SR-71 Cockpit Checkout

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  • čas přidán 23. 01. 2013
  • SR-71 Models through Airmodels.net
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    A correction in the video, Rich said the navigation map was from a 16mm film, he meant 35mm.
    Richard Graham was nice enough to give us a cockpit checkout in both the pilot and RSO stations. We shot this on location at the Frontiers of Flight Museum at Love Field Dallas Texas. This simulator was used to train every operational SR pilot before they ever set foot in the actual plane.

Komentáře • 1,6K

  • @MarkFrankJPN
    @MarkFrankJPN Před 9 lety +3064

    I watch this video once a week so if I'm ever in a situation where I need to fly an SR-71 I'll be prepared.

    • @12220627
      @12220627 Před 8 lety +55

      Aahahahaaaaaaa!!!!! This is one of the best videos I've ever watched on CZcams. It was very interesting to hear about all the little things that the pilot had to do in flight. And the Rio.. Star navigation.. Amazing. No GPS back then.. Great video!!!

    • @sixstringlove8242
      @sixstringlove8242 Před 8 lety +52

      +MarkFrankJPN *Me too. Right now I am trying to buy some Triethylborane to get the jet engines on my home built SR71 (I call it the SR71.5) started. Next, I gotta find some 16mm video tape...*

    • @jayberry2716
      @jayberry2716 Před 8 lety +17

      +MarkFrankJPN great advice,,,,one never knows when you'll be asked to fly.

    • @hoghogwild
      @hoghogwild Před 8 lety +8

      +kade6 Sure was a great video.The US military had widespread GPS capability just prior to Gulf War 1 in 1991(GW1 was the 1st major conflict which featured GPS-too bad for Saddam who was under the impression that the US Army and Marines would get lost in the featureless deserts), with more minor capability before. The space shuttle also used star trackers and inertial systems, but also added GPS backup in 1996, just a few years before the SR-71 was permanently retired. Even the new Orion spacecraft will use star trackers during its upcoming launch in 2018. The back seater is the RSO or Reconnaissance System Officer

    • @leadheadmike1
      @leadheadmike1 Před 6 lety +3

      You guys do know that the sr71 has been retired for some years. They dont have what they need to get one up and running.

  • @ihatelolcats
    @ihatelolcats Před 10 lety +456

    "we cruise in afterburner at full throttle"
    hell yes.

  • @abunadia5506
    @abunadia5506 Před rokem +42

    As a US Marine stationed at Okinawa in the early 80’s, I loved watching Blackbirds take off & return.
    I was in such awe of it’s sleek, futuristic beauty and sheer power!
    Thanks for the wonderful memories! 👍🏽

    • @davidserrano4716
      @davidserrano4716 Před 2 měsíci

      I could see them from Camp Courtney facing the Water, flying out. 81’
      🇺🇸🦅🌎⚓️SF.

  • @tootrue6529
    @tootrue6529 Před 6 lety +1114

    I was dumbfounded to hear in his other video that the astro tracker navigation system was able to keep the aircraft within 1000 feet of the black line when it was tied into the autopilot. This aircraft and its systems were designed in the '50s and '60s with slide rule technology by chain smoking engineers who were hell bent on outdoing the Soviets. God bless them...

    • @ErikJohnston
      @ErikJohnston  Před 6 lety +73

      Too True I know, it's crazy cool!!

    • @tootrue6529
      @tootrue6529 Před 6 lety +40

      Your videos are fantastic Erik. Thank you so much for taking the time to film, edit and post them. When the internet first started taking hold back in the early '90s I thought it would be defined by interesting and enlightening content such as yours. I was excited by its potential for sharing knowledge and building bridges. How wrong I was... This makes me even more thankful for videos like yours. Well done sir!

    • @carmadme
      @carmadme Před 6 lety +14

      i belive that the astro nav tech was british

    • @gonzomuse
      @gonzomuse Před 6 lety +22

      The one in the SR-71 was designed, developed and made by Northrop. Great video btw. Thanks for sharing! Quite amazing. Never thought I'd ever get a tour of an SR-71 cockpit.

    • @grantrennie
      @grantrennie Před 6 lety +6

      rccarmadben yes it was

  • @2811JPR
    @2811JPR Před 4 lety +151

    Knowing this monster does mach ~3.2 and seeing nothing but analog dials is just immensely terrifying to me

    • @alexsawko5330
      @alexsawko5330 Před 3 lety +12

      it goes much faster then mach 3.2 people have clocked them at mach 6 and this guy just kinda confirmed it after talking about the air speed indicator

    • @JetFalcon710
      @JetFalcon710 Před 3 lety +5

      @@alexsawko5330 I know a pilot got it to go Mach 3.5 when evading a missile in Libya, but I dunno about Mach 6

    • @alexsawko5330
      @alexsawko5330 Před 3 lety +1

      @@JetFalcon710 there has been proof of some hill billy’s that love AFC clocking a SR-71 travelling just under mach 6 which is insane

    • @JetFalcon710
      @JetFalcon710 Před 3 lety

      @@alexsawko5330 Huh, interesting

    • @alexsawko5330
      @alexsawko5330 Před 3 lety +1

      @@JetFalcon710 i’ll trying finding the source if you want i remember reading up on it they said it looked like an SR-71 but they couldn’t confirm due to it being so high up they just didn’t have the technology or something along them line

  • @1970PMD
    @1970PMD Před 4 lety +144

    This man is as much of a national treasure as the SR-71 is. Outstanding, thank you for your service sir.

  • @OrenArieli
    @OrenArieli Před 3 měsíci +2

    Props to the engineers who designed this, the fabricators that built it, the pilots that flew it...and all those that helped prevent WWIII

  • @fulanitoflyer
    @fulanitoflyer Před 5 lety +210

    I´d have problems describing the cockpit of my Toyota Corolla... and I drove it this morning.

    • @edawg792
      @edawg792 Před 4 lety +2

      +Bruce Congdon Rude

    • @aydenn23
      @aydenn23 Před 4 lety +2

      edawg792 truth hurts

  • @ErikJohnston
    @ErikJohnston  Před 10 lety +212

    Chris, I saw Rich a few days ago and I told him how much everyone has liked this video and appreciated his service. He seemed very touched.

    • @volbeatnl
      @volbeatnl Před 3 lety +6

      Well, next time you see the man be sure to thank him again! I discovered these video's last year july (2019). And I keep coming back to watch them again. The whole of the western world ( i'm from The Netherlands ) should be thankful for the intelligence these men gathered back in those days. Knowing what the enemy was doing, kept our world safe!

    • @user-ou8fh4ng9t
      @user-ou8fh4ng9t Před 3 lety

      人證物證全部捕獲送審偵辦辦理理賠金額治理國家資本市場營銷新建工程進度表救援緊急狀態使用價值撥款補助經費申請開發案財團法人司法界法務保護掌理管理

    • @TheSpawnacus
      @TheSpawnacus Před 3 lety

      @@user-ou8fh4ng9t what did you say ?

    • @carti9248
      @carti9248 Před 2 lety

      @@TheSpawnacus I google translated it for you dont worry..... All personal evidence and physical evidence are captured and sent to the investigation office for the settlement of claims amount governance national capital marketing new construction schedule rescue emergency use value appropriation subsidy funds application development consortium legal person judiciary legal protection management........ ya I still dont understand.

    • @TheSpawnacus
      @TheSpawnacus Před 2 lety

      @@carti9248 thanks 😊

  • @relevantinformation6655
    @relevantinformation6655 Před rokem +6

    Mind blowing the technology and performance given the lack of computers in the day. It was all pilot skill.

  • @danijel3227
    @danijel3227 Před 2 lety +5

    It is incredible that he can hold camera and explain all that and in the same time fly this airplane at Mach 3.

  • @davecrupel2817
    @davecrupel2817 Před 5 lety +25

    So, cause of the TetraEthylBorine, the SR71's engines literaly _explode into life..._
    *That* is punctuating badassery!!

  • @seth1987
    @seth1987 Před 7 lety +261

    Old Instrument panels like SR-71 one definitely look far more badass than any modern digital ones we got today !

    • @ErikJohnston
      @ErikJohnston  Před 7 lety +36

      I agree, I love steam gages

    • @Graymenn
      @Graymenn Před 5 lety +5

      digital instruments look like old dos games.

    • @doodlegoose2262
      @doodlegoose2262 Před 5 lety +4

      Seth I went to the Air and Space museum in DC and they had a display on a monitor in which u could look at the cockpit. I was actually surprised, I’m not sure exactly what I expected of the most badass spy plane in history but it wasn’t this. I did expect I guess more digital to be in it. Yes I know how old it is, but I thought they might have upgraded it. It’s still my favorite aircraft

    • @bernardw4842
      @bernardw4842 Před 5 lety +4

      @@doodlegoose2262A lot of military stuff is so slow and expensive to develop, and all the procedures required to change anything, that some of it is simply locked down forever so they never change the design. Simpler that way. If they need enough changes they design a whole new system from scratch, but even that is hard to integrate into the remaining systems... imagine the paperwork and procedures involved for the military's most vital and cutting edge stuff, not just for technical reasons but also security, legal, safety, all kinds of stuff. I had a tour of a retired RAN submarine and about the only thing I could find that was upgraded since it was built was the TV in the crew quarters. Same again, locked down design. It doesn't mean they neglected it or there was not enough budget, it's just best to not mess with it. Once it works, keep it working the same forever. But yeah, even knowing that, it's a shock to see equipment in use with decades old fittings. Kinda cool really, all those gauges are much more "live" and interesting than a grey display (until it fires up which we the public never get to see)

    • @Quicksilver_Cookie
      @Quicksilver_Cookie Před 5 lety +1

      Funny thing, even at the time Blackbird's cockpit layout was pretty old-fashioned and traditional. In fact, it was probably the absolutely only relatively mundane thing about this beautiful machine. Guess they've figured reinventing a cockpit in a machine so grounbreaking in so many aspects would've been a bit much :D

  • @CMFL77
    @CMFL77 Před 5 lety +12

    The guys who crewed the SR and U2's in the 60's on up are some of the coolest and most mentally put-together individuals our country could produce. Always reassuring knowing people like them stand between us and any major problems. I could listen to them talk about their craft for days without ever tiring of the conversation

  • @KBurchfiel
    @KBurchfiel Před 5 lety +115

    I have the feeling this fellow could fly the plane perfectly today if they fueled it up for him. Awesome vid!

    • @you2tooyou2too
      @you2tooyou2too Před 4 lety +4

      Just looking at the pilots climbing out after just a 3 hr test flight told me it was exhausting & often miserable work.

    • @JeremyShibby
      @JeremyShibby Před 3 lety +4

      @@you2tooyou2too also having to sit in the cockpit for 2 hours after landing waiting for the plane to cool down before you can get out of the cockpit

  • @jangelbrich7056
    @jangelbrich7056 Před 5 lety +62

    Just 20 years more from now, and noone would even be able to explain what all this was about. Thanks for this real documentation!

  • @tkeforever4809
    @tkeforever4809 Před 5 lety +37

    My father would disappear every Sunday night and return “From work” every Friday night. My mom took us kids in our PJ’s to Lockheed in Burbank to pick him up. He had been on this project at Groom Lake (Area 51). Once, while installing titanium rivets, one shot into and embedded itself into his eye. A government agent had to accompany him to the emergency room to recover the material. He wore an eyepatch for a time, which I thought was cool as hell as a kid! He passed in 2002 after a long career at JPL and was and still is my hero!

    • @ErikJohnston
      @ErikJohnston  Před 5 lety +1

      Chris Anderson
      Holly cow that’s amazing! Thanks for sharing

    • @tkeforever4809
      @tkeforever4809 Před 5 lety +2

      No, thank YOU for this amazing video and for your courageous service, Mr. Johnston! Dad served in the Army Air Corps as a flight line mechanic but was too tall to be a pilot, so he had the next-best job....maintaining them! He went from Lockheed to JPL during the Ranger probe project and retired as a tech writer in 1998. I always walked a little taller when I was with him and grew up with idols like yourself and the Gemini, Mercury and Apollo astronauts. Blackbird pilots had every right taking their place proudly beside these fine astronauts! What a wonderful time to grow up in, and an especially wonderful time for you!

    • @ErikJohnston
      @ErikJohnston  Před 5 lety +1

      Chris Anderson
      I didn’t serve but my father did for 23 years in the Air Force. Glad you liked the video!!

    • @tkeforever4809
      @tkeforever4809 Před 5 lety +1

      ErikJohnston - Phenomenal video, Erik!! Being a GA pilot, regardless of him working on this project, this has always been my favorite aircraft for so many reasons. Like Yeager and other brave test pilots after him, you guys had total confidence in the “slide-rule” designers of the day and are true American heroes! This aircraft was so far ahead of its time! Wish it still flew!!

    • @xenophagia
      @xenophagia Před 5 lety

      @@tkeforever4809 I thank your father for his service and innovation on the marvel of an aircraft.

  • @JaydenTheAviator
    @JaydenTheAviator Před 3 měsíci +3

    Honestly one of the best video i’ve ever seen

  • @kurnma3776
    @kurnma3776 Před 2 lety +2

    A marvel of engineering for the era.

  • @Escanooooooor
    @Escanooooooor Před 4 lety +9

    I had the pleasure of being one of the pilots before its decomission. The feeling of just being up there and away from everything, in that beauty bird, its magical and once in a life time. Im glad that my services made a difference during the cold war.

    • @jonqdrum
      @jonqdrum Před 4 lety +1

      Haha , you need attention bad hey ? Maybe I’m old fashioned but I somehow don’t think a former AF pilot in their 60’s are posting videos on how to eat pussy, and get bigger biceps on CZcams.

    • @afterburner2869
      @afterburner2869 Před 4 lety

      Christian Johansson My bullshit alarm is going off with you my scrawny little asswipe. I doubt you could fly a kite.

  • @elhadjiamadoujohnson4166
    @elhadjiamadoujohnson4166 Před 7 lety +8

    State of the art in reconnaissance!!! This plane should've never retired!!!

  • @jamesroberts2115
    @jamesroberts2115 Před 4 lety +12

    If this aircraft were a new design it would still inspire the awe in 2020 that it did in the 60's.

    • @realQuiGon
      @realQuiGon Před 3 lety

      It did not inspire much awe in the 60's as barely anyone knew about it.

  • @robertglenn5398
    @robertglenn5398 Před 9 lety +1

    Blackbird singing in the dead of night...take these broken wings and learn to fly, all your life, you were only waiting for this moment to arise...Blackbird fly...Blackbird fly, into the light of the dark black night...Man, what a great theme song for these guys who actually had the opportunity to fly this wonderful beast!

  • @Sleepyquad
    @Sleepyquad Před 9 lety +8

    I used to have a lot of respect for the pilots of these planes. After watching this video I have two tons of respect for everybody involved In this project.

  • @teccec
    @teccec Před 10 lety +15

    Fascinating. I was in a Harley Davidson owners club with a couple of retired SR-71 pilots, I'd had no idea there were only 86 of them. I also hadn't ever wanted to bug them for stories, I bet they had some good ones. On a few occasions they'd been teased, or teased the rest of us, about paying attention to detail for safety or navigation. This vid provides amusing context to that.

  • @JohnS916
    @JohnS916 Před 7 lety +4

    Excellent cockpit overview, concise and most importantly, Capt Graham presented the topic in an easy to understand format. What struck me was how primitive the pilot and SRO instrumentation panels looked and how such amazing things could be done with what we had back then. It was almost like looking into a porthole of current technology of the era, but knowing it related to advancements that followed. There was also a degree of disconnect between the instrumentation and the SR71's amazing performance, like the performance was modern day, but the rest of it was stuck in the 60's.
    I always wondered how one copes with the urge to take a nap on extra long missions, I know it's human nature, especially when cruising along but not yet inside your target's territory and let's face it, anything can have a routine. Nothing like taking a power nap on a long ride, so I'm sure some sort of accommodation was made, care to share any inside secret Capt?
    I heard somewhere the max performance figures for the SR71 are still classified? This seems to be the case, because out of the number of videos or conversations about this airplane, nothing specific was ever discussed about how fast or high it can really go. The numbers talked about are always vague, like mach 3+ and 80K ft. Myself and many others would sure like to know what this baby could really do. I recall one video regarding SR71s getting shot at with ground to air missiles and one pilot or SRO indicated pushing forward the throttles as a tactic to outrun the missile for just enough time to disorient it, something like 100 to 200 knots. But then the crew member indicated that after being in this mode and he looked down to see the mach gauge higher than he has ever seen before, but he made no mention of what that was. Out of the 86 pilots on record in the program I wonder if any one of them took it upon themselves to push the throttles forward and get a taste of how fast the plane actually was. Obviously, for many reasons this would be a risky maneuver, but i wonder if anyone tried it, if they did no one but he and his SRO would know and I can imagine a great story if they ever connected years later over a couple beers. However, I don't know how they could possibly get away with it being monitored both internally and externally by sensors I'm sure of that. But like the above story of the pilot using acceleration to outwit an incoming missile, maybe this defensive tactic could be prolonged just a bit, lol.
    Somewhere I heard an SR71 flew across the USA in just over one hour. If the accepted distance between the west and east coast is about 3K miles, or I've heard the shortest distance is around 2,100 miles, in the former case and ignoring all the physics and environmental factors, the SR71 flew up to Mach IV if 760mph is the speed of sound. I suck at math, but I believe the record breaking coast to coast flight was merely a demonstration run and no one spoke of it as a flight to break any real records. Just adds to the mystery of this legendary aircraft.

  • @ajcook7777
    @ajcook7777 Před 8 lety +29

    smart guy you can tell he didn't slack off in training! knows his shit!

    • @pseudocoder78
      @pseudocoder78 Před 7 lety +10

      The guy was an SR-freakin'-71 pilot. The nearest slacker was miles away.

  • @ferrari884
    @ferrari884 Před 3 lety +2

    This guy could fly missions today and not miss a beat.

  • @MasterMayhem78
    @MasterMayhem78 Před 8 lety +139

    You might have known my Grandfather. He did the Hydraulics on the SR-71 up until decommission. He also worked with the U2. He was primarily stationed at Beale Air Force Base. In fact, I was able to experience the final flight when I was just a kiddo. Even met the Pilot and Copilot as they arrived in their van. Shook their hands while they were still sitting in the van. Pressure suits and all. I sat in the hanger with this beautiful aircraft as it was being prepped for its final flight. Once in a life time experience. Thank you for sharing your knowledge of the flight controls. The SR-71 Blackbird is part of my family history. It's in our blood.

    • @nimueh4298
      @nimueh4298 Před 8 lety +3

      +MasterMayhem78 An experience I am sure you will never forget, people who were involved with this aircraft are brilliant individuals.

    • @MasterMayhem78
      @MasterMayhem78 Před 8 lety +1

      +John Tam Yes. My Grandfather was brilliant. Very well known and respected also. He was an amazing man.

    • @CAL1MBO
      @CAL1MBO Před 8 lety

      +RadioActive RC lucky you

    • @leisulin
      @leisulin Před 8 lety +2

      Which "last flight" of the SR-71 was this? I only ask because there were several flights that could be deemed the "last flight": when they first ended the program in 1990, when the Air Force last flew the couple of SRs that were put back into service in 1995(?) for a couple of years, ending in 1997, or when the last SR was flown by the NASA pilots from Dryden in 1999. I myself witnessed part of the final flight, and the final landing, of the SR-71B, the trainer, at the Edwards AFB airshow in October of 1997, but they still flew their other SR a couple more times.

    • @FutureAirways2
      @FutureAirways2 Před 7 lety +3

      Cool story, the AFB museum in Southern California, use to host events with enough interest im sure they would again. You could sit n take pics inside the cockpits. Ppl from the program would come an talk, sign pics. cool stuff

  • @MeatVision
    @MeatVision Před 2 lety +3

    This is one of the craziest things I've ever seen, if these guys had these things in the 50s, my god, what the hell do they have know. Incredible video.

  • @777jones
    @777jones Před 5 lety

    This senior man knows what he is talking about! What a privilege to get to see him show the airplane. Every small comment from him is important. Thanks.

  • @ahmadtheaviationlover1937

    Best explained cockpit video of the vaunted SR71, may this jet rest in peace

  • @LAOSmnagiva809
    @LAOSmnagiva809 Před 3 lety +5

    I never watched a CZcams video hoping it never ended! What a great narration by Richard 😍 I hope he’s well, and I dream one day to talk with him about his missions

  • @paulhruza6066
    @paulhruza6066 Před 7 lety +59

    I had the great honor of working on these amazing aircraft (and the U-2R) at Beale AFB, CA from 1986 until their demise... It was a wonderful experience. I consider myself privileged to have been a part of this program. "BKJSS"... Because Kelly Johnson Said So! My fellow maintainers will remember this... :-)

    • @ErikJohnston
      @ErikJohnston  Před 7 lety +1

      Paul, thank you for your service. And thank you for maintaining these two amazing aircraft. Would love to hear some of your stories sometime.

    • @ClassicStreetIron
      @ClassicStreetIron Před 5 lety +1

      I was stationed at Beale from Jan 85 to Aug 87. I was part of the 7th MWS so was barracked with the 9th OMS and associated squadrons.. Loved watching the Blackbird take off at night.

    • @michaeld9758
      @michaeld9758 Před 5 lety +3

      @@ClassicStreetIron interesting, I worked The Bat Cave, Side Looking Radar. Then cross trained and ended up at the 7th MWS also. At the start there I was assigned to the 2156 Comm Sqdn.

    • @ClassicStreetIron
      @ClassicStreetIron Před 5 lety

      @@michaeld9758 Cool!

    • @Mark-jg9rt
      @Mark-jg9rt Před 5 lety +3

      Had the great pleasure to be on the tarmac in 1983 when both the SR-71 followed shortly after by a U2 took off. The roar of those engines, the thundering sound and vibration you could feel and watching them go straight up at what looked like a 45-degree ascent until it was nothing more than a speck before it disappeared. It was one of the most thrilling times of my life as a USAF ROTC cadet. We had a briefing with both pilots prior to their mission, watched them suit up, and debrief lunch upon their return. I will never forget it. They also had this bad ass radar system secured by arm guards that could track beyond the curvature of the earth. Beale is/was a great AFB.

  • @jennalee5967
    @jennalee5967 Před rokem +1

    Makes any vehicle look like a relatively simple device

  • @Labgorilla
    @Labgorilla Před rokem +1

    ‘We cruise at full afterburner’. That did it for me.😮

  • @Jeremiah_Johnson139
    @Jeremiah_Johnson139 Před 11 měsíci +3

    Wow! Thank you for doing this video! I've seen countless 'Documentaries' on Wings, the Military Channel, you name it, but this was the most indepth and informative tour of the SR-71 cockpits I have ever seen!

  • @mosesainsz7002
    @mosesainsz7002 Před 7 lety +39

    crazy that at the time of the development of these planes, locals thought they were testing UFOs they were so secret, now we are sat in the cockpit. Amazing,.

  • @Tina-di4lx
    @Tina-di4lx Před 3 lety

    I’ve listened to Richard Graham a number of times.
    He is a very cool speaker.

  • @epicdreams1
    @epicdreams1 Před 2 lety +1

    Man it must feel good to be one of the few chosen to fly the blackbird. How cool is that! The fastest Jet man ever created and you can say you flew that bad boy!

  • @Dr.TJ_Eckleburg
    @Dr.TJ_Eckleburg Před 9 lety +75

    Absolutely amazing. And this was all created and operated in a pre-computer era, with nothing but slide rules and raw brainpower.
    We have great technology today, but I'm afraid we've lost some of the talent and risk-taking ingenuity that was responsible for the Blackbird.

    • @nutsackmania
      @nutsackmania Před 8 lety +8

      +TJP77 Don't forget the fuel for those slide rules and "raw" brainpower was MONEY. During the period when the SR-71 was designed and produced, defense vacuumed up *half* of the entire federal budget, so such a specialized asset was more acceptable.

    • @theinternet3585
      @theinternet3585 Před 5 lety

      @NPC #79120041 You do know that's been debunked right. Also, how does having less white people make this plane a distant memory?

    • @johngadd2622
      @johngadd2622 Před 5 lety

      @Faceless Propagandist surgeons already are a lost art, the congress controls (though affirmative action) who recieves funding after 8 years of college so speciality funding is given to any other race, and they bring the whole family lineage with them

    • @BrieoRobino
      @BrieoRobino Před 4 lety +1

      @Faceless Propagandist so only white people are capable of creating something like the SR-71?

    • @Bartonovich52
      @Bartonovich52 Před 4 lety +2

      Precomputer?
      Computers came up with US artillery range calculations 15 years before this thing ever flew.
      If it was designed eight slide rules, it would have only flown last year.

  • @futuresonex
    @futuresonex Před rokem +7

    Imagine just how much easier that plane would be to fly with modern avionics & digital fly-by-wire controls. Airframes haven't advanced all that much since the SR-71 was in the air. That's why the F-15, a child of the early 70s, can still be a state of the art fighter, but the advances in avionics and flight control systems have sure made them a hell of a lot easier and safer to fly, not to mention all the incredible sensor packages a plane like the Blackbird could make use of these days!

  • @LeoMantanga
    @LeoMantanga Před 4 lety +1

    “3rd light On: pilot just ejected” was the best line :D. Great video documentary

  • @davidgriffiths2223
    @davidgriffiths2223 Před 5 lety

    It’s a crime that these planes weren’t preserved flight ready for future generations to enjoy. They could have one or two flying around the world and I’d still come out to see it every single time.

  • @cybrpypr
    @cybrpypr Před 9 lety +66

    just a great presentation. Thank You.

  • @TavoKangru
    @TavoKangru Před 10 lety +9

    Very interesting to see SR-71 cockpit. Thank you!

  • @DGCastell
    @DGCastell Před 10 lety +1

    This video is gold for the new generation, because we may never see that legendary airplane flying again. Kudos to the pilot for showing all this stuff.

    • @ErikJohnston
      @ErikJohnston  Před 10 lety

      I don't think we will ever see an SR fly ever again. Mainly because of the companies that were developed to engineer the fluids and fuels it needed to be able to fly don't exist any more.

    • @TactileCoder
      @TactileCoder Před 9 lety +1

      On the contrary, efficient engines and better technology means we may see passenger planes that far surpass the concorde and SR-17 within our lifetime.

  • @rogerturner5504
    @rogerturner5504 Před 5 lety +1

    This and the previous Richard Graham SR-71 video have to be two of the best instructional pieces on the Net about advanced piloting. Just outstanding.

  • @copkhan007
    @copkhan007 Před 9 lety +27

    Excellent video, a lot of great information was shared about this remarkable plane. Hats off to the pilots, navigators, engineers and everyone involved with building and operating this machinery.

  • @n0peable
    @n0peable Před 8 lety +181

    What a great man he is.
    Wondering how the habus managed to get off the ground with the immense weight of the balls of these men flying them.
    Really great video.

    • @TheTruth-wn2vy
      @TheTruth-wn2vy Před 7 lety +4

      n0peable You sound and look gay.

    • @bluesatsunset
      @bluesatsunset Před 7 lety +11

      @TheTruth - So what if he is? The fact you've bothered to post that silly comment says a lot more about you than the aspersion you try to cast.

    • @ronaldwaynevanzant3985
      @ronaldwaynevanzant3985 Před 6 lety +4

      The Truth ??? More like the Douche🖕

    • @texasbeast239
      @texasbeast239 Před 5 lety +1

      Well like the pilot says here, the plane liked to fly with the CG forward, right where the crew rode... ;)

    • @eaterofclams
      @eaterofclams Před 5 lety +1

      @@bluesatsunset ....omg...another superfluous and utterly useless virtue signaling "social justice" keyboard commando rides to the rescue . sigh.

  • @petero.7487
    @petero.7487 Před měsícem +1

    The peripheral vision device reminds me of a concept I'd thought of. Boeing had thought of a 800 passenger, twin-deck blended-wing body airliner. I remember somebody talking about how one could become disoriented in a plane with windows only in the front and I remember talking about the idea on an aviation forum of a lighting system that would act like an ADI.

  • @Alpha-Mike-Foxtrot
    @Alpha-Mike-Foxtrot Před rokem +1

    I know exactly who this pilot is by his voice. He does not seem like the kind of guy that would ever get in trouble like a DUI. Thanks

  • @MostlyPennyCat
    @MostlyPennyCat Před 4 lety +6

    Initially I thought it's _surprisingly_ simple.
    Then I thought about it and it's what I should have expected.
    For starters, he's the pilot and only needs pilot controls.
    And it's an aircraft designed to go very fast in a straight line.
    So, engine, control surfaces, speed, altitude, fuel, environmental controls and a map.
    Engine configuration is automatic so, yeah, see how beautifully simple it was to fly!

  • @NeighborhoodCarReviews
    @NeighborhoodCarReviews Před 7 lety +66

    So awesome. Blackbird has always been my favorite aircraft. And seeing this in detail is great.

    • @itzgrizzim6026
      @itzgrizzim6026 Před 6 lety

      Neighborhood Car Reviews Theres another version if blackbird but even cooler named SR - 72

  • @Paolo_Pinkas747
    @Paolo_Pinkas747 Před 2 lety +1

    honestly, that was the best 20min on youtube i ever had! thank you!

  • @mike7871
    @mike7871 Před 2 lety +1

    Watched the Blackbird and the F117 take off when I was stationed at Lakenheath when we bombed Libya..what a sight!

  • @robotejiro
    @robotejiro Před 9 lety +3

    Thanks to the poster for sharing this amazing video. My inner child just had a complete freakout. Greatest walk-through video ever :-)

  • @jjames05
    @jjames05 Před 4 lety +3

    Absolutely amazing how analog this beauty was. You pilots are my heroes. Bless you all.

  • @Baddiework
    @Baddiework Před 5 lety +2

    I thought this guy was young until I saw his hand then realised ofc he is old. What a fresh man for that age

  • @cesarronaldo
    @cesarronaldo Před 9 lety +7

    Priceless video, congratulations. It's a must watch if you like airplanes, especially the SR 71 that was way ahead of his time.

  • @fuckednegativemind
    @fuckednegativemind Před 7 lety +4

    I'm very thankful for this. I didn't know the pilot and navigator were isolated from each other. This is really fascinating, a masterpiece of engineering!

  • @playstationsrilanka
    @playstationsrilanka Před 3 lety

    This is over 60yrs old tech that second to none. ♥️🔥 This is sick lockheed 🖤🔥

  • @toxophilite6804
    @toxophilite6804 Před 4 lety +1

    SR-71 drivers have always been my hero's. Outstanding.🇺🇸

  • @ELEB2634
    @ELEB2634 Před 8 lety +6

    Remarkable plane and a very remarkable gentleman. Thank you for these videos and your service. This man is part of very special elite group.

  • @JetNmyFuture
    @JetNmyFuture Před 7 lety +3

    That was awesome to see and hear from the guy that has done it! Fantastic peak into a place that 'normal' pilots never get to see.

  • @Lensman864
    @Lensman864 Před 5 lety +2

    A superb description, enthralling!
    Thank you Sir.

  • @picardbs
    @picardbs Před 9 lety +1

    Fantastic!
    I grew up dreaming about this plane and now seeing this is absolutely amazing!
    Thanks for posting

  • @moiggc
    @moiggc Před 7 lety +42

    Thanks for these videos man! They answer so many questions I had. Priceless stuff!

  • @haraldpettersen3649
    @haraldpettersen3649 Před 5 lety +5

    My very deepest respect for pilot and aircraft.

  • @jonjonckheer5063
    @jonjonckheer5063 Před 8 lety +1

    Awesome video! Always been fascinated by the SR-71 and it's a real treat to hear about it from a pilot!

  • @jonwill
    @jonwill Před 10 lety +2

    Wonderful presentation; thank you for posting.

  • @zollotech
    @zollotech Před 8 lety +89

    Great video

    • @ErikJohnston
      @ErikJohnston  Před 8 lety +14

      Thank you

    • @bradleybatt1401
      @bradleybatt1401 Před 2 lety +1

      Jesus christ, only just clocked you put a comment on this five years ago lol. Didn't realise you were a fan too?!

  • @cwehbe
    @cwehbe Před 10 lety +5

    What an awesome airplane! What an amazing job you had sir! Thank you for your service of our great nation, and thank you for the video.

  • @killz4money
    @killz4money Před 7 lety +1

    The best informative video on the Blackbird I have seen so far. Thank you so much!

  • @zapfanzapfan
    @zapfanzapfan Před 8 lety +2

    Awesome tour, thank you for sharing!

  • @nevyntanis2665
    @nevyntanis2665 Před 9 lety +11

    Nice video mate, thanks. I reckon that pilot just wanted to fly her again.

  • @ME262B2
    @ME262B2 Před 9 lety +9

    Just imagine 40 years ago how many Soviet intelligence efforts were directed to obtaining this information. Thank you so very much for spending the time with us and pulling the veil back a little bit. I have been able to attend a few gatherings of pilots at the War College and have heard some amazing stories of the Soviet overflights. The Cold War was a real war with real bullets and real deaths. The bravery of crews is un-imaginable.

    • @berrytharp1334
      @berrytharp1334 Před 5 lety

      @Travis Thacker lmao...canadians. i would say go drink a beer, but beer is stolen technology from another country too.

    • @wizlish
      @wizlish Před 5 lety

      @Travis Thacker - one of the great sadnesses of 'what could have been' was the cancellation of the CF-105 and the Orenda variant to power it. The 'competition' for it was not the F-104 or the Phantom; if anything, it was the 108, the "fighter" use of the technology going into the B-70. And, truth to tell, the same forces that killed the titanium airframe industry in the United States were a large part of the reason for the Arrow being abandoned (together, I strongly suspect, with the utterly abysmal secrecy Canada could keep against Russian, and probably other, interest in the key technologies and systems being developed!)
      Don't get me going on Diefenbaker. This was not the only expedient short-sighted cost-cutting thing that was done on his watch.

  • @priushater
    @priushater Před 7 lety +2

    My all time favorite plane, awesome video,thanks for sharing.

  • @Slman51
    @Slman51 Před 4 lety

    That was super cool! I love how he explained everything to make it understandable

  • @zrxmax
    @zrxmax Před 10 lety +3

    Excellent video ! Thanks you for sharing your knowledge of this special plane. Flying at full throttle must have been exilarating !

  • @Vargas3499
    @Vargas3499 Před 7 lety +8

    what a beautiful piece of aeronautics

    • @barracuda7018
      @barracuda7018 Před 7 lety

      The greatest engineering feat of all times.....

  • @Roope00
    @Roope00 Před 9 lety +2

    Great video, very informative. Thanks for uploading, the SR-71 is an amazing aircraft.

  • @JackThelRipper
    @JackThelRipper Před 4 lety +1

    Ty sir for your walk through and vast knowledge of this fine jet, ty for your service as well and ty for explaining in detail everything!

  • @rbmwiv
    @rbmwiv Před 5 lety +4

    Thanks for this video, and thank you for your service. You flew in the black where very few ever have. Thanks again sir for everything. The SR-71 is the most beautiful airplane ever made in my opinion.

  • @dias_se
    @dias_se Před 8 lety +3

    Thank you for this. Really good and interesting! 👍

  • @anothercbrowner
    @anothercbrowner Před 9 lety +2

    thanks for sharing , this just shows that the pilots had to be just as special as the plane it self, just amazing

  • @tjlovesrachel
    @tjlovesrachel Před rokem +1

    This is awesome … that eject thing is intense

  • @thebritishindian1
    @thebritishindian1 Před 3 lety +9

    Fantastic! I've been so impressed with this aircraft and I really appreciate the walk-through. It's an interesting combination of reality vs perception. By looking at the aircraft you imagine that it is so sophisticated. But in reality, it is a combination of relatively simple (even clunky) technology such as fuel, regular aviation instruments etc. Combined with absolutely amazing aeronautical engineering when it comes to the design of the airframe, the engines etc.

  • @dd.greenefilms2598
    @dd.greenefilms2598 Před 8 lety +11

    Thank you this Video was very interesting.

  • @Tina-di4lx
    @Tina-di4lx Před 3 lety

    I visited Dulles five years ago.
    Saw the SR and all the suites and displays.
    So cool.

  • @nexusly6720
    @nexusly6720 Před 2 lety +1

    Crazy a pilots point of view on each component the flight technicians couldn't make a better diy book on this plane

  • @bestoutcomes
    @bestoutcomes Před 4 lety +10

    Hard to comprehend these planes were designed and built 60 years ago.

    • @JetFalcon710
      @JetFalcon710 Před 3 lety

      And now we have things like the B-2 flying around ;v;

  • @markarmstrong3394
    @markarmstrong3394 Před 8 lety +3

    that was amazing !! thank you for sharing

  • @daveogarf
    @daveogarf Před 4 lety +1

    Mind-Boggling! Very familiar layout, but then, there are the high-tech (for the sixties) surprises too. Kelly Johnson and the Skunk Works crew were way beyond amazing.

  • @acward2007
    @acward2007 Před 8 lety +1

    What a truely amazing and captivating video, thoroughly enjoyed it and thanks so much for sharing it.

  • @MasterMayhem78
    @MasterMayhem78 Před 4 lety +3

    My grandfather worked on the landing system of this plane as well as the U2.

  • @jerry6711
    @jerry6711 Před 7 lety +3

    Thank you for the dedication, time and effort put in this video.
    Best regards from Poland!!!

  • @kazz1896
    @kazz1896 Před 8 lety +1

    Absolutely amazing! I had no idea it was this complicating to fly this Jet! Thanks for sharing your knowledge!

  • @thomaskindlund410
    @thomaskindlund410 Před rokem +1

    Thank you so much for this superlative look into the magnificent SR-71 aircraft, never thought Id be fortunate enough to see it, it will live in history, appreciate your service to our great nation.

  • @ToddBradley404
    @ToddBradley404 Před 9 lety +3

    Awesome video. Thank you.