Test Flying the SR-71 Blackbird - Episode 65
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Retired Test Pilot Rogers E. Smith recalls flying the final SR-71 Blackbird flight and how a fuel leak grounded the aircraft forever.
In this episode, we discuss his Canadian and American military careers, flying experimental aircraft for NASA, and piloting a MiG-25 at 80,000 feet in Russia. From first to fourth-generation fighters, Rogers has flown nearly every U.S. jet and then some, all without ever attending a formal test pilot school. This one is going to be cool!
Resources:
- Rogers' Website
- Rogers Smith's Bio (Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame)
- Rogers' SR-71 Career Synopsis (NASA)
- SR-71 Fact Sheet (National Museum of the US Air Force)
- Bell X-22 (Wikipedia)
- X-29 Advanced Technology Demonstrator Aircraft (NASA)
Chapters:
Rogers' Website
smithaero.caSR-71 Fact Sheet (National Museum of the US Air Force)
nationalmuseum.af.milBell X-22 (Wikipedia)
en.wikipedia.org
- 0:00Intro
- 1:20Aviation Beginnings
- 2:47Flying the F-86
- 4:32From First to Fourth Generation Fighters
- 5:06How Jet Capabilities Evolved
- 8:58Becoming a Test Pilot
- 9:56Favorite Airplane
- 11:04The Bell X-22
- 12:34The Grumman X-29
- 15:16Joining NASA
- 18:37Flying at 85,000 Feet
- 22:16The Cockpit View
- 23:40SR-71 Research and Testing
- 27:44The Last Blackbird Flight
- 29:40The Russian‑American Flight Exchange
- 36:52Flying the MiG-25
- 37:34Rogers' Advice
- 40:32Outro