Rogers E. Smith: the Test Pilot who flew Everything (ep. 172)

[@0MoTheG]

Thank you for putting these people on film as long they are still available.

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

You’re welcome, thank you for acknowledging

[@astircalix4126]

Argentine Air Force Pilot here. I'm impressed by Rogers' humble anwers. There are several sharp and meaningful quotes to highlight; I will add most of them to my future test pilot presentation but, I will keep this one for me *"I wanted to be a test pilot because I love my uncle"* This statement has really impressed me.

[@oleran4569]

Oh my! Mr. Smith has actually lived (at lease a quite excellent version of) the dream. I could listen to his stories for days!

[@bazwabat1]

Wow what an interview! And this man has certainly learned what it takes to be a test pilot for one but also a leader. A fascinating career and the number of different types he's flown is mind blowing.

[@davefost]

Wow.. I could listen to Rogers for hours...

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

I hope two will suffice for now.

[@davefost]

@@FighterPilotPodcast 2 amazing hours! And to be fair, I could listen to any of your interviews for hours and hours! ;-) Thanks for such great content. Love the new video format too!

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

@@davefost kind of you to say 👍

[@jonathanbrooks9768]

​@@FighterPilotPodcastfor now? Does that imply he'll be back on?

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

@@jonathanbrooks9768 never say never

[@jbarvideo12]

I watched this interview with Rogers 2 times and loved every bit of it. I shared the video with my churches pilots (including a former Navy pilot, who retired and she is now an American Airlines 777 Captain - she loved the video.) and prayer group. Amazing, wonderful interview. - I also shared Brian Schul's (the "Sled Driver") videos. I noted that Rogers spent 1 month studying the SR-71 A-1 Flight Manual and using the simulator. Brian Schul said is took him 4 months.

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Mr. Shul flew operational missions, Mr. Smith flew test.

[@parkburrets4054]

I had the privilege of working on a project that followed. The skunk Works approach of small dedicated teams. It was an absolute joy.

[@brouse3274]

I don't know how this podcast could get any better. But you always find a way great episode greetings from Iowa

[@rostamr4096]

As an aerospace engineer and a pilot, I truly enjoyed this episode. Thank you

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

You're welcome!

[@zacharycoleman8905]

I’m trying to be like you my friend! Thank you both Vincent and Mr. Smith for a great video!

[@FlyboyTed1972DCI]

Brian shul

[@dutchbrotherfan1284]

I so missed this podcast. Thank you for the hard work and time you put in. Let’s do this!!!

[@rostamr4096]

Great discussion on the Soviet/Russian design. I wish you could bring him back to talk more about the design philosophy of Russian aerospace engineering.

[@dmacpher]

Hear hear

[@kennethkatz8278]

Excellent episode. I got to know Rogers at SETP/SFTE in Dallas in 2013. I also heard him speak at the recent SFTE symposium that he mentioned in the interview. Really nice guy and a legend in the field.

[@xb6261]

51:45 I had a picture of it on my wall as a kid too!

[@kirkdavenport7185]

Worked with this fine fellow at DFRC from 1987 until 2001, including on the entire duration of the SR-71 program there.

[@badmandontdance]

Great story. Love history, I was only 3 years old in 1987.

[@BulletproofPastor]

“Maybe sometimes you can have too much.” Brilliant observation. My wife trained as an RN. Setting up an I.V. drip can be done manually and it is taught in school but never practiced in the field. Very soon you become dependent on the machines and forget the fundamentals.

[@Spinner1987CH]

Great interview! Rogers is a absolute great guy and I was fortunate enough to work with him. He is just such a humble person!

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Rogers with an 's'! 😉

[@bearcat729]

I knew a guy just like him. Was a pilot but really an Engineer. Always was how can we get this to work better? Thank you so much. Was a walk down memory lane. Appreciate.

[@josephkrause3531]

I was the flight line sweeper operator at Edwards from about September’89 to May ‘90. Got to see a lot of the aircraft that Mr. Smith got to fly back then! Excellent interview! Thanks!!

[@matthewmcgee]

Great flying stories! Rogers needs to write a book or two.

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Believe he is considering just that

[@ronrutten5889]

Great interview. You forget to mention Eric Brown. Flew 487 different planes and 2407 carriers landings.

[@toomanyhobbies2011]

That comment about HR rings a bell. I worked in engineering for years, after having done research at a few places, one of which was CalTech. My first day was amazing: my mentor told me to get my keys from "HR", two people who's entire job was to make sure we had everything we needed with a minimum of "interference". Only experienced this once in my succeeding career.

[@MitchellFX5]

Subscribed almost instantly after watching the clip of him talking about the SR-71. I love hearing stories from fighter pilots. Looking forward to watching more of your podcasts.

[@ApolloVIIIYouAreGoForTLI]

Rogers, I promise absolutely no one thinks you're bragging or living in the past & I think I speak for all of us here when I say we're happy to hear about your career & what it may teach others.

[@AndrewSmith-bf9sl]

Great comment

[@zz4748]

First episode ive seen. This popped up and what a treat. That man is a legend!!!!

[@chrisfullwood6643]

Dude is a legend. He needs someone to document his memoirs.

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

We are working on it

[@toomanyhobbies2011]

@@FighterPilotPodcast Very good. Let us know when it's ready. Be glad to proof read it. LOL

[@hunterr1ar727]

I second this. An amazing pilot and Man.

[@walkerdb84]

Amazing man and role model, thanks for interviewing him and sharing this for all. For the record, the NASA F-8 is one slick looking machine!

[@nu_foz]

Thank you very much, Mr Smith & Vincent. One of the most awesome and humbling interviews on this channel so far :)

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Thank you. Rogers is the man!

[@vspecnurr34]

Absolutely awesome, all the episodes are really good, a pleasure to listen to. Thank you very much for all your hard work in bringing amazing stories to the listeners 🙏👌

[@tetreaulthank4068]

Cannot thank yo enough for putting Roger on your channel !

[@RWBHere]

British Royal Navy test pilot, Captain Eric Melrose "Winkle" Brown, flew 487 different types of aircraft, including Russian, British, American, Italian and 53 German types, one of which was the Me163 rocket fighter, and the three German jet types which were used in WW2. That record includes only the basic types, omitting variants. Therefore the total number of distinct models he flew was well over 500. His record is unlikely ever to be broken. He also held the record for being the first person to land a twin engined aircraft on an aircraft carrier, the Sea Mosquito. To do that, he had to stall it onto the deck. Another record he held is the greatest number of carrier landings; over 2,400. Brown was a personal friend of Ernst Udet and Hannah Reitsch, before and after WW2. It was Udet who encouraged him to learn German and to learn how to fly, in 1936. The BBC featured him on radio and TV a number of times. Some of his BBC interviews and several of his speeches are available on KZbin.

[@jfc213]

yes what a man rip captain brown they should make a movie of his life ???

[@ModocBenny]

The early guidance for the bombers was called GEE and used two overlapping radio signals to make sort of grid squares they could use for reference by judging distance from the signals.

[@jasonwooden]

What an amazing life. Very fortunate and humble guy. Guessing he's the only one to have ever flown both the SR-71 and the MIG-25?

[@fntsmk]

Great interview Jello and Rog! What an amazing story / carreer! Thanks for the great content!

[@JohnFarrell-jo2sw]

This guy is and has been living the dream his entire life and he is still contributing to the development of aircraft and testing of aircraft and he still has so much to offer

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

True.

[@colinsmith8584]

One of the most amazing guys you have ever interviewed! I've been listening for about 3 years. Col Smith o7 Sir!

[@petrairene]

Hey, you have recently passed 100k subscribers! Congrats!

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

🙏

[@onebravotango]

I learnt the importance of checklists in aviation and the need for meticulous attention to detail, even in the face of unexpected situations. Thank you for sharing

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

You're welcome.

[@hollywood84660]

This was a great episode. Especially as a fellow Canadian who is currently working on my CPL it was super cool to hear his stories.

[@ottobyte]

What a legend. He epitomises the cool/calm intelligence that tells me I would never be able to do what he has done. Simply amazing.

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Thanks. The guest wasn’t bad either, huh? 🤣

[@ottobyte]

@@FighterPilotPodcast😂 You Jell-O are the legend of all legends!! 😊

[@craigh1790]

These guys were, are and will forever be my true heroes. Absolute cowboys with bottomless courage facing the unknown. Aviators of the Cold War, from the golden age of jet aviation when technology was rapidly changing, but where man and machine were still one. To have lived such a life...the stuff of my dreams.

[@conlethbyrne4809]

Beautify said.👍

[@martyvasquez4286]

I was working in ops engineering at Dryden 1990-92. He took for a memorable ride in the T-38 just before I left to go to Air Force pilot training. Fun was had!

[@peteorengo5888]

I had the privilege to fly out of Edwards in the early 90s. It was a great environment to be in and the highlight of my flying carrer. NASA still had the F8 and F104 at the time and on any given day you could see F104s flying chase on the SR-71. Some of the test programs going at that time included the B2, YF-23/22, X-31, X-29, C17, and T-45. Chuck Yeager was hired as a consultant by Northrop-Grumman (where I worked) on the F-20 program. Company press releases reported that he had evaluated the airplane and he endorsed it in a Northrop commercial. I saw him several times on the flight line wearing a flight suit but can not confirm weather he flew the airplane or not.

[@GeorgMumelter]

Truly excellent interview. I still wonder if he was the SR-71 pilot we got a talk from at my University at Munich, aerospace department probably around 2005+- . At least the EADS Munich ties speak for it. We had X31 and Hypersonic research going on iirc. I just remember the SR flight manual was still locked away back then in my departments library 😊 Cheers, Georg M ;)

[@richardgosling2427]

Yes agree could listen all night, what a interesting man!

[@MrLeewsee]

This guy has REALLY done it all!

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

🤩

[@garyjones6914]

Thank you Gentleman! Riveting interview!

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

You're welcome!

[@bryanhall6581]

What a great interview and what an amazing life!

[@michaelmesolellaesq]

Legends. I wish this country would champion its values like it used to. Pioneers, people to look up to. Men and women that change the fabric of society we inherit from them. These people mean so much !

[@xm8553]

But, we have the Kardashians… what more could we need? Jk. Totally agree. I do think people still value all that stuff today. Over 400k + people watched this video

[@michaelmesolellaesq]

100%!

[@Hexchromerisks]

wow... great peek behind the curtain! thanks!

[@markusanderson1517]

Great discussion. Thank you, both, for a wonderful interview.

[@richardmoser6051]

Great podcast, thanks so much for this interview.

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

You’re welcome 😇

[@supersixmikeohimod]

great interview and what a guest - so detailed and sharp still at his age (he didn't bring it up so I won't either but he don't look his age at all). proud to be a fellow canuck.

[@tigertiger1699]

🌹🌹🌹🌹 he reminds me of our Ww2 dad.. looks so much like him.. and his personality/ face expressions…, his lack of self centred-ness/ ego…. An absolute hero to us🙏🙏🌹🌹

[@fixpedalboards1969]

I grew up in Acton then Palmdale (i’m old enough to remember when the skunk works hanger was where they made L10-11 Tri-Stars) we saw SR 71s so often we would just take it for granted you’d be out at PE or something in there it would be. I only saw the space shuttle piggyback once I’m not sure if it was an Enterprise training flight or if it was Columbia returning to the Cape. I know it’s not cool to say you live in Palmdale, but just for the aviation alone, I wouldn’t trade my childhood years for anything. Great Podcast!!

[@unl0ck998]

I can listen to this man for ever.

[@mathieumouraud]

What a fantastic interview ! You're a great listener, and what a guest ! I subscribed !

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Thanks!

[@112abba211]

Absolutely delightful! Thank you for this one.

[@mxcollin95]

Amazing to catch and interview like this! Good job Jello!

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Thank you.

[@VictorLopez-cu6qn]

I really enjoyed this episode. Tip Top.

[@wayneroyal3137]

Describing the X29 breaking apart… “so that was REALLY unusual!!!” Awesome

[@davewest54]

Ever heard of Eric Brown? He tops all of the names you mentioned!

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

I have, and it wasn't a contest.

[@tpbh46]

Chuck Yeager most certainly flew the F-20 in the 1980s. There is an actual video of him in the F-20 on KZbin.

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

I knew CY did, just wasn't sure if he did at the China Lake airshow.

[@sharoncassell9358]

I met chuck Yeager in person at McGuire AFB in 1982. Air show. Blue angels too.

[@recoswell]

I can remember being at Grumman on long island with my dad when Chuck Sewell was taking the x 29 down the runway over and over (just short of takeoff) He said the airplane was dying to get in the air, but Riverhead was not the place for that. Met him a few months later at the mall, his grip could crush your hand without even trying. Was sad to heard he passed in a crash..

[@richardbriscoe8563]

Fantastic interview! Thank you.

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

You’re welcome!

[@Alvaro_Vela]

I’d love for Jello to have Pail from Growler Jams in this podcast! Make it happen!!

[@indy500tabasco8]

😊great interview. Seen all of these birds @ Wright-Patterson AFB Dayton😊

[@farner01]

Amazing story. "Take you work serious and don't take yourself serious".

[@DeclanHiggins__]

I'd love to see a show on the T-45c Goshawk Trainer!

[@sheacd1]

Glad to hear about x29, my grandfather built those things at Grumman.

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Nice.

[@dmack1827]

Brilliant episode.

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Thanks.

[@RuiPlaneSpotter]

Nice

[@LTVoyager]

Ben Rich ran the Skunkworks following Kelly Johnson. Both his book and Kelly’s are well worth reading.

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Need to add them to my list.

[@shannono6051]

Great guest and great interview! It may have been interesting to also have one of your test pilot / engineer hosts too. Just a suggestion I'm not complianing.

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

They don't live here in San Diego.

[@0MoTheG]

14:00 They build a stable aircraft to behave like an unstable one? That is awesome! They need one that has a dead time for training against PIO.

[@kennethkatz8278]

Those variable-stability can do that, and they can also vary control force gradients. Outstanding tools for both training flight testers and testing new flight control laws in the air.

[@menotadog]

Amazing interview!!!

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

🙏

[@ronaldmarshall4054]

Great Interview.

[@reginaldmaisonneuve7594]

Excellent guest.

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Thanks.

[@aveightr1]

Who is/was Ben Rich? Not just “the inlet guy”. He took over the Skunk Works after Kelly Johnson retired. Widely recognized as the Father of stealth.

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

I need to get smart on him.

[@Triple_J.1]

@@FighterPilotPodcast Ben Riches' Book, Skunk Works, is a fantastic read with many great stories and anecdotes.

[@dmacpher]

@@Triple_J.1phenomenal book

[@tacticalmanatee]

Amazing video. What a great man.

[@parkburrets4054]

On the night before the the 50th anniversary, Yeager gave a talk to family and friends at the Essex hotel in Lancaster. The sound system played in the lobby so I got to listen in. I saw him flying the next day (from Mojave) in a three ship formation (the third plane was for pictures, I guess).

[@macfly4649]

thats crazy he is from Dawson Creek!!!! Just became my local hero!

[@billyhighfill]

I like this guy. Thanks for sharing this wonderful video!!

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

You’re welcome!

[@JasonAGregg]

Best episode EVER! Just wish he had said a bit more about the F-104.

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Check out episode 104.

[@JasonAGregg]

@@FighterPilotPodcast I’ve watched it, twice I think, but Mr. Smith’s perspective would have been really interesting, as he was flying it operationally for NASA long after it was out of service in the Canadian and US military. Plus he was wearing one on his hat, not the SR-71!

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

@@JasonAGregg true

[@acefox1]

I saw the F-20 do an airshow demo at Pt . Mugu in October 1984. It’s possible your China Lake memory was from 84.

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

That would be around at the right time

[@KaoticFdr1]

What is an "on start"?

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

An “unstart” is an engine malfunction unique to the SR-71.

[@Triple_J.1]

The SR-71 inlet spikes are carefully designed to capture the supersonic shockwave generated by their points. The spikes translate fore and aft to bring the shockwave which is shaped like a cone, up to the outer lip of the engine intake. This shockwave is captured and bounces around a certain number of times, ending in a normal shock (perpendicular to engine face) and the air is then subsonic for the engine compressor blades to function properly, the air is also extremely dense and hot, its about the same pressure as at sea level when at mach 3.2 at ~ 85,000'. (Where air pressure is only around 3% of sea level pressure). So, the inlets capture the extremely high static head from high speed and bring it down to subsonic velocities before the engine compressor blades ingest it. An "Unstart" is due to the inlet spikes not being in the prefect position allowing the shockwave to enter the inlet at the wrong angle, messing up the pressure-recovery, and "un-starting" the inlet, which reduces thrust in the blink of an eye and makes the pilot think he was probably shot down. The inlet spikes were very accurately controlled, but the tempura causes them to grow over time due to expanding metal/materials. And also, flying thru pockets of air that is colder or hotter. (lower speed of sound in cold air changes the mach-angle and causes the shockwave to widen and miss the inlet lip). This is per certain SR-71 pilots and engineers or specialists who theorized about what was causing it. And un starts were never fixed.

[@KaoticFdr1]

@@FighterPilotPodcast ah, thank you. i wasn't sure what he said. After a quick google of "unstart", it's like a backfire from the J58 that causes a quick violent yawing of the aircraft, like someone jerked the steering wheel to one side of a car.

[@AdrianBlakey]

Amazing - I hope I am as vital as Rogers at this age.

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

🎯

[@erietrain]

As a kid I watch the X22 at the Buffalo NY airport all the time.

[@macedk]

There are kings and then there is this guy.....woaw

[@chrischamberlaine4160]

Great first hand history. The questions I wanted to ask. 1. What was the worst aircraft he flew. 2. Was there any aircraft he looked at and did not feel positive about flying it.

[@Clouds_2914]

You really need to get Chris hadfield on here now

[@richardstoffel6585]

I gotta fly the x-29. X-31, f16, f18, at Dryden NASA in the 90’s. Awesome to know this guy was using them too…

[@jasonbewley4776]

Does anyone know what happened to the tomcast on KZbin I can’t find it anywhere

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

We took it down on the previous channel, but it returns to this channel in September

[@jasonbewley4776]

@@FighterPilotPodcast thank you for the quick response

[@29LiveZ]

I'd love to hear an interview with Norman Ken Dyson. He also flew the x-31 but also was instrumental in the Have Blue (had to bail out) and Tacit Blue programs. Edit: sorry, I just read that he is no longer with us.

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Any idea how to get ahold of him?

[@29LiveZ]

@@FighterPilotPodcast unfortunately, I've read he's passed away. On the other hand, Tom Morganfeld would be an awesome interview.

[@kennethkatz8278]

@@29LiveZ Unfortunately you are correct.

[@crusader5989]

What he said about the AF A330 over the Atlantic…so true. That accident is haunting to say the least.

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Such an avoidable bummer.

[@crusader5989]

@@FighterPilotPodcast indeed! It is very easy to seat back, cup of coffee in hand and talk about what could have been done. But Rogers is right, they should!ve taken a step back and watch, what was going on. The plane would have told them. Such a pity. My respects to the the of them. Being in the cockpit is not easy.

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

@@crusader5989 true.

[@RexALot247]

Great interview! Do you know or can you find if the super sonic anniversary flight in '84 or '85 with the dark green F-111 (on the deck, 10-12' off the ground) had Chuck Yeager in it? I was there, about 50 yards away. I was either 9 or 10 depending on which year it was. I was unaware that the man himself did ride alongs on those and was curious if he was on that one. Thanks

[@VLove-CFII]

I could listen to Mr Smith forever

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

💪

[@jamesbruce1183]

Tremendous video. Thanks. What about Spacex? What do you think about how they do their development?

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Rats, should have thought to ask him that.

[@jamesbruce1183]

@@FighterPilotPodcast Don't feel bad it was a great interview. I had not heard of him before. But I agreed with everything he said. That pilot's ego thing especially.

[@RobsNeighbor]

I wish I would have all the stories of my Uncle Hans building his plane. Wait, I have the pictures! I will tell the story from at the time of a 10 year old. Thank you for sharing these stories

[@Zone5Aviation]

Surprised about the reaction when Brian Shul was mentioned.

[@MidnightAspec]

OMG! Started watching as I was settling in for the night…..needless to say, short on sleep by about two hours. Oh well!! 🍿