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:

• (00:00) - Intro