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

Rogers E. Smith is a Canadian-American pilot who served in the RCAF, #usmarinecorps and U.S. Air National Guard and spent a long career testing nearly every American fighter (and several Russian jets), despite never attending a formal test pilot school!
00:00:45 Intro
00:14:25 Bell X-22
00:16:50 Heading to NASA
00:27:17 Pure Research
00: 31:54 SR-71B
00: 45:41 SR-71 Fuel Story
00: 56:04 X-29
01:05:39 Skunkworks
01:14:35 X-31 Air-to-Air
01:26:18 Patreon Questions
01:39:37 SR-71 & CIA
02:00:43 Callsign Story
#fighterpilot Podcast
Website: www.fighterpil...
Facebook: / fighterpilotpodcast
Instagram: / fighterpilotpodcast
Patreon: / ftrpltpdcst

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@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 ???

[@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.

[@jkturner55]

Best interview I’ve seen, could listen to Rogers all day! I’m sure there is a lot more he has to share. Please have him on again for parts 2,3,4,5,etc….Great show!

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

@@jkturner55 in fact, we are discussing options …

[@jkturner55]

@@FighterPilotPodcast that’s great to hear! You always do an outstanding job with your podcast. You and Ward Carroll have the 2 best podcasts I’ve found. Always well presented.

[@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.

[@MaverickSu-35]

As an aerospace engineer myself and glider pilot, I've always dreamed of also becoming a test pilot, exactly like this wonderful man called Rogers Smith, just because of the greater freedom of testing things in a plane can offer, yet I've been born in the wrong country at the wrong time. I hope I can do this in the afterlife! Great video. Thank you very much for it.

[@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

[@brouse3274]

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

[@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!

[@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

[@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.

[@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.

[@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

[@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!

[@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!!

[@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.

[@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

[@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'! 😉

[@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.

[@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.

[@jasonsahl4529]

I remember Rogers' interview on the "Supersonics" CD that I had when I was a kid. Great stuff!

[@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!! 😊

[@zz4748]

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

[@tetreaulthank4068]

Cannot thank yo enough for putting Roger on your channel !

[@matthewmcgee]

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

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Believe he is considering just that

[@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.

[@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.

[@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!

[@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.

[@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🙏🙏🌹🌹

[@richardgosling2427]

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

[@xb6261]

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

[@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.👍

[@colinsmith8584]

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

[@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?

[@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 🙏👌

[@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%!

[@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.

[@fntsmk]

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

[@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..

[@MrLeewsee]

This guy has REALLY done it all!

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

🤩

[@garyjones6914]

Thank you Gentleman! Riveting interview!

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

You're welcome!

[@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 ;)

[@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!!

[@wayneroyal3137]

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

[@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.

[@unl0ck998]

I can listen to this man for ever.

[@Hexchromerisks]

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

[@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.

[@farner01]

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

[@petrairene]

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

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

🙏

[@markusanderson1517]

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

[@richardmoser6051]

Great podcast, thanks so much for this interview.

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

You’re welcome 😇

[@jeffreykupetz4930]

For a guy named Jello you have amazing posture 😂 great guest and hope you are well buddy

[@bryanhall6581]

What a great interview and what an amazing life!

[@mathieumouraud]

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

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Thanks!

[@mxcollin95]

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

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Thank you.

[@112abba211]

Absolutely delightful! Thank you for this one.

[@VictorLopez-cu6qn]

I really enjoyed this episode. Tip Top.

[@ronrutten5889]

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

[@SuperEdge67]

Well said. Of course being British he wasn’t mentioned.

[@indy500tabasco8]

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

[@davewest54]

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

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

I have, and it wasn't a contest.

[@sheacd1]

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

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Nice.

[@DeclanHiggins__]

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

[@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).

[@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…

[@Alvaro_Vela]

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

[@macfly4649]

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

[@richardbriscoe8563]

Fantastic interview! Thank you.

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

You’re welcome!

[@dmack1827]

Brilliant episode.

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Thanks.

[@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.

[@erietrain]

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

[@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.

[@MidnightAspec]

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

[@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.

[@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

[@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.

[@tacticalmanatee]

Amazing video. What a great man.

[@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

[@menotadog]

Amazing interview!!!

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

🙏

[@AdrianBlakey]

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

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

🎯

[@VLove-CFII]

I could listen to Mr Smith forever

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

💪

[@AB-qn9cs]

Really interesting abut B. Schul. I got the sense that whilst people have flown the SR in anger, guys like Rogers were the silent brains and grit behind stuff like that and who knew what they were dealing with. The SR71 is definitely not a chevy, it's an ungodly piece of man made American engineering marvel which has and will likely never be made or seen again in our life time unless it is a scramjet with new materials and unmanned.

[@ronaldmarshall4054]

Great Interview.

[@reginaldmaisonneuve7594]

Excellent guest.

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Thanks.

[@conlethbyrne4809]

Simply awesome, I love details & this video with Mr. Smith or Rog is 😍 a living legend & I like a lot of the other comments here, agree. I onder does height make a difference for fighter pilot's? This is the first time I have listened to these stories 🎶. Talent plus skill & a little luck, equals special pilot's, like Mr Smith (Rog). Has my full respect. Never too old to learn & I did today. KZbin Gold. Enough said by me.Slainte, for sharing is caring. Con 😮 ❤🎉

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Thank you!

[@mrsaskriders]

Going to fly there right now in the vision........simulator, better than nothing. 😮 Nice video

[@Clouds_2914]

You really need to get Chris hadfield on here now

[@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.

[@StephenButlerOne]

Dumping 27200litres of fuel. That's an expence and half. Todays price in GDP is £41k

[@tomblack9401]

Roj is a friend and I consider him to be one of my mentors. We worked together on many projects. I have unfortunately lost touch with him and would love to reconnect.

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Email the show and I will be glad to reconnect you

[@macedk]

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

[@Zone5Aviation]

Surprised about the reaction when Brian Shul was mentioned.

[@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