of USA research centre which is still undiscovered

[@lucashoxie8295]

Great video, thanks for posting

[@Dronescapes]

🙏

[@johnzeszut3170]

Every Wednesday at the Area 51 cafeteria the special is ham hocks with sauerkraut! Umumum good!

[@Chillmax]

The SR-71 holds the 'official' air speed record of 2,190mph or Mach 2.87. Mach 4.4 is 3,349mph. So either a slip of the tongue, misremembered, or, he forgot the official story & revealed the truth by accident!

[@xfiazc07]

At high altitude the speed of sound is lower or less. It holds the record at around 3.2. I've heard with an inlet redesign it could hit 3.7. Mach 4.4 needs to be questioned to be believed.

[@jamesoconnor8932]

mach 4.4 at above 40,000 feet is 660mph x 4.4 =2,904 mph ! not 3349. speed of sound at sea level is 760mph.

[@xfiazc07]

@@jamesoconnor8932 and I've never heard them say anywhere near that fast, and I as given Ben E Rich's book by a former skunk works employee years ago, and there were deff a few minor slips of the tongue in that book, and again, not that fast.

[@stevenf7683]

The fastest the Blackbird ever flew was Mach 3.52 according to David Peter's - a Blackbird pilot. Things in the airframe would melt above that speed.

[@Istandby666]

We moved out to the desert in 1984, after a couple of year's of background checks. I know of 7 guy's (who all owned airplanes at the Mojave Airport) who all were friends and worked at Groom Lake and other bases within Area 51. I would listen to these guy's openly talk about their black projects. I know 2 guys who's job was to hangout at the bar and chat people up to see if they would talk. If they did, they were reported and lost their job. I hung out at base ops at Edwards Air Force Base. Some of the black projects were in the two hanger's to the North. I remember getting to ride around with security and going in and out of those hanger's at night. You get to see some nice new technology. One night I was allowed to sit in the pilot's seat of the B-52, they call Ghost Buster. I remember riding across the new area being built for the B-2. Just towards the North, is another Above Top Secret building's. I'm really glad I had the life I had. These government black programs, gave me a really nice life. Did you work on an aircraft the people nicknamed Grease Lightning? It's not the official name. It's like with Orca. The program was actually Tacit Blue, but the worker's called her, Orca. I knew about all of these programs, because people do talk. Did you work on any Red Hat programs? Like the YF-117, YF-118, or the YF-119?

[@lamont8497]

All that is cool and awesome but what about aliens and there technology

[@Istandby666]

@@lamont8497 None of that is at Groom Lake.

[@lamont8497]

@@Istandby666 oh ok

[@williamwilson6499]

How can anyone be so dumb as to use apostrophes for the plural…

[@RallyRacingVideo]

Really nice post, KrysB. According to your knowledge, was there any Mach 3+ or more black project manned aircraft that was tested or entered operational service in the 80's or the 90's? No need to address it with specific name, just rough question about it. If so, was it tested/flying out of Groom or some other base - Edwards?

[@UHK-Reaper]

4.4.? Maybe the airframe aerodynamically could theoretically do it but I read the engines c.i.t. (compressor inlet temp) could only handle 426c and the maths is 3.3-3.4 ... but hey maybe I wasn't there or part of it. I worked drones, and everything I heard on news about it is b.s. lol. Btw now that the "ninja" hellfire is out we can finally talk about it?

[@stevenf7683]

The fastest it ever flew was Mach 3.52 due to an unusual weather event according to Blackbird pilot David Peters.

[@colmmullins]

Awesome content

[@Dronescapes]

🙏❤

[@dirkbergstrom9751]

Great documentary about an amazing man. Wow.

[@Dronescapes]

Wow, thank you!

[@ottorollin395]

Control through fear, just beautiful 👤

[@stephen11627]

What Mach 4.4 they kept that quiet didn't they? (Wow!) I remember looking at a youtube video in which an ex F111F pilot stated that his plane can hit Mach (+3) officially Mach 2.5. Just makes you think what are the actual speeds modern USAF can achieve. We'll probably find out in decades to come!

[@yagbadshobotski735]

I can’t believe there aren’t more 4.4 comments

[@stevenf7683]

According to David Peter's who actually flew the A-12 and SR-71, the fastest the plane could fly was Mach 3.52 and it was unusual because weather. Above that speed the titanium on the airframe would start to melt.

[@stephen11627]

@@stevenf7683 Yes that may be true, I've never heard that before but was the SR-71 made 100% titanium or was there other secret materials involved. The SR-71 was like no other plane and when Bill Yoak talks about mach 4.4 he was probably talking classified information. At the start of the video he's not sure whether the information he's about to disclose on Area-51 is still classified or not. I'll go with 4.4, they wouldn't want us to know that though would they?

[@7071t6]

I know how he feels, i was given the opportunity to Sell Aerospace alloys, (1998 to 2000) Aircraft alloys and there's times when you get to see Commercial and Military aircraft which is under development ,thus asking questions is the normal thing to do, Boeing, Qantas, Ansett airlines Hawker De Havilland ( OLD GAF Factory ) and the small maintenance bases were my clients. Before that i had never sold any specialised alloys , prior to that sold a lot of specialised engineering supply products, but not Aircraft Alloys ,learned so much, just how precise everything was done in the maintenance areas of the aircraft and mil spec alloys as well was the most fulfilling aspect of selling and discussing with aircraft engineers. 😎👌✌👍

[@scottevers8425]

These engineers and pilots are a National Treasure. I don't think we'll see this level of cooperation and talent ever again. Big money and crooked politicians have ruined it.

[@boredCoy]

Insiders say that when asked to design the best damn aircraft ever built Chuck Norris said, "I'll leave that to Kelly Johnson."

[@ReviewRetroGames]

20:13 yeah that skip doesn't seem super sus.

[@eldavieo]

I’m only a couple of mins in , did he just say the airplane actually did 4.4 ?

[@NguyenTyler-h6c]

I'm glad to know good information.

[@Inazuma68]

First time we hear what the SR71 was capable of. Mach 4.4 is a word 🙌👍

[@stever7638]

@@taproom113 I believe the Mach 4- 4.4 was likely the max design speed based on max airspeed into the spike/inlet.....IF the inlet temps would allow. However, this is likely why the SR-71 had been reported numerous times that Mach 3.2-3 4 and 3.5 on the A12 was due to inlet temps keeping it to these speeds. The thing is, we aren't going to know. There's reasons it's a secret. Here's something to ponder......the advertised speed is Mach 3.2-3.4. Do you really believe that this IS the top speed? If so, then you are naive. These advertised speeds were in books in the mid 1980's, well within the cold war. So, do you really think this was the actual top speed? Come on everyone. That's just the speed they told us.

[@j.d.604]

@@stever7638 Excellent point. That's why ALL technology demonstrators were aiming for Mach 5-6 afterwards. If Mach 3.3 was the top speed, then why wouldn't a new prototype with better stealth at Mach 4-5 be the next step up? Obviously because those very specifications had already been achieved by one of the many versions of OXCART.

[@billpugh58]

@@stever7638 so although they never used this supposed top speed it was available? Lol! And if they did use it then thousands of radar ops through the world know it’s true top speed….but have NEVER talked about it?

[@jamescameron6819]

@Bill Pugh who on earth would believe you back in the day. Not saying your perspective on this is wrong. Just that in 1968 if you tried to tell Tony down at the bowling alley you'd get laughed out. The only people who would care are the ones that would make sure you kept quiet

[@stever7638]

@@billpugh58 No Bill, my point was IF the top speed was Mach 4.4 like he said, it was LIKELY based on airspeed and pressure IF the temps would allow, but as we know, temps play the largest part. As to the rest of your question......why would the US military reveal it's top speed, especially during it's operation? I was simply stating that do you or anyone really believe we the public would know it's true top speed?

[@critter3673]

The Avro Arrow was an interceptor at over Mach 2 in the 50s

[@critter3673]

USA politics/greed ruined the program. They would be scared if the Avro be a threat since it did over Mach 2 cruising.

[@JOMaMa..]

My grandfather worked on the Skunk works SR-71 program and retired from Lockheed with 35 years in. He is 98 years old so this guy is a little young

[@ianandjohnandmaniandreni9323]

That's awesome. You should ask him what he did, find out as much as possible. He must have some amazing stories of his time. There's probably a book in his years there. You could ask him to film it like an interview too if he would?

[@JOMaMa..]

@@ianandjohnandmaniandreni9323 he’s a mechanical engineer and came up with the variable thrust cone in front of engine that move in and out changing the thrust potential ( my layman’s terminology)

[@bogeys1242]

​@JO’ MaMa Inlet spike. Adjustable in and out, to move the shockwave within the engine.

[@solanaceae2069]

Excellent video.

[@DanielHill-re2wu]

A space pod eject seat, on air face one, but black bird!