U.S. Test Pilot flew Soviet Fighters in Russia
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- čas přidán 21. 08. 2023
- Episode 172 guest, Rogers E. Smith describes flying former Soviet fighters in Russia while a NASA #testpilot in the 90s.
Watch the full interview here: • Rogers E. Smith: the T...
• 172 - Rogers E. Smith: The Test Pilot...
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I am Russian American. Thank you for talking about us in a respectful manner. Rarely happens these days
As a non-Russian inhabitant of the southern hemisphere, I'm in complete agreement with your sentiments. Witnessing how the western countries denigrate Russians in complete ignorance of fact, makes one realise that there is an underlying envy of Russian capability and overall ethos of the culture. Stay strong, knowing that the overall majority of the global population has great respect and admiration for Russia and it's people. 🥃🇷🇺
America doesn’t deserve to have Russian Americans, move back to The Motherland as I did, you’ll never regret it, it’s awesome here! Love from Kaliningrad Russia!
We Indians support Russia no matter what..
We remember the plenty of Support from Russia for so many decades..
@@sayj1625I am glad you did. I really want to move to Russia.
its rare because certain people know they are defeated before they even start,
that's why they need to talk shit.
Champions don't talk trash.
Wow, hearing an American speak so straight forward, no bullshit, no bs, no ego. I am impressed over my head. Amazing guy.
They exist!
@@JK360noscope just not allowed to talk too loud
Most pilots are and I think our image about Americans is based on what we we see on television which isn't accurate
Pilots are real men, not bowshit.
Those are men of the generation of the days long gone🤷♂️
This guy is from the era, when milk was inside the milk and people were inside the people, cheers from Russia.
Nice saying brother!
when men were men and women were women
@@nonaps How is this related to the original saying?
"Sometimes, you can have too much and you forget the basics."
I'll try my best to always keep that in mind from now on.
Like infantry soldiers that cannot dig a competent foxhole and build a stable defendable heavy gun post....
We're seeing a lot of that in civil aviation. Students learn on computerised systems and are taught to always fly the autopilot but when the automation goes down they have no basic experience to fall back on.
Ah yes, Somethings you gotta be thrown to the wolves.
When he said if l was going to war,id like them on my side, That's the way,lve always thought about Russia,also, he's right about technology,, sometimes you might have to much,
That saying summarizes all millennials..
I met this gentleman on a airshow in Belgium a few years ago. Very humble and friendly human being.
Thank you, very interesting story. The last sentence you said was very true " Know the fundamentals" . I my self studied in Moscow Russia ( Engineering), as a foreigner when i saw how and why they do things different and effective I just seat and admire. We is US need to learn a lot of good things from Russia and leave the bad once.
"If I was going to war, I would want them on my side" - did anyone catch that? That a tribute to how good Russian pilots are. Thank you for affording them such great respect, unlike most ignorant and arrogant commentators who are so disrespectful that it is nauseating.
A straight talking American with a great attitude to others - totally refreshing!
One of, if not the, best FPP episodes yet! Mr Smith flew almost ever cool jet that could be flown!!
Awesome, I haven't heard a better interview in years on CZcams. The humbleness of the test pilot, the realness of flying the airplane. Superb! As a pilot, all I can say "Thank you!". And the parting thought - maybe sometimes you have too much - so true. If the pilots learnt fundamentals of flying, a lot of lives could have been saved.... (Air France comes to mind...)
I worked on F-14D and F-18F. I got to check out the K-36D at the school at Oceana. Really impressive ejection seat.
I just listened to this one in the car. Awesome, humble human being. This guy is going up on my Wall of Fame, yet somehow I pictured him with a large, carefully groomed mustache. Thanks for finding him! Great interview!
Yeah right? So humble yet just WOW....
I could listen to him all day and be on the edge of my seat ! This is the best interview you’ve ever had, please get this incredible man on again. Thank you
Same here I'm watching this as a south african 🇿🇦 I'm stunned by this man's humbleness in such big shoes... A rare type of man could almost say he is as rare as a unicorn in 🇺🇸😁
Love the story! We’ll never be on the same side as light doesn’t mix with darkness. Russia will survive and thrive, it always does. Cheers from Russia.
What a beautiful speech... Thank you Mr Smith for sharing your experience!
What a fascinating story teller, you can tell there's so much more detail to each snipoet he spoke to
Mr. Smith is such a humble, knowledgeable and respectful man that can tell some of the most interesting stories ever.
Regarding the Su-27, I notice that it gets unanimously praised from pilots across the world. And now imagining that the Su-35 is an improvement across the board...just wow.
from what I heard and read here in Russia, russian pilots who flew su-35, and who are usually very humble in judging, all say the plane is phenomenal.
What a great down to earth fountain of aviation knowledge. No arrogance, no conceit, a Canadian/US version of Eric Brown ...and certainly no Chuck Yaeger.
When the tree is more fruitful, it stays closer to the ground
The Soviets had a reputation for making aircraft that punched profoundly above their weight class, technology-wise.
What exactly is "punched above its weight class" supposed to mean? Worked better? Flew faster? Didn't break easily? Or, are we supposed to imagine our own interpretation of a trite, overused phrase applicable only to boxers?
@@buckhorncortez It means exactly what you want it to mean so you can explain why it's wrong
@@buckhorncortezmig 31 basically
@@divoulos5758The MiG-31? You mean the plane which has the turning circle of a fully laden bus in the ocean, can't do full speed for more than a few minutes as it's engines tear themselves apart and has become a glorified bomber as all they use it for is to lob missiles at Ukrainian schools?
Many Russian fighters have amazing aeronautical capabilities. I remember the first time I saw a Mig-29 do a routine at the Paris Air Show I thought "This airplane doesn't have to take a back seat to any fighter when it comes to maneuverability." Most people seem to forget, however, that a fighter aircraft is meant for combat, not aerobatics. A highly capable aerobatic military fighter says nothing about it's combat capabilities in modern warfare.
man what a legend! i could listen to his stories for days!
Great podcast thank you, Rogers is an awseome gentleman. I really enjoyed listening to him.
I like what Mr. Smith said at the end: (As maybe you can have too much, and forget the basics). As a mechanic, I could not agree more with that statement especially with the current automotive industry. Car's and trucks have so much stuff on them now days, that people have forgotten the basics of driving and automotive repair work. As when I drive or even ride in my mom's Toyota Rav 4, the thing drives me bonkers with all the beeping it does and with the way the transmission feels like it fell out of the car when sitting at a stop light. And my old Ford truck lacks even a 4th of the stuff her Toyota has on it, which I have to say I really love the spartan feeling my truck has compared to her Toyota.
Yes agree modern vehicles have too many gadgets and are very very unreliable.
@@thelovertunisia The engines and gearboxes are incredibly reliable compared to old models, but all the electronics can be a diagnostic nightmare, with logic defying issues that can challenge even a very smart technician, requiring a lot of time to track down. Unfortunately those guys aren't thick on the ground and often a dealer is the last place you'd find one.
@@deaddoll1361 software glitches are also an issue and unnecessary complexity. For example mechanical injection was almost failsafe, it either worked or broke down but modern ECU can destroy the engine when the sensors give it false info and lead it to react in a catastrophic way.
Pakistanis still doing old school mechanic job, and theyre so expert about it, only using basic tools, try looking it up on youtube about pakistani automotive mechanics
Yep, young mechanics tend to plug in that OBD scanner to find the problem.. just to find "O2 sensor" and the think "need to replace".
Nope, the O2 sensor gives a signal "something not right in the burn proces".
Great interview. What a nice, humble man.
Right? Encouraging to know there are still some left in this world.
Wow…. Incredible piece of history! Thank you.
I could watch this talk for hours. Cheers from Germany!
I like the comment "If I was going to War I would like them on my side" - I am sure that comment went well with the pilots and ground crews that worked with him over there
What an awesome interview!
🙏
That ending part (9:44) is food for thought for aircraft designers.
Soviet engineers were very good, they just always got completely inadequate resources. They could have probably matched the Americans if they had similar resources. Probably exceeded them if the doctrine and requirements wasn't so bad.
@@ArchOfficialI disagree for several reasons:
Russian brain drain from Great War, Revolution, Civil War, Kulak Persecutions, Holodomor, WWII, Khrushchev urbanization, and subsequent decay of their scientific and intellectual class.
Then look at their population being half that of the US, nowhere near the aerospace company infrastructure.
US has multiple flight test centers and weapons test ranges that dwarf anything anybody else has, with 10x the funding.
@@ArchOfficial And in return we would have had to build better fighters. Imagine something like the F-22 back in 1986 instead of 2006. Coulda woulda shoulda.
@@ZboeC5 Yes, the US would likely have been superior due to their better culture. Eastern cultures tend towards authoritarianism, which is not productive in a high-tech world.
its like should kids use calculators on math tests? or do it by hand? both are needed skills
Thanks for another great interview. 😊
Stumbled across this channel when he was talking about the Blackbird but I can listen to this legends stories for days. Happy they’re being documented here for history. So many amazing things people do probably never get passed on.
Don't do a mistake and believe thing's on internet are documented history.
Because if only one responsible politicians see this, and see that it's not suitable for political correctness.
This documented history are being blocked - removed for ever 😢
Unfortunately they have taken control over all media platforms in the west.
very calm when he talk nice to here him talking Great pilot & a gentlemen
Amazing interview!
That right there. Great interview.
Wow, amazing interview.
This was beyond fantastic 👏 👏 👏
That is a great interview. With all the technologies in aircraft design it always comes down to The Basics.
What an amazing account and experience told by an extraordinary pilot and gentleman. I could literally listen to this man for days. Wow.
I do remember watching an interview years ago where a Russian fighter pilots biggest complaint about the F18 was how you buckle into it. He said it was such a hassle.
There’s also an interview on CZcams of a British test pilot who got to fly the Su-27 and had good things to say about it
Goes to show how good the f 18 is if the belt buckle was the biggest complaint!
@@spicesmuggler2452
The Navy has discovered that its new $18.7-million F-18 jet fighter has a serious design flaw that could cause airframe failures after as little as one-third of the aircraft’s intended life, The Times has learned.
Top Navy officials were told of the problem in recent weeks after aircraft tests appeared to show that the defect could ultimately cause the aircraft’s wings to fall off, Navy officials confirmed Wednesday...
@@spicesmuggler2452that actually was his point
@@spicesmuggler2452 I’ve heard Air Force pilots who have flown the f18 complain about the Navy harness’ and buckles
@@louissanderson719I guess they are that way because of landing on carrier
In high school in Australia, I had the opportunity to do basic pilot training back in the 90's, a whole year being tought the physics of flying by a former vietnam vet
I cannot recall if i was allowed a calculator in the end of year test but i still have my manual and recall all the "survival skills" that a pilot must have to be successful
Even flew a cesna 152 as part of the subject, practicing take off and landing, checking the plane before take off including fuel quality, engine, the controls and the wings for ice.
Good habbits save lives, great motto in life
I'll give a fellow Aussie a like.
Kudos to this man for being so honest. RuAF is second to none, especially now with the Su35 and Su57s added to the line up and the Mig31BMs patrolling the skies from above.
have you ever heard of a plane called F-22?
@@VONChrizz Heard yes...will it ever fly over Russian airspace... absolutely not. The embarrassment and publicity of being shot down is bad for sales and marketing.
@@VONChrizz I have heard the US Air Force openly discussing plans to decommission the F-22 Raptor fighter in favor of the next fighter in development. Much older platforms such as the F-15, F-16 and F/A-18 are not only still in service, but are still receiving updates. The Air Force will get rid of the F-22 after 2030 due to the impossibility of maintenance, modernization and high cost of operation .
@@georgemavrides3434 Shot down by what? Russian air defenses fail to shoot down even the cheapest cardboard drones, and you are really telling me that they are going to shoot down a stealth fighter?
@@Gorsky69 Then you may also have heard about NGAD. In May 2021 USA stated that the NGAD will start replacing the F-22 once it is operational in sufficient quantity, with the fielding goal in the 2030s. The F-22 is quite obviously getting outdated since it was developed in 1990s
That was so great! Love this Rogers Smith
Classy gentleman.
A big thank you to Roger Smith for reporting with sincerity...hand in hand, there is so much to do for the good of humanity...
(Rogers)
Goodness.
Great content. This is one for the ages.
Rogers is the man.
Thank you, i grew up in the US my parents immigrated to the us before i was born.
I have visited russia several times and have always been impressed by their hospitality. I am glad to know it wasn't just me that had this experience.
"Sometimes you have too much so you forget the basics" 👍
Wow listening to this from Moscow :)
Absolutely amazing!
not all of us believe the US corporate media's lies about Russia. Some of us know this isn't about conquest, but about the US installed nazi-junta who refused to ratify minsk after 8 years of attacking the civilian population of the Donbas. And I'm sorry for the BS my gov, media and people say about Russia. Hell, if these fascists (they aren't democrats anymore) keep this up, it may be US citizens fleeing to Russia one day.
It was the fallout period in Russia, and the Americans exploited it in every possible way, fortunately for the Russia it is over now. At the same time it was pleasant and interesting to listen to this gentleman.
What's this supposed to mean? The west as a whole acted lenient and remained hopeful for years. Did you specifically refer to military aircraft?
@@bjorsam6979 It means exactly what it is supposed to mean, not more and not less. Russia was opened for collaboration for more than a decade (1991 to early 2000s), but the West was arrogant and blind, exactly as it was after defeating Germany in WW1, the result is widely known: the advent of Hitler and WW2. Tough times and they created tough and competent leaders, who poured enormous money into defeated axis nations and rapidly transformed them into allies. During the last decades western leaders were and are somebody between clueless and clowns (look at von der Leyen, Trudeau or our friend Joe) and missed the window of opportunity. There is no way to go back now (btw, fortunately).
As to military aircraft, despite tremendous difficulties in 1990s, Russia managed to keep competencies in this field, it has hundreds of newly built Su-35 and continues developing Su-57; yes, they have some weaknesses, however in general , both of them are outstanding pieces of engineering. At the same time, just imagine what would have been achieved as the Soviet Union, not just Russia!
@@bjorsam6979 Do your own research on that topic.
@@jamesharris9816 Anyone who researches anything will find it's complete nonsense to suggest Russia was in any way exploited. They could have focused on internal development (sorely needed even today) and mutually beneficial cooperation but instead went with kleptocracy and weird imperial ambitions that believe several independent countries are actually their property for some reason and whatever agreements they signed earlier aren't worth the paper they were written on. They consider themselves to be what's left of the Soviet Union rather than a new independent country that was once a part of the Soviet Union. Looking backwards instead of forewards - the leadership that is. Most Russians don't share those priorities but are indifferent to things they cannot change.
Yep, they really did
Wow, i live here, in Ramenskoe, near tsagi
Marvelous presentation could listen to this pilot for hours.
Be sure to check out the entire episode if you have not already.
I was in Paris - Le Bourget in this occasion..
I remember my thoughts while observing the scene: "Can he be so crazy to make a roll at such low speed?"
Then I saw Anatoly jumps out of the plane and we all thought he was dead because only the extractor parashute was fully deployed..
In the evening, we saw a smiling Anatoly on TV with a cast or bandage on his right arm..
Finally we knew that he slipped on the very tall grass in the corner of the airfield, the tall grass and the rain fallen the previous days, saved his life..
( Contrary to TV videos, the fire of the crashed plane was very small.. )
This could be 4 hours long and I would still be enthralled.
The whole episode this segment is taken from is over two hours
@@FighterPilotPodcast That would be 2 hours well spent.
Wow I listened to every word quietly. The Russians are indeed intelligent people.
They invented the periodic table, electrical transformer, radio, television, helicopter and I'm sure many others that I'm missing. Maybe they're a bunch of drunk bear herders, but apparently they still sober up occasionally to manage a space and nuclear program.
"Maybe sometimes you can have too much and you forget that you need to know the basics" .... so true
Thank you for such insightful talk. Really a 'breath of fresh air' perspective on Russian military aviation, hugely balanced view and much respect.
Some heavy duty stuff here. Had to watch it twice to take it all in, outstanding FPPC ❤️
💪
Airmen are a special breed and the respect for each other for being part of the same breed tends to go beyond nationalism.
Someone sharing the same passion as you, facing the same challenges as you, you don't care where they are from.
I have special respect for highly talented and capable individuals who remain humble.
It's easy to buy the narrative that one need to be arrogant and self absorbed to be among the best, then comes someone that proves them wrong.
Awesome 😀👍
I could listen to this man without end...
Then I recommend the full episode
excellent vid
Thanks.
Really was a pleasure to listen to a real decent human with integrity and humilities!!, We all are human no mater what part, what languages, races, etc..., at the end we all from mother earth with %99 exact same DNA!!, so stop the hate and give love a chance then you will see a big smile from the big (Boss)!!
Damn! That was an interesting Story! 👏👍
US pilots with good exposure and education about the Soviets and Russians, have always admired the incredible aircraft technology and the ability of the pilots from their greatest foes.
This brought to mind something I came across a long time ago. It was about the first MIG-21 which was brought to the west, (specifically Israel), from Syria by a defecting pilot. Israel's chief test pilot, Danny Shapira, learned to fly it and then trained the Israeli fighter pilots to recognize all of its characteristics and profiles. If memory serves, this event occurred in 1967 or 68.
Great stuff as always. Thank you for this inciteful upload.
The MIG 21 was one of many types that was based at Groom lake . MiG15,17 , 21 , 23,25, 27 ..
Ward Carrolls talks about it
@@colintraveller then it must be true. 😉
It was from Iraq.
wasnt the US got MIG 21 from indonesia at around 68 ? top spec, almost brand new, low hours, mint condition...
@@FighterPilotPodcast Before he even talked about it . There was an article published in Flight Journal how the US tested the acquired planes at Groom Lake ..
fascinating
Nice to see how pilots still have that respect for each other.
For sure
“Maybe sometimes you can have too much, you forget the basics” I sometimes wonder if that could apply to Airbus? Hey Jello I’m wondering what are the significant difference that if you were to fly for FEDEX or UPS and not Delta? I would ask about Spirit Airlines but Fort Lauderdale is a long ways just to fight passengers.
10:21 How beautiful is this saying! Maybe many highly developed countries citizens could learn this, regardless of in what aspect of life, but just about the *"LIFE"* itself... amazing
My buddy is a German fighter pilot who has flown the Mig 25....Says its incredibly difficullt but a shit load of fun. I can hook you up if ya wanna chat to him.
If he's willing to chat have him email the show.
Fascinating
definition of professionalism , that's him.
Great!
I jus saw the very plane mig-25 that "chased" Buran few weeks ago, it's in Vadim Zadorogniy museum near Moscow.
This guy is brilliant. Such humility and objectivity. Exactly what we are missing in the mainstream narrative today! 👍
🎯
Yes!!
΅...If Iwas going to war,I would like them on my side..Because they know the fundamentals." Any Nato pilots listening these days?
Very interesting
That is true, an engineer from the cold is very well educated in his topics, I had to briefly think about how to get the simplest equation of motion of a mass-spring. In the west we have FEA on our computer where we don't need analytical solutions anymore, and there lies the danger.
Rely on the machine and don't ever dare trust your gut or intuition.
thats why you learn to be analitical as an engineer, to look at the data and come up with an informed opinion to make a decision. when i was studying vibations the ecuation were so abtract that not even my professor understood them, he just made test from the solved problems in the book, then by myself i found a software for body analisis that allows to simulate those systems, and from that made sense of the book, and also an app on my phone to measure vibrations, be it raw output data from the accelerometer or a direct spectrum analisys tool, plus a strobe tachometer, the old days are gone and the tools of today with knowledge will build the future as they always do
@@RodrigoRodriguezowl you will build no future if you find the underplaying equations esoteric. You need to go back to school or change profession with something simpler.
@@georgekaradov1274 mechanical engineer, welder, electricicist, HVAC tech and computer tech, 3d modeller and CAD CAM software expert, good try but my career path has been set for some time now bud
@@georgekaradov1274👏👏👏
90s and early 2000s were pretty tough in Russia.
It is amazing what our two cultures have that we can share with one another. I would rather to hug a Russian and call him brother instead of calling him my enemy. Raising my glass in salute. Perhaps one day we can each do that with one another.
True professional
I love this guy... He is a rare type of American ... He is gifted but humble 🇺🇸
We’re not all like you see in the movies
mr Smith reminds me of the dude that worked for Boyd Coddington, could be like his dad or older brother
5:34
Wow, that thing took off.😮
I wonder what his opinion on the Eurofighter would be :D
Yes never forget foundations !
Cool stories!
Great Story.
So true.
Marvelous interview., patiently allowing the guest to speak without interrupting his most articulate and efficiently delivered thoughts. Having flown with a few, Russian pilots have enormous respect for, and comprehensive knowledge of, basic physics and aerodynamics. Curriculums given a woefully weak overview in the U.S.
they try to impose their values on physics. Fighting windmills. Folks need to tell that emperor has no clothes.
The issue between Russia and the USA is the politician, period!
rather money, that politicians want to have their hands on :(
very interesting guy.
I’m trying to help him get started on his book.
Why can’t everybody cooperate the ways these guys obviously did!
I’d love to hear the interview ( if done) with the Russian pilots flying American kit.
Well maybe if the US will have Perestroyka maybe they will invite the Russians to fly their gear.
lol Garbage f35? they wouldnt touch the shite@@JamesSmith-ix5jd
There are such interviews , but you didn 't look for them .
I have looked! Please point me in the right direction
Thanks
@@Gorsky69
@@saramalou9649 Funny enough, F35 incorporates much of the Yak-141 design (which was purchases from Russia after the collapse of the USSR).
very informative, can u ask about ufos
no.
This bloke gets it. Great story.
That’s my uncle Rogers
Oustanding !!
Its fascinating about Soviet or Russian military technology how thay manage to make competitive stuff for so much less monay, you can see now in Ukraine also very expensive western stuff still sucks ass against much cheaper Russian and some still Soviet outdated equipment
The Soviet/Russian stuff is designed to be reliable and easy/quick to train up on. It doesn't matter how "advanced" a weapons system is if your people can figure it out quickly on the battlefield.
@@CashCatz That fascist Russian crap does reliably burn very hot and pop their turrets incredible high
I personally believe the Russians popped the fuses on the failure warning system and popped the master fault light off.
"If i was going to war ,i want them on my side"...
Absolutely fascinating. I love the modesty and respectfulness that Rogers E. Smith have his Soviet counterparts. Excellent interview. I love the MiG-29 and especially the Su-27/35 - although the closest I get to "flying them" is DCS World - and even then, they're not full fidelity.
I'm not sure how much has changed in Russian training since the early 1990s but all we tend to hear on Western media about Russian pilots (in Ukraine) is how under-performing they are. I suspect the Russians haven't shown their ace in the hand because they know the world is watching.
Ну а что они ещё могут сказать?)) надо же лить баланду в уши несчастным слушателям)) bbc ничего хорошего сказать не имеет права, сверху не позволят
you'll never hear something good about russian pilots. there is too much propaganda. take a pause 3-5 years and listen some memoirs. Retired always say truth, but you have to wait
One western report was adamant that the Russian Airforce is no more. They say it has been completely wiped off. Yet, the same channels will post reports about Russian Air Force fighters tormenting US drones or other military aircraft, or vice-vice. They forget the lies they've told before. In any case, Russia has not unleashed it full military might yet and still far from that.
As someone fairly familiar with that, I can try to explain it. Russia increased the time and intensity of pilot training back in the early 2000s after they got back on their feet again. They invested A LOT of money in defense, especially the air defense department just like the SSSR did once. Russia is actually not "underperforming" in Ukraine cause they only sent a few Su27s (which are pretty old and outdated, everything else is even older like Su25 and MiG 29 and beyond), since they are using this war to get rid of the old equipment (same with tanks and armored vehicles) cause the spendings on maintenances are high and unnecessary for such an old jets and vehicles (especially now). Russia didn't send any of the Su35s, Mig 35s, Su34s, or Su37s (only for scouting and such). There are two reasons for that: fear of losing such an expensive planes, and the feeling of not needing them yet as they don't think they are out of control in this war. There is an unwritten rule in Russian military state which goes something like this: "only if the federation is in total state of war, or on brink of it, costs should be disreagrded as irrelevant".
The Russian air force (like it or not) is now the most experienced on the planet (in modern times) due to the current war. Even their handful of SU-57s have more real kills than the F-22. They've run more missions, more air-to-air, air-to-ground etc than anyone else. And that's a fact.