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.

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.

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

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

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

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. 😅

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.

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.

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

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.

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,

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

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

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.

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!

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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!!!

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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!

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

Great interview and story. Thx for sharing!

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!

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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

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!

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.

Absolutely fascinating.

Awesome video and Interview.

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.

More of this please !

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...

He is a piece of aviation history. Great interview!

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

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🤣

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.

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

These people are never gung ho. Always understated. I had the pleasure to work with a form SR71 crew chief in a quality role and he was first rate.

Wow! I was glued to listening to Mr. Rogers E. Smith's every word when the interview just ended abruptly? I wasn't expecting that? But holy cow, how interesting and what a man and his experiences. He never revealed just where the SR's were stored in those years of retirement but not a big deal; out at Area 51 or simply in a hangar out at Edwards, who knows. But it's very interesting to hear that Beale AFB mentioned. Beale was also the home of the U-2. Beale is in one of the most unassuming and I hate to say it, ugliest parts of northern CA. And a special thank you to Mr. Vincent Aiello, this is the first time I've ever come across the Fighter Pilot Podcast. I will soon follow it!

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

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

Loved to watch the SR71 fly out of Beale.

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,

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.

I have lived in the Milwaukee, WI. area most of my life, I never Knew the SR71 Blackbird landed in Milwaukee General Mitchel Field. General Mitchel would have been very proud.

Call sign “ Jello” gotta love these guys.

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

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!

They decommissioned one at Castle AFB in California which had the second largest AF museum. I was there when it came in. Awesome! Wished he had done a after burner fly by. Still wonder what replaced it. Also that dash trail in the sky was seen on occasion in California so I assume that they got it to work on something.

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

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

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

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!

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

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

How does this podcast not have more subs is beyond me!

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

What a fantastic person, lovley video :)

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!!!!!!!!

The SR-71B being talked about is now in Kalamazoo Michigan at the Air Zoo.

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.

The SR-72 The Dark Star has been flying over Colorado at night for at least a year, you can see it if you don't mind being cold. :)

was always my favorite growing up and I got to see one and actually touch it was an emotional moment for me I was wowed by the texture of the skin wasn't super smooth or slick like I always pictured it to be .

My Dad’s, and thus my, all time favorite aircraft. Thank you for this. I’m curious: I’m at this moment about 50 miles east of Binghamton, NY. What’s in Binghamton that would’ve caused the SR simulator to be located there? Thank you. Edit: please disregard my question. I see that L3 Link is located there.👍

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.

Amazing these guys lived/ worked at the edge… yet no ego… True privilege 🙏🙏🙏

Thank you, Sir, for explaining. My apologies for my tardy reply. Yes, it was a long time ago, long before CGI. While it is likely that all the data traces of the SR-71 remain classified, especially the more interesting missions, it would be wonderful to see CGI renderings. Thank you, may you stay forever young.