NASA Test Pilot flew the SR-71 Blackbird

[@MasterMayhem78]

My grandfather worked on the SR-71 landing systems at Beale AFB. I spent a lot of time around this aircraft as a young man. I remember sitting in the hangar on a cold morning around 4:00am not more 20 feet away from it, and not truly understanding what was there before me. Sitting there watching my grandfather work on what he loved. This aircraft is in my family’s blood.

[@atvtinker01]

My dad worked on the radar system in the SR-71s at Beale AFB back in the early 70's. Got to see one up close when he took me to work with him one day. Still amazes me to this day how far advanced these planes were for their time.

[@MrKekus-o3l]

and why some random grandson of worker is allowed to military airbase? that's strange, isn't it?

[@mikefm4]

This video means more than you think. The man is interviewing a guy who flew a jet so legendary it’ll never be forgotten. His own words being recorded for people today and generations long after we’re gone to view. Many thanks

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

...unless we delete the video. 😉

[@BillLeonard-c8s]

Rogers Smith is a legend in his own right!

[@javidjames3319]

What an interesting video and how the story was told Brilliant 👍

[@garysanford9364]

The SR-71 is about as old as I am, and STILL looks futuristic. What a great plane, and a great interview...!

[@truthsayer9534]

The SR-71 is my favorite plane of all time.

[@TheWoblinGoblin]

you just wanted to say that you also look futuristic? 😜

[@flouserschird]

Still looks futuristic because our government spends billions on secret tech the public never sees. We are technologically stagnate decades because whatever they have is way beyond what they want to admit and let other countries know what we have

[@neutchain7838]

Its what happens when you give an impossible task to a group of highly motivated and brilliant engineers and tell them that money doesn't matter, no idea is too wild, get this shit done. The fuckin' thing was leaking fuel at the speeds fighter jets are operating because the fuselage was too cold. When it heated up due friction at high speed, the dilation kicked, the material expanded and sealed perfectly. It was designed for prolonged flights above Mach 3, anything less than that was suboptimal.

[@robpolaris7272]

I wrote a report about it when I was in 5th grade and it was tough to find information about it in 1984.

[@karlmoody4891]

These gentlemen are the real deal, you cannot but admire and marvel at them.

[@samuelblake]

As I watch this, I am nothing but smiles. The reverence the younger gentleman gives "Rog" is heartwarming. I've just now found a new channel to feed my aviation addiction! Thank you for such great content!

[@RealEngineering]

Getting a shout out for our video from an actual SR-71 pilot is wild. We would love to interview with him too and animate some of his stories. We just tested the Hermeus turbo ramjet engine for an upcoming documentary. The power was wild.

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Email the show and let's see what we can do.

[@RealEngineering]

@@FighterPilotPodcast will do. Could be fun to work together on something

[@ianmastin]

@@RealEngineering I'd watch that!

[@garybeasley4885]

I saw the SR71 at the museum in Warner Robbins Ga. It was impressive just sitting still. They had an engine on a stand for display, most complicated thing Ive seen.

[@jadefalcon001]

Oh I am HERE for this collab!! @@FighterPilotPodcast @RealEngineering

[@KeithKman]

I met a lady in Salt Lake City awhile back. I was her Uber driver to SLC airport. We did some small talk and realized we lived in the Bay Area of California, a few decades apart. One thing led to another and she casually asked if I had ever heard of the SR-71 Blackbird. I replied with “the Habu”? Her eyes in the back seat lit up. She told me her husband was the primary physician for the SR-71 crews that flew out of Beale. The ride to the airport was only 25 minutes but she told me some stories I’ve never heard before and I’m sure had not been told outside that very small community of people that worked with the SR-71 program. She was the nicest lady. Never got her last name or anything like that but she definitely was not lying or if she was they were the best lies ever told. 😅

[@richardstoffel6585]

I gotta meet this guy as a kid. He let me sit in one of the SR’s. My mom brought me to work with her. Treasured moment.

[@DanandDonna1]

My dad worked on the SR-71 when it was in the infant stage. I am 71 and I think it's still the most beautiful plane there is. Most exciting for me in my life was to actually see it fly past the crowd that I was in. VERY excited!

[@Name-zd5fq]

infant stage😂

[@cjc1103]

I was stationed at Edwards AFB in the early 90's. Occasionally you would see a SR-71 flying around, but it was rare. Once I was driving to work at South Base in my RX-7 sports car, going south down Lancaster Blvd on the west side of the main runway 05/23 (Rogers dry lake was on the other side) and there was an SR in the pattern. He did a low approach westbound as I was approaching the runway centerline. It just so happened I had the moon roof open on my RX-7, and as I drove under his flight path, he flew right over me, and the SR-71 was perfectly framed in the moon roof for a second. Wow! I was saying to myself that's never going to happen again.

[@hitokiribattousai6406]

Awesome story. Thanks for sharing that.

[@hoghogwild]

Cool story, you say the SR was perfectly framed in you RX-7's moon roof. Well your RX-7 was perfectly framed in one of the Sr's cameras that was always recording directly underneath the bird as it was flying. Someplace, somewhere, there's a video of you and your RX-7 driving around Edwards.

[@hoghogwild]

@@popsracer886 OV-105 Endeavour or OV-104 Atlantis?

[@richardmorris7063]

Unforgettable moment in you're life there.

[@hoghogwild]

@@popsracer886 Wow, just wow taht's awesome . Yes and Shuttle Carrier Aircraft flights aplenty.

[@armadillotoe]

All my respect for the SR-71 pilots and all test pilots. Thank you.

[@MasterMayhem78]

Don’t forget those that kept it running 👍🏻

[@Saabjock]

I could listen to this guy talk about that airplane all day long. He has such a humble approach to it all...none of that 'look at me. I'm an SR71 jock'. You know he is brilliant or he wouldn't have gotten anywhere near that aircraft. This is a rather refreshing interview. Thanks.

[@Spookly063]

That is my great uncle, we call him uncle rogers we used to play together at my lake house when I was a little kid.

[@ProBioMech]

It’s funny for me to see a guy talking about the SR after my time. I was part of the initial shutdown and it was so heartbreaking. The SR coming back for its brief stint was so great to see. Still my most favorite airframe I worked on,

[@Murc_roadster]

I've wanted to see one my whole life. They are so beautiful and I rank it up there with the b17 and the stealth bomber

[@cahg3871]

When you consider the time in which the SR71 was first designed,the fact that it was designed using a slide ruler(no computers back then )and the back story of how the minerals were acquired to build the skin,it is one of the greatest planes ever built and flown.

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

For sure

[@RCAvhstape]

I had no idea Brian Shul had passed away, sad news.

[@jdhiner1]

I just read he collapsed and went into cardiac arrest while giving the sr71 presentation sad

[@SammyTheDitchDoctor]

5/20/23 was his passing. Personal hero of mine and I’m sure many. A true American and example for all of us.

[@AndyRRR0791]

Shul was a better story-teller than Smith, for sure!

[@timb8095]

Oh, shiiiit, that’s no good

[@bobpond6381]

His stories were awesome. Anyone who would criticize look at what he did to get to where he was. He deserved anything and everything.

[@nsxmatt]

Reminds me of my dad who was also in the airforce. The things he could recall with detail from 50 years ago was just amazing. He couldn't remember where he just sat his glasses 2 minutes before but knew the voltage a radar in a f4 took. Just crazy.

[@Matt-jc8rq]

This guy is such a good interviewer. Asks the right questions and let's the guest talk. Great job!!!!

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Thank you.

[@Twinsdad6]

Love hearing Roger's stories with that twinkle in his eyes. Seems so humble about the experiences he's had.

[@Chagenmelon678]

The sr71 is one of those planes I always find interest in. It’s incredible how less than 70 years after the first ever flight the sr71 first flew with capability’s of over 3 times the speed of sound. Definitely the most underrated podcast. Good work!

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Thanks

[@RossNixon]

The top speed reached is very secret. I expect it was about Mach 5, from watching comments on other videos.

[@tolkienfan1972]

I think the SR-71 might be my favorite aircraft. This video is awesome

[@chrisphillips9388]

When Brian Shul referred to the SR-71 as a 57 Chevy, I took it to mean it was a give it gas go fast, stick & throttle, nothing fancy style plane to fly. Many times in his talks, he recognized that it was an engineering marvel. Rest easy, Mr. Shul

[@khb6686]

I didn’t know schul passed away. I loved his lectures about flying the blackbird.

[@chrisphillips9388]

Yeah, May 20th, 2023. Had a heart attack after a speech & book signing.

[@BobbyGeneric145]

His book was waaaaay overpriced.

[@misawajason]

absolutely love hearing these types of stories from those amazing aviators. Great content!!

[@Michael-oy3pz]

Sad news that Brian Shul had passed away, such a great story teller and a fantastic pilot ✈️

[@damienmilk3025]

I agree; very sad news. He died on 20th May 2023 during one of his lectures in Reno. RIP Major Shul.

[@clarkgriswold-zr5sb]

Sad news. I did not know this....

[@ghostrider-be9ek]

@@damienmilk3025 oh geez - but died doing what he loved

[@KSparks80]

I hadn't heard that. RIP, Major Shul.

[@Rogers_Ranger]

Rest In Peace Good Sir , you will be missed.......

[@Philobiblion]

One of the greatest interviews of this genre I have ever seen.

[@jeremywhite164]

What a great interview. So quiet and reserved all the way through. Great story telling ability.

[@jackmehoff6302]

I grew up in palmdale ca. Moved there in 1985. I used to watch it come in to land at plant 42. Ill never forget those blue flames coming out the back. Also louder than any plane ive ever heard

[@ShamileII]

Wow....these interviews are amazing! True grit is what these pilots are made of!

[@ChrisMcCutcheon-wj2pp]

His generation, great people, smart people, we didn't learn near enough from them, all of them, lived thru the 30s, and ww2, wish I would have paid more attention, RIP, God bless,

[@Bluelagoonstudios]

Bryan, RIP, he was a storyteller, that's for sure, but that wasn't the message he brought, the story was never take something for granted. If you work hard and believe in something, you get your goals. The SR71 story's and pictures were his passion, but a lot misses the message. You guys knows this, to become a fighter pilot it's hard work. If I'm in a bad period of life, I watch that episode and it makes me feel I'm ready again for challenges in life. For me, it is the most effective motivation keynote I heard, same as that retired admiral, almost the same message, but from another point of view. Our younger people should listen or read more about such things, in place to hang around with their smartphones.

[@kenwarren8049]

Great story. Magnificent airplane.. I was at Edwards 1966-1968. SR-71's were a normal part of the scenery. I have been in love with the airplane ever since.

[@JoJubjub-kx8lp]

I had a toy one as a kid, i took it out one day and lost it, 35 years later never forgot loosing it, its the dumb shit you remember, but yeah, mad fast aircraft, i freak going over 50 in a car🤣

[@usaturnuranus]

I was a 9 - 10 yr old kid living on a ranch several miles out of Acton during this same period. Never saw any of these incredible aircraft, but a lot of other, very fast and very loud state of the art planes flew pretty low over our house and gifted us with massive sonic booms. I loved it, Mom and our animals not so much. I still miss the high desert and all its unexpected surprises and wonders, both natural and man made.

[@RepomanFPV]

I was at Oshkosh in 1997 when that happened. Even though we weren’t able to see the sonic boom, just hearing and seeing it pass over the field was a sight in itself. So cool to finally see the pilot who was flying that day!!!

[@dennisholder8427]

I remember it as well.

[@GeorgeJansen]

A must get audiobook. Flying the sr71 blackbird, by Richard Graham. (detailed history, pre plans, pre flight, aircraft prep, preflight, strap in, engine start, taxi etc etc) Thank you for your service, sir

[@coma13794]

Have the book, absolutely concur.

[@thilde007]

Free on audible..score!

[@docohm50]

I was 18 a few weeks from turning 19 when I arrived at Beale AFB at my squadron the 9th AMS. I was a avionics technician. Our shop did the inlet schedule on the SR-71. The inlet spike is locked in place

[@perrylc8812]

I still think the Bird is the sexiest plane ever built.

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

🎯

[@Carrera6rennsport]

I was lucky enough to see an SR-7 depart from Norton AFB, this was at their annual airshow in the late '80s. We got close enough on the ramp to see it weep, dripping fluids from its mid-section. They waited until the sun was falling to head back to Edwards. With the summer sky turning different colors, under full military power they went skyward. what a sight--and sound!

[@fourfortyroadrunner6701]

Couple of these passed through NAS MIramar in the 70's I was an ET-R2, maintained GCA RADAR and TACAN. Our shop was way out about 7K ft down off the taxiway. Got to see one take off at dusk into the sunset, the standoff rings from the engines are absolutely the most thrilling sight in the world.

[@klausphx]

Miramar 70s-90s home of more F-14 Tomcat Squadrons than any other Base.

[@michaelpavlovich2241]

Amazing. I saw that SR-71 flying along Lake Michigan as it approached Mitchell International in Milwaukee. I was so transfixed watching it fly, having been a military aviation buff my whole life, knowing just by seeing I was watching a plane few ever get to see, I had no idea about the emergency unfolding in the cockpit. It was given a couple seconds of attention on the news that evening.

[@mrgcav]

Yo are very lucky. When was this ?

[@skinnyb8230]

​​@@mrgcavAugust 2, 1997. I was at the airshow in Oshkosh. They really minimized the issue. All I remember was something about how it couldn't make a supersonic pass because of a fuel leak and that was pretty much it.

[@keithbrown9198]

I got to see the SR-71 quite a bit both as deployed aircrew at Kadena AB, Okinawa and RAF Mildenhall, UK, then as a controller at KMCC, Sacramento, just 25 miles south of Beale AFB. They would routinely do a three leg pilot pro hop from Beale to McClellan to Mather and back to Beale. Once, on a low approach, we got a call at the tower from some colonel on the base that was at a boy scout jamboree on the northeast corner of the base asking if we could have the SR-71 overfly the campground. Well... he did... and OMG, the s**t we all got from that!! Then just before they retired it in '91, I was almost about to discharge myself, Aspen 35 came in for the usual low approach and on the go I told him to switch to departure and he said, "We'd like to do a VFR pattern to another low approach." I was flabbergasted. "Aspen 35 roger, make right closed traffic, report base." I HAD AN SR-71 IN MY VFR PATTERN!! Wowee wow wow wow. I'll never, ever forget that.

[@MattH-wg7ou]

Dude I would pay good money to see an SR71 pull closed!

[@bikebudha01]

I used to be at the public beach at the end of the runway at Kadena. Every once in awhile an SR-71 would take off and fly over us. Fantastic experience...

[@keithbrown9198]

@@MattH-wg7ou I would've too! But I didn't have to and I got paid instead! Once in a lifetime. It was surprisingly not a wide pattern either, and the SR-71 as I understand was not a pussycat to fly either, but I could be wrong about that.

[@siphiy8428]

That’s so cool! I live in Arden Arcade, about a few miles from McClellan airport. Small world 😂

[@keithbrown9198]

@@siphiy8428 Yeah, I know where that is, and I don't know how long you've lived there but I think there was a Tower Records there I used to go to all the time. I lived in a lousy apartment in North Highlands. 🙃

[@hoghogwild]

12:08 The J-58 required JP-7, not JP-8, as stated, to attain max speeds. Jet fuel other than the special JP7 (turbine fuel, low volatility) could be used, but lower Mach limits of M1.5 would have been enforced. In an emergency, ANY tanker, not just a KC-135Q could plug into the Blackbirds, in order to prevent the loss of the aircraft just in case a Q suddenly became unavailable.

[@richardgreen7811]

You are correct. JP7 was the only fuel for the RS-71 (trust me on the name) for it to achieve its performance numbers. Unstated is that the KC-135Q was a specialized tanker equipped to dispense JP7 due to its considerable viscosity. That fuel also required TEB (Triethylboranein) in order to start since the ignition point of the JP7 is so high.

[@AzrealMaximus]

​@@richardgreen7811 Correct with all, especially the actual designation.

[@richardgreen7811]

Knew about JP7 but not JP8. Also knew about TEB. I so much enjoyed listening to the Sled-Drivers WAR Stories at Beale AFB (Yuba City, CA). I only went to their PUB because the lighting was conducive to reading my Bible during the evening hours.

[@miker20]

Wow seems from outside looking in that this guy is an entirely different breed from the other fighter guys… seems like he has a greatest of all time persona about him… love it

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

A true gentleman.

[@MrOleskool69]

In 1974 I went to HS in Eastern LI. Every now and then I would see an SR - 71 on the tarmac. I always wondered what it would be like to fly one of beautiful birds. Thanks for some small insight.

[@gr8crash]

Eastern LI?

[@thrayne]

Love hearing Roger's stories. I have always loved the SR-71 and remember going to Wright Patterson to the Air Force Museum back in the 90's and when my family and I came out they were towing in the Blackbird. Getting to see it before it became a museum piece was such a treat and I still go to the Museum of Flight here in Seattle to check out the one they have.

[@tomwilson1006]

I was at the Museum of the AF on the day their SR-71 flew in to become a museum piece. I was a kid at the time but what a sight! And the sound! Watched it do a couple of low transitions then finally a full stop. Amazing would be an understatement. There’s plenty of videos of it here on KZbin.

[@jwmart69]

Back in the 90s, I lived in Cincinnati and we went up to Wright Pat and they had a SR-71 and engine on display in an annex away from the main museum. And since it was in the annex, there was about 5 people in there. You could literally walk around the 'bird and touch it (they asked you not to, I'm just describing how close we could get to it). The plane was amazing. The next time we went up, they had it in the main display with a barrier around it and you couldn't get 6 feet to it.

[@billmyers6003]

I was fortunate to attend Oshkosh in 1997 and saw the flyover before they had to land in Milwaukee. It was great to finally hear the first hand account of what caused the problem. Needless to say, the skill of these guys to manage that situation so well was incredible.

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

For sure 👍

[@sb859]

in Dec 1992 I was at Palmdale for a week as part of the B-2 program. We drove down a taxiway past the Lockheed building with the big Skunk on it, an there sitting inside a gated fenced facility were two SR-71s with all their remove before flight streamers and engine inlet covers. They looked pre-flighted and ready to go!

[@dcarts5616]

I got to see the SR-71 fly at an air show in Las Vegas a while back. I think they were retired again shortly after. It was indescribable.

[@daffidavit]

Can you describe it?

[@dcarts5616]

@@daffidavit hahaha!! I’ll try. Later. Haha.

[@robertkensler2156]

I can remember when the SR program started at Edwards we were attaching our parachutes to the back of the SR 71 and riding our skateboards and Mack 2.5....whata thrill!!

[@gr8crash]

Arrived at Edward's Dec 1964.

[@politicsuncensored5617]

Some aircraft just catch your imagination "Like Wow". To me the SR-71 & F-14 are two of those aircraft. We are so lucky to have pilots who flew these aircraft share their stories. Mr. Smith has lived a life that I think many boys and girls dream of. Shalom

[@peterplotts1238]

Unassuming, matter-of-fact, and never boastful, this is what true excellence looks like.

[@afargreencountry6324]

This is not what I expected. Being American I was expecting nothing but criticism of Russians and Russian aircraft but I could listen to this guy all day. Great.

[@arizonawut]

He’s 80 and not wearing glasses. Dude must have had insane vision back in the day.

[@jedisdad2265]

One of my great joys was meeting Daryl Greenamyer who was a pilot for Lockheed in the very early days of the YF-12 and SR71 project.

[@caringguy32]

I have preached for the original SR-71 to come back for an air show, It would be great for society now. The speed of this plane would make adults now a days, shit themselves, I saw the SR fly in CA mid-late 80's I was young, the sonic boom is awesome, it makes a person feel alive.

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Right? I mean, the U.S. Government is only $33 trillion in debt, what's another few hundred million?

[@svwhippoorwill3599]

I was fortunate enough to have worked the J58 MRO floor on a separate project. Those engines were amazing.

[@davidshettlesworth1442]

Thanks for a great interview. Some great history. This bird was designed and built during the days of slide rules.

[@marksamuelsen2750]

In the mid 1970’s I was in the USAF and had a Top Secret clearance. I first heard of this aircraft I was sent out to Beale AFB and in the desert to remove rolls of film from the aircraft and hand carry that film to a Air Force photo processing facility. Typically I was sent to SAC headquarters at Offutt AFB in Nebraska. I would go to the processing facility and hand deliver the film and get a signed receipt and start over. It was a very interesting time of my life.

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

I bet!

[@FOH3663]

Very cool ... what were the formats? Some type of cartridges?

[@adventuretarian8191]

This is just about the closest one can get to hearing an actual Jedi speak... WOW!

[@jeffwarner2266]

So much knowledge and experience

[@fuzzybutkus8970]

He doesn’t even know he’s a bada** as humble as he seems. What a pilots dream.

[@javabeanz8549]

I remember being in the AFJROTC and getting to visit Beale and see the SR-71s close up. And by close up, we got to look in the cockpit, red security panels in place of course. We got to see the pilots suiting up, and saw the simulator, but not as close as the planes themselves. I believe that was during the Beale Airshow in 1978.

[@jvander115]

It’s sad that a generation of badasses is almost gone!!!! These guys were brave dudes who have done some wild shit , I could sit and listen to his stories all night…I bet he has some good ones.. Just think these guys developed the most badass plane we have to date still!!!!!!!!

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

You should check out the entire interview.

[@randyrizzo615]

Quite a few years ago, 1977. Was employed by Gates Learjet, instructor/demo Captain. Had the pleasure of seeing one of these in flight. We were in a Lear 35 at FL410 over Wink, TX inbound to KDAL. We could hear ATC talking to a military aircraft at FL390 looking for higher. ATC broadcasts simultaneously on VHF/UHF, but we could only hear the VHF side of the transmissions. ATC then gave us a traffic advisory, "724 Golf Lima, an SR 71, one o'clock, 5 miles, FL390". And about as fast as you're reading this he went from a speck on our right to one on the left, crossing right in front of us. As soon as the controller had separation, the next transmission was his call sign followed by, "cleared to FL600 and above!" (FL600 is the ceiling for controlled domestic airspace) We watched, saw the glow of the burners kick on, he pitched up, and was gone! What a kick to fly something like that! We inquired as to his speed, "Sorry, that's classified!" That woulda been '77 or '78 thereabouts.

[@mikeh.753]

It's so amazing how fast all of the difficulties were solved at a time when slid rules were the only computers they had.

[@klausphx]

I still have my Bosch Slide Rule

[@roadie3124]

@@klausphxMine's an Aristo Studio with log log scales. I've still got the little plastic desk stands. I don't use it in action any more, but I occasionally bring it out to give it some love. 😄😉

[@brettbuck7362]

The way that works is to limit yourself to analysis and design work that actually matters, rather than attempting to use massive random calculation with a computers to just "hope" you get the important cases.

[@mikeh.753]

@@brettbuck7362 well said.

[@yamahajapan5351]

Slide rules are calculators not computers…

[@ibbylancaster8981]

Rest in peace Brian. I hope you are soaring high. 🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@nivekkrg]

Brian Shul was a great guy . Easy to talk with .

[@travkatz]

I watched one take off from Edwards while we were driving North on 395 in what must have been 1979. One of the darndest things I'll ever see.

[@christorrence1114]

I was fishing one day, and my buddy looked up and said, "That's an odd airplane," I looked up and instantly recognized it as an SR-71; I'd known they had revived a few for NASA; good lord, when the sound hit us, it was incredible.

[@mwales2112]

Was able to watch them start, taxi and takeoff from the hard stands where they parked our C-130s across from the SR hangers at Mildenhall.... Very cool aircraft...

[@TheMonkdad]

So enjoyable watching an interview of someone who exudes quiet dignity. The people today are more about creating as much drama as humanly possible.

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

🎯

[@jayski9410]

Sounds like the LASRE engine research he was talking about was the Areospike engines that are supposed to be more efficient at all altitudes than traditional bell nozzles. I had no idea the SR-71 was involved in that.

[@FM-ou1wu]

Why has KZbin been hiding this type of fantastic content from me

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

🤷🏻‍♂

[@poindextertunes]

From LA to NY in a little over an hour. wow

[@pmh1nic]

He is a piece of aviation history. Great interview!

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Agreed, thanks!

[@jcheck6]

You might want to interview Ed Yeilding who holds transcontinental speed record in the SR-71 when it was delivered to the Smithsonian Institution's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center. Former RF-4C/airline pilot. He is the most unassuming person you could meet.

[@scootertooter6874]

Got a Rogers Smith war story. I was an Air Force 1st Lt. at Whiteman AFB, MO (ICBM crewmember)...and in early to mid 1985, my crew partner and I had just gotten off of 24-hour alert. Our assigned Launch Control Center (LCC) was unique, in that it was the ONLY operational Minuteman LCC that was located on a base itself (the remainder were dispersed around their respective bases). As a result, we drove past the flightline on the way home, and one morning, we noticed that there was a very nice-looking NASA F-104G parked on the ramp just completing refueling. And the pilot, who was just coming out from base ops, was none other than Rogers Smith. He was very gracious and let my crew commander and me walk around the airplane and gawk at it. "Hey Boy" was the name in small stenciled letters under the windshield...but I don't remember the tail number. As we drove away, we discussed how Smith seemed the epitome of "The Right Stuff"...Sounds like we were accurate in our assessment!

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Great story!

[@tr5317]

Great to hear the Oshkosh story, I was there that day with my son on my shoulders watching the flyover. Fun to hear about being diverted to MKE and the 128 ARW.

[@bubbafatas2588]

Every pilot who files these extreme aircraft are so controlled and methodical with great temperaments. Young pilots should pay attention to these men and how they conduct themselves!

[@Aeneas137]

I saw one of those SRs that was being transferred to NASA on flatbed trucks when they drove through Redding on I-5 and stopped nearby. I don't remember the year but I want to say it was around 1991. and one time as a kid fishing on englebright lake and SR flew low over the lake right over us. of course that's just a few miles from Beale.

[@rjacosta1070]

The SR 71B model is on display in Palmdale plus the engine is on display plus other Aircraft I spent at least two hours walking around it's free. Amazing

[@gr8crash]

Palmdale doesn't have a B model on display.

[@codymoe4986]

Great interview, great stories...got yourself a subscriber. Thanks...

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Terrific. Welcome, Cody. 👍

[@timw4369]

I met the two twin bros that flew the sr-71 amazing guys.

[@marajgarage]

What were the pins?

[@Aircrewinterview]

Great interview! Love the Tornado patch over Rogers left shoulder also.

[@shawnpugh6052]

I live in Tehachapi which is close to Edwards and Palmdale and I went to school with an astronauts kids. His name was Bill Dana he flew a lot of machines but on the top of the list was theSR-71 and the X-15. Loved his stories

[@wesleyhitchcock4414]

I had been privelidged in 1977 to get a 45/50 minute ride while stationed at Kunsan AB in Korea. Can you imagine doing your "turning to base" landing routine to an airstrip that is 75 miles away🤔...mindboggling🤣

[@tigertiger1699]

🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏 have watch so many times, always pick up new stuff😂👍

[@mattwaters6987]

Great interview and story. Thx for sharing!

[@dennisholder8427]

I talked with an SR71 pilot at Oshkosh. Asked him how long it took to get from to Oshkosh. He said 45 minutes and refueled twice. Once after takeoff and once enroute. Amazing!

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Where was he coming from, England?

[@dennisholder8427]

@FighterPilotPodcast sorry, left out coming from Beal AFB in California.

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

@@dennisholder8427 Huh, two refuelings from CA to WI? Interesting.

[@dennisholder8427]

@@FighterPilotPodcast apparently wasn't topped off when he left. They leak fuel like crazy when on the ground and until friction heat seals up the tanks.

[@jimhrn8522]

Its nothing short of a miracle he made that far, let alon fly again, and the blackbird no less. Look for the story on his rehab. This is known as" a tough s.o.b.❤

[@ringmasterjeb3453]

Much respect to a guy who simply had "THE RIGHT STUFF"

[@dawsoncanfield5386]

Wow. Thanks for the nod to Link Aviation in Binghamton, N.Y. Ed Link started the company for pilot training in the second World War. They made simulators for a lot of different aircraft.

[@flyingwyoming5184]

Looking good Rogers. I enjoyed working with you at the DET.

[@v1-vr-rotatev2-vy_vx31]

Fantastic video,, spent time at San Diego Air & space museum listening to SR-71 pilots, had some hair-raising stories.

[@williamcollins4373]

Excellent video. Sir What were the "antenna -like probes on the engines ?"

[@filthykumdumstr7190]

I remember when I was 8 or so the sr71 flew over mesa,AZ and crom that point on I loved planes and the sr71 blackbird

[@fi2ks]

7:31 just curious, how would one fly and not land??

[@jesusfon5619]

Robins AFB has a full SR-71 indoors at the museum, you can reach up and touch a wing tip.

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Glorious.

[@zapfanzapfan]

Pin the landing gear? In case the landing gear collapses without hydraulic pressure from the engine?

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Just an extra safety measure applicable to most aircraft.

[@zapfanzapfan]

@@FighterPilotPodcast That is a detail I must have missed and I have watched a lot of Blancolirio, Mentor Pilot, AgentJayZ, AVweb etc.

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

@@zapfanzapfan 🤷🏻‍♂

[@zapfanzapfan]

@@FighterPilotPodcast Learned something new today at least.

[@agatasoda]

Absolutely fascinating.

[@andyd8370]

Kalamazoo's Air Zoo has one and damn is it impressive. Standing behind the business end of those engines gave me goosebumps. I want to know how many fasteners it takes to hold all the skin panels on- they have like 1/4" spacing

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Pretty sure it's a metric buttload of fasteners.

[@nivekkrg]

J 58 that was in the sr 71 and the A 12 was limited by temperature at the compressor Inlet , temperature was not an issue with the exterior of the air frame melting. It was totally temperature at the inlet of the compressor. This guy should know that.