Don't think the snowflakes nowadays could work for him. He was pretty directive. Possibly a LaTourneau grad since they seem to have more common sense than most.
My dad got to meet with Mr. Johnson when he was in the air force..he was a mechanic on this airplane and my dad would never talk about the aircraft, except it was fast..right before my dad passed away, he told me, son that airplane was 60 years ahead of its time and it was all kept top secret, he then said if we Americans were that advanced back then, could you imagine how far ahead we are today?..he died 2 years ago and he gave me a photo album I had never seen and it was my dad standing under the SR-71 and you can see Mr. Johnson in one if the pictures..dad said Mr. Johnson was a kind soul and he devoted himself to his airplanes more so than Hitler did to Germany....dad was a happy type and never said anything bad about much of anything, but he did get pissed when he said he helped fuel it up because in his words; when It was being fueled up, it would turn right back around and piss all over ya!!..lol..
Thanks for sharing John. I laughed out loud at your father's anecdote. Recently, as I've become more aware of the performance of the SR, I also wonder what the state of aeronautics is today. Specifically platforms that are still highly classified.
Loved the story, John! Kelly Johnson was a Friend of my Dad's, and I had the Honor of talking with him on a few occasions. A gentle GENIUS! Was your Dad at Beale? If so, when? We were there from 1969-74. He was a Pilot and RSO on different times. Mainly RSO with Capt. Ransom and Capt. Bledsoe. I lost my Dad in 2012, but when he talked about the HABU, he also made SURE I knew that the Ground Crew was his Guardian Angels. They always got him HOME! .... And they made a fine batch of "Grog" on Kadena!! 😂 He always told me to THANK every SR-71 Ground Crewmember I'll ever meet. So Thank You to your Dad!! He was among the very BEST! ~ Carmine Allocca
@@Mike7O7O I've heard rumors about Top Secret programs such as a hyper-sonic mach 5+ SR-72. There probably is a next generation B-21 deep penetration bomber coming this decade. Also a very large attack drone is probably in development. Finally the pentagon might be looking into a spacecraft that delivers highly valuable weapons/cargo/troops "On Demand" to battlefields anywhere in the world in less than an hour.
@Lew Allen2 Oh...so now we're comparing when they _started development_ of the Wright Flyer and the SR-71...well, when did they start development of the Wright Flyer again? Lets face it chief. Math and logic aren't your strong suits, are they? lol
@Lew Allen2 No, Mr Reading incomprehension, we're not using _"the first powered flight as the benchmark to the conceptualization of the SR-71."_ We're comparing either the first powered flight of the Wright Flyer to the first powered flight of the SR-71. Or, the conceptualization of the Wright Flyer to the conceptualization of the SR-71. In other words, we're comparing apples to apples, instead of oranges to apples. See more to understand: ruclips.net/video/pOLmD_WVY-E/видео.html
I swear I will turn this flight around if you two boys don't start playing nice. There was less than sixty five years between the two events. Now shake hands and go home,
I was assigned to the physiological support division at Beale maintaining the suits, seat kits and parachutes for the SR and U-2 and when I separated from the Air Force I was fortunate enough to be picked up by Lockheed as part of their Skunkworks family to work as a tech rep for NASA. I see a lot of comments regarding Mr. Johnson and the overall Skunkworks shop not getting the credit they deserve and in a way I agree. I never met him but I did occasionally get to spend some time w/ Mr. Rich, and I spent a lot of time both at Beale and on many deployments w/ the Air Force and NASA w/ the fliers and maintainers, and the history I heard during my time w/ the program from the people who actually made it was incredible. Mr. Johnson started his career during WWII and not many people know it but he was also responsible for the P-38 which was the aircraft that shot down Adm. Yamamoto. THAT aircraft was revolutionary because it was the first where the engines were designed where one rotated clockwise and the other counter clockwise to offset the inertia generated by the spinning of the propeller which would pull the aircraft to one side or the other which was a major performance enhancer. I'll let that sink in a little...… The reason why it doesn't really bother me too much that no one got much credit for these designs is because I know for certain that it didn't bother those who earned it. Why everyone heard about people like Steve Jobs and not Mr. Johnson is simply "mission". The Jobs of the world sought attention whereas the Kelly Johnsons actively avoided it. Steve Jobs et al were visionaries but they were also capitalists. Skunkworks was a classified program so the lower the profile the better because no one was supposed to know about these aircraft at all let alone their capabilities or how they were designed or manufactured. Humility, understatement and low-key was how we operated and if anyone came in with, or started to develop an ego they received immediate and certain counseling on the way we did things. Those who did become active in promotion of their role in the program during or after they left it were not looked upon w/ much favor and to the best of my knowledge the community in general tended to shy away. Many units across all branches point to their history and take pride in the conflicts they engaged in, and good on them. That was their mission, to go in and win the fight and they did. We took pride in our mission as well which was to avoid conflicts whenever possible. The best public example of that would be the Cuban Missile Crisis in the early 60's. I could go on (I already have), but I'll end w/ this: while the programs or the people who created, led or supported them will probably never get the recognition they deserve they don't mind. The vast majority of us actually prefer the relative anonymity. It was our job, it was our mission, it was our privilege and it was our honor to be part of something so great. WE know what we did, and that's all that matters to us. Thank you for the support and God bless you all.
Well, now. The P-38 wasn't the first airplane to have counter-rotating propellers. As it happens, the Wright Brothers' plane had counter-rotating propellers so it was clearly the first. The P-38 was probably the first to have them rotate such that both engines were critical, which improved the accuracy of its guns but made it nastier in case of engine failure.
Wow not even 400 views. This thing was designed in the 1960s and there's still nothing like it. Steve Jobs is considered a genius and nobody knows who Kelly Johnson is. Sad.
The problem is that we who are interested in aircraft are few in comparison to the Apple products. We can talk next year's about jets, engine and other equipment because we are interested in it. Most people don't care they are user's customers and don't have the ability to understand Mach 3+ jet from the 50s.
Ben Rich said that was a problem even when pitching an idea to the Pentagon and Air Force. Often times, so few people were familiar with the Skunk Works they wouldn't be privvy of their greatest achievements. Certainly a result of their tight security.
Today's social justice mobs would probably dig up an old quote from the 40s of Johnson saying something un-PC, and that would be the end of that. Sigh ....
Unless he had some serious personal struggles it's unlikely to become a big movie but I'd be interested anyway. "From immigrant kid to Mach-3" maybe could sell it :-)
@Douglas Warner, Kelly was one of the best aviation/aerospace engineers EVER... He and so many other engineers made amazing advances with their ideas... I feel that Jack Northrop was another amazing Aerospace/aviation engineer who made advancements well ahead of the time that other systems to support their designs became available... So many brilliant people designing things like this... It's like an SR-71 pilot - Brian Shul put it , when a USAF General was asked by a former Russian adversary : "How can people from this country build such a machine with such a relaxed society?" , To which the General Replied "Because that is what people who live in FREEDOM can do!!!!"
This man and his team designed a masterpiece of aviation. No computer calculations, models or simulations. Also they designed methods to engineer titanium, which is a difficult material to engineer, and they pioneered the use of composite materials, many of which are used in commercial aviation today. Still the world's fastest and highest-flying aircraft ever built. A true genius.
Not exactly the highest or the fastest aircraft ever built but it is the aircraft that holds both the record for altitude and speed for a maned fixed wing airbreathing aircraft. There are examples of autonomous and or non-airbreathing aircraft that have flown higher and faster.
Kelly had a hand in SEVERAL groundbreaking and unique Lockheed aircraft; Electra, P-38 Lightning, P-80 Shooting Star, Constellation, U2, F-104 Starfighter, and the magnificent family of Blackbirds, A-12/YF-12/SR-71. His concept of the Skunk Works later turned out the F-117 Nighthawk stealth fighter.
He should be awarded the highest Civilian Medal the US has got for his service to this country. Thank you, Mr. Johnson, and to all of those who built & worked with the equipment and machines that defended and defends this country through today and tomorrow.
He’s a true genius and one of the greatest aeronautical engineers of all time. His contributions to aerospace technology has been unsurpassed till date. How and what methods he used to arrive at the design of the SR-71 is remarkable. As mechanical engineer I am always fascinated by his work. He’s really awesome.
It seems Kelly Johnson had a no nonsense approach to airplane design, nothing was done that was frivolous. No doubt a brilliant designer, engineer and leader who created amazing airplanes.
Ohh yeah a master of masters but listening to old stories of the other engineers who worked with him started on vuy say he was no pussyfooting that's forsure..lol but also said he was very good at all an aircraft understanding..just brilliant man
Kelly Johnson and the Lockheed Skunkworks team were multiple decades ahead of any other aerospace company. I had the privilege of building spacecraft for NASA for six years-- Kelly Johnson was a hero to all of us. Watching this vid gives you the impression he had zero patience for fools. An incredible visionary and technology leader- what he built has not been excelled in 60 years. Oh- and he did it with slide rulers. Not a single snow flake anywhere on his teams. Just...wow.
It's sad seeing Kelly at the end of his life. He gave so much to aviation and to the nation. I'd give anything to see Kelly in his prime, directing the work at Lockheed and making all those breakthroughs.
I just finished reading his autobiography. 10/10 recommend!! What a REMARKABLE human being. Beyond his genius tho, I was so moved to read and learn about who he was as a person. So much compassion, so much love, so little ego. A true inspiration. 💜🙏
Same here. Never realized how dirt poor his family were back in the day, in which he and his brother would travel miles to get locomotive coal handouts from sympathetic engineers, just so they could heat their home in the frigid Michigan winter? Such an amazing journey this man went through, from such humble beginnings. Oh, and nobody could beat him in a arm wrestling match either 😂
What an amazing person. RUclips's algorithms aren't very good for this subject. Otherwise, any of the viewers of military aircraft, and the SR-71 in particular, would have seen this as a suggested video, and would certainly have viewed it.
Kelly Johnson was exceptional in much ways, working with almost no management layers, not blaming people on errors so they don't tell him but just going for a solution. Not starting work when conditions aren't clear and well defined and set. Finding solutions for every error, and building a plane without computers even maybe something that wouldn't be built if they had computers, because so much borders where crossed that nobody knew anything about. And in he end create such a wonderful plane with exceptional performance. Glad that we can enjoy soo much stuff about him, and even hear him talk in uncut version is too great. My admiration for this guy even now still rises, and skunk works was always a dream place. I wonder how much is possible these days, with managers who only can look at economics and numbers, and don't know what's going on at the work floor, let alone can speak to engineers on their level.
It always amazed me how the blackbird sat ready to go leaking all over the place yet it was a case of kick the tyres light the fires lets go! And the minute it took off it stopped leaking! There are greats and then there is Kelly Johnson A ledgend , A visionary with one hell of an eye at designing some of the weirdest yet truly amazing aircraft!
A statue of Kelly should stand tall in many places, University of Michigan, MIT, and besides a few SR-71s in the museums to inspire new engineers. He is the Einstein of aeronautics!
@johnielehew8192 yes, as it should be. Did not realize that he was involved w/the p-38 until read a review on it. Kelly was such a blessed individual. Knew that he would take flights early on, w/pilots on initial prototypes. He indeed listened to his pilots, in reference how the plane was handling. They would make any changes that were necessary. Kelly was such an innovative individual, aviation are so blessed to have this individual. He was a no nonsense, wanted any protect to succeed; even when he had a time line of 180 days, he/his staff was able to deliver prior to the date, believe it was 138 days.
His statue would be lost to a generation of college students who can't read, can't talk, who need their spaces, who are coddled, and need therapy after each lecture.
Kelty Johnson, was a genius, and a leader, what he accomplished is simply amazing, without his influence where would we be. He deserves to up there with all the Astronauts 🇺🇸❤️
What an engineer he was ! He had many aircraft and other projects that excelled in their class. Anyone born after 1980 know what is or seen a slide rule?
@J Smith Yep, they just press the buttons on the calculators today. Back in the 50's and 60's, they all used slide rules. I have one called a Pickett, all aluminum and has a leather case.
J Smith SpaceX engineers built a self landing rocket by just “punching numbers” bucko, don’t let nostalgia hide obsolescence. I bet you Skunkworks would’ve loved a big box of TI-85’s and they’d have used them good too.
@Garth2011 perhaps not, way before that was way to go, slide rule, protractors to due any mathematical equation/solution. All formulas were writren in hand in notebook fashion, calculations/and or formulas then translated/expressed on chalkboard, to result in a final answer.
As an engineer I've always been fascinated about Kelly Johnson and his accomplishments ... yes, he was an innovator and very creatives .. however speaking with people that worked with him, his best quality was managing the engineering project and teams of engineers ... he knew how important it was to keep the bureaucracy away from his top talent and to trust in them to solve problems
Great to see this film. I live in the city of Malmo in Sweden from where his parents came. Kelly Johnson is unfortunately not very well known in Sweden.
@Erikslust I never knew Kelly Johnson's family was Swedish. That might explain a few things like excellence in mechanical engineering, metallurgy and work ethics.
I live in the U.P. of Michigan where Kelly was born. He is only moderately well known up here. The access road to our local airport was named in his honor, but I would guess that less than half the people driving it would know anything about him. His hometown of Ishpeming just recently erected a statue honoring him and two other famous native sons. That was long overdue.
@@thecraigster8888 Ishpeming was the hometown of both Kelly Johnson and Nobel scientist Glenn Seaborg. Something in the water, in Ishpeming, to produce two genius-level individuals?
@@starguy2718 Not only that , but they were both first generation Swedish in a town that was mostly Finnish and Italian immigrants working in the iron mines.
He said "it will be a long time before we have an airplane that has higher performance". Well, he was wrong, it wasn't a long time, we still don't have another airplane with higher performance. Designled with a slide rude, but still unbeaten. What a brilliant guy!
In the early 90’s I was at Hill AFB. Occasionally an SR71 would depart, always at night. Twin flames of cobalt blue and a sound like the ripping of time and the cosmos. Now my youngest daughter works at the museum there. They have a fine SR71 on display. I always touch it when I visit.
When I was a kid in the sixties, I got a SR-71 plastic toy for Christmas. It was probably about 10" long and green in color. A few years ago I was at Evergreen Museum and touched the titanium tip on the inlet spike, It was sharp as a nail.
Genius is probably an understatement to describe Kelly Johnson. We owe our security to him and his team for creating and making the SR-71 and U-2. It doesn’t look like this was filmed at Palmdale, Beale, or Edwards.
I had the honor of working for then Rockwell Aviation at Plant 42 in Palmdale in 1982-1983. We were building the first 10 B1-B aircraft. Some had test modules, some were bound for the customer, the Air Force. Besides the pride in building the B1; what else was happening around us was even more awesome. We heard scuttle about what was going on in the new Lockheed hangar across from us and found out later it was the B-2. In the building next to ours, Space Division was building whatever. Our tolerances on the B1were to the .001. My friends who worked in Space said theirs were to .0001. We also found out later that the F-22 and F-23 were also being developed in buildings down the runway. But the things I remember most are: when the U-2 would drop in for Lockheed; when they test fired the SR-71 engines (as in the video), or the ultimate, when the SR-71 took off with its chase plane. Our building was 1/4 mile from the runway and no matter if the doors were open or closed, when the pilot hit the A/B the shock waves vibrated your clothes. Took forever to get off the ground, but when it did, you didn't see it very long as its climb rate was unbelievable for an airframe of that size. Truly, a one of a kind!
God bless this absolute GENIUS of a man. Basically, he designed this and countless other airplanes and didnt even really have a computer. Sad that this video has so few ‘Likes’. Had this been some super-dumb reality Kim Kardashian type nonsense it wud have had like 100 million.
He designed many planes but officially didn't really design this except in concept. There were many other aeronautical engineers that worked for him that made this and other projects possible.
They had digital computers. The kind with punched card input and fanfold printed output. Those were used for difficult computational problems. For routine design calculations they used the sliderule because they did not have handheld calculators.
Kelly Johnson; a true American legend. A pioneer throughout his career. Not only a genius aeronautical engineer, but a master of organization, and he had a gift for getting the best from his people.
Anybody know when this interview was? Haven't seen many interviews of Kelly. Such a soft spoken genius. You could spend much time talking about those magnificent engines. Those are working miracles of engineering by themselves. Nothing has come close to tha5 performance. Obviously Kellys will always be known for the sr71 and the u2 but with him at Lockheed they made so many other cutting edge planes ahead of their time. The p38 is another classic. This guy is a inspiration to many and if you ever get the opportunity to read the book skunk works do so. Terrifc book with more Kelly Johnson tails.
God father of aviation industry . Extraordinary Talent , Passion & leadership qualities . In todays computer age every thing has outclass the previous years products in quality , design & features but in aviation computers still needs a long time to outclass this 50 year old plane .
Thank you for uploading. It's a special piece of film. A walkaround what is perhaps the most exquisitely engineered creation ever, with the only man capable of bringing it to life, especially when you consider (judging by the filmstock) that it was still a black project at the time this film was shot. More please...!
@@fekard probably not, after reading that most of the stuff about the plane is still classified, I thought most probably S.A. would be interesting for them, post and pre apartheid.
Mr. Johnson was one very smart man, think of all the planes he helped bring to life and the missions they accomplished that served to protect our way of life, thank you sir.
Mr. Johnson demonstrates the rare Genius we see so rarely. He is a humble man. The effort that went into this aircraft is so rare. We see thse folks once in an industry, sometimes.
its just insane to me how casually Kelly walks around those two planes like he's watering the grass. just insane how ahead of its time that SR was. Kelly was one of the greatest everything to ever live.
Built with slide rulers, and punch cards the SR71. My late father in law worked at MITRE, Lincoln Labs, Raytheon, and few others, NASA as well, he had one in his desk drawer. My father in law was a radar systems engineer. Both the SR71, and radar were offensive military weapons of their time. I've never used one, but its purpose is part of many trades that we have not seen the last of I'm quite sure of, transistors are noteworthy for failure.....
As a young kid I saw a static SR-71 at Castle Air Force Base in California. It’s like seeing the 8th wonder of the world in person. To this day 20 years later, I still am mesmerized thinking about it.
This is a brilliant man. What a great story of a feat of engineering. Fascinating! The man hours that went into the design and testing is truly amazing. I chuckled when he said “it’s very expensive to fly supersonic”. Especially when we now have satellites that can circle earth every 90 minutes!! It’s hard to fathom exhaust gases at 3500 degrees!! Mind blowing technology in 1958. True pioneers!
Kelly Johnson is the greatest aeronautical engineer who ever lived. From the P-38 to the SR-71 his designs are legendary. Our nation is safer due to his work.
This was a very good thing to hear Kelly Johnson talk about this amazing plane... He and his team of engineers & technicians who brought this aircraft from a blueprint , to reality are true legends in the aviation world...
I don't know why but I got tears watch him speaking of this aircraft. One of my favorite aircrafts of all time and the epitome of what engineers can achieve under the leadership of person like "Kelly". RIP sir.
The SR 71 Blackbird is a truly awesome aircraft but its not surprising as Kelly Johnson was a truly awesome aircraft designer and engineer. To have created such a plane at the time with the technology available one can only guess the headaches there must have been. RIP Kelly Johnson. Creator of some fantastic aircraft.
Kelly is a legend in the aerospace engineering world. I think it is safe to say that he will never be forgotten there. He was indeed an incredible engineer with a 6th sense for airflows. His creations were all ahead of their time and were often delivered on time and under budget. Underpromise and overdeliver must have been his motto. Todays F35 program in comparison is nothing but a boondoggle of cost-plus contracts for Lockheed. The F35 does have an impressive situational information management system (I could be ported to other planes) but as a flying platform, it will never be inspirational like the SR71, not even close. Its development cost is nothing but staggering and should be an example for all times of poor project management at the expense of the US taxpayers. The SR71 is an incredible machine. An inspirational idea, brilliantly designed, beautiful, menacing in the way that all of its forms follows their respective functions, and totally unmatched to this day when it comes to flying capabilities. Amazingly, its speed limit came from its compressor inlet temperature (max of 427degrees C). Depending on atmospheric conditions, its top speed could therefore vary quite a bit. Brian Shul (Sledd Driver )tells some of the best stories about flying the SR71. It is one of these amazing facts that at high speeds, the faster the SR71 flew the more efficient it became. As he says, it is hard to imagine a future scenario where anything similar would need to be designed and built. Satellites, the U2 newer variants, drones, social media have all replaced the need for an SR71. Another mythical plane like the SR71 is the Valkyrie. Brilliant engineering and incredible performance, but again, a design whose need disappeared and will most likely never be seen again.
As a Brit A respect Kelly Johnson more than just about any engineer in history. His passion for the craft shines through and I’m sure inspired those that worked and subcontracted for him. The fact the sr71 was never shot down after any attempts is a brilliantly legacy for Kelly and the following stealth aircraft that no doubt saved many allied lives.
Wow. Just... wow! I like the way he moves confidently under the plane without ducking. He's so familiar. Gotta admit, he sounds different than I imagined.
A man with the ability of 'reducing' the horizons of mankind, through a genius that comes naturally to those destined to be remembered as being true 'Greats Of All Time..
My Uncle, Richard “Dick” DeGrey, was program manager on the SR71. Just one of many behind the scenes hero’s who sought to make the world a safer place.
There's a LOT more to the story of Kelly Johnson as well as the SR71... small details that are almost unbelievable. He was truly one of aviation's greatest minds.
I was lucky enough to be one of the first Air Force jet engine mechanics to work on the SR-71. I went to school at Lockheed Palmdale and engine school at Pratt and Whitney in East Hartford, CT. I go to Beale a year before we got our first SR and only had 6 months on the bird before I finished my enlistment. We learned something new every day.
In the very early 1980’s, I had the privilege of seeing the SR-71 do a high speed pass at Norton AFB. When it climbed at full afterburner, it was gone from sight in 15 seconds. Kelly Johnson was a masterful engineer and designer. He’s an American icon.
The only man that walked the earth and when something flew over he could look up and say yeah I invented it or helped invent it ,or inspired it ,or made it better , but he never did or have to, because everyone in the aviation industry knew it ,and his humbled mannerisms earned him greatness .
What a great legacy. You come into this world you create a magnificent piece of art and engineering then you leave. I could imagine waking up the wright brothers and showing them this on full after burner while watching the expression on their faces. In the scheme of things your life flashed pass as quick as the blink of the eye. RIP!!!
Kelly Johnson was truly a remarkable genius. The SR-71 is and always will be my favorite aircraft. Thank you Kelly Johnson RIP.
This comment is exactly what I was thinking.
AGREED Brother American RIP Kelly Johnson!🇺🇸
Truly the greatest aeronautical genius of all time.
A true 'G.O.A.T' in his field, along with Sir David Attenborough. These two men will always, and forever, be revered by all.
Sr-91
His photograph should be hung in every university's engineering department.
DEADFUCKIN'ON.........
they would not get it.
I will be hanged if I can think of a reason why Kelly Johnson should not look well hung on the wall of an engineers' diploma mill.
Please: "hung," not "hanged."
Don't think the snowflakes nowadays could work for him. He was pretty directive. Possibly a LaTourneau grad since they seem to have more common sense than most.
My dad got to meet with Mr. Johnson when he was in the air force..he was a mechanic on this airplane and my dad would never talk about the aircraft, except it was fast..right before my dad passed away, he told me, son that airplane was 60 years ahead of its time and it was all kept top secret, he then said if we Americans were that advanced back then, could you imagine how far ahead we are today?..he died 2 years ago and he gave me a photo album I had never seen and it was my dad standing under the SR-71 and you can see Mr. Johnson in one if the pictures..dad said Mr. Johnson was a kind soul and he devoted himself to his airplanes more so than Hitler did to Germany....dad was a happy type and never said anything bad about much of anything, but he did get pissed when he said he helped fuel it up because in his words; when It was being fueled up, it would turn right back around and piss all over ya!!..lol..
Thanks for sharing John. I laughed out loud at your father's anecdote.
Recently, as I've become more aware of the performance of the SR, I also wonder
what the state of aeronautics is today. Specifically platforms that are still highly classified.
Loved the story, John! Kelly Johnson was a Friend of my Dad's, and I had the Honor of talking with him on a few occasions. A gentle GENIUS!
Was your Dad at Beale? If so, when? We were there from 1969-74. He was a Pilot and RSO on different times. Mainly RSO with Capt. Ransom and Capt. Bledsoe.
I lost my Dad in 2012, but when he talked about the HABU, he also made SURE I knew that the Ground Crew was his Guardian Angels. They always got him HOME!
.... And they made a fine batch of "Grog" on Kadena!! 😂
He always told me to THANK every SR-71 Ground Crewmember I'll ever meet.
So Thank You to your Dad!! He was among the very BEST!
~ Carmine Allocca
F-35 lol
I would have loved to have met your dad. I am sure he had some stories to tell. I want to thank your family for your dads service.
@@Mike7O7O I've heard rumors about Top Secret programs such as a hyper-sonic mach 5+ SR-72. There probably is a next generation B-21 deep penetration bomber coming this decade. Also a very large attack drone is probably in development. Finally the pentagon might be looking into a spacecraft that delivers highly valuable weapons/cargo/troops "On Demand" to battlefields anywhere in the world in less than an hour.
I never saw Johnson himself speak! thats so cool!
I was just thinking that I learned more about the RS-71... I mean SR-71... Hearing it from Kelly Johnson
It was as if God himself spoke to us!
Yes ! I love this amazing person
Very
Kelly Johnson was one of the greatest aerontautical minds we will ever see. His story is amazing, and our country owes a lot to him.
From Wright Bros flyer to Blackbird in 55 years (61 years, corrected). What science and engineering!
Not sure the math quite works out on that one.
@Lew Allen2 Wright Flyer first flight 1903. SR-71 first flight 1964. 1964-1903 =61 years. Your move mathlete.
@Lew Allen2 Oh...so now we're comparing when they _started development_ of the Wright Flyer and the SR-71...well, when did they start development of the Wright Flyer again? Lets face it chief. Math and logic aren't your strong suits, are they? lol
@Lew Allen2 No, Mr Reading incomprehension, we're not using _"the first powered flight as the benchmark to the conceptualization of the SR-71."_ We're comparing either the first powered flight of the Wright Flyer to the first powered flight of the SR-71. Or, the conceptualization of the Wright Flyer to the conceptualization of the SR-71. In other words, we're comparing apples to apples, instead of oranges to apples. See more to understand: ruclips.net/video/pOLmD_WVY-E/видео.html
I swear I will turn this flight around if you two boys don't start playing nice. There was less than sixty five years between the two events. Now shake hands and go home,
I was assigned to the physiological support division at Beale maintaining the suits, seat kits and parachutes for the SR and U-2 and when I separated from the Air Force I was fortunate enough to be picked up by Lockheed as part of their Skunkworks family to work as a tech rep for NASA. I see a lot of comments regarding Mr. Johnson and the overall Skunkworks shop not getting the credit they deserve and in a way I agree. I never met him but I did occasionally get to spend some time w/ Mr. Rich, and I spent a lot of time both at Beale and on many deployments w/ the Air Force and NASA w/ the fliers and maintainers, and the history I heard during my time w/ the program from the people who actually made it was incredible.
Mr. Johnson started his career during WWII and not many people know it but he was also responsible for the P-38 which was the aircraft that shot down Adm. Yamamoto. THAT aircraft was revolutionary because it was the first where the engines were designed where one rotated clockwise and the other counter clockwise to offset the inertia generated by the spinning of the propeller which would pull the aircraft to one side or the other which was a major performance enhancer.
I'll let that sink in a little...…
The reason why it doesn't really bother me too much that no one got much credit for these designs is because I know for certain that it didn't bother those who earned it. Why everyone heard about people like Steve Jobs and not Mr. Johnson is simply "mission". The Jobs of the world sought attention whereas the Kelly Johnsons actively avoided it. Steve Jobs et al were visionaries but they were also capitalists. Skunkworks was a classified program so the lower the profile the better because no one was supposed to know about these aircraft at all let alone their capabilities or how they were designed or manufactured. Humility, understatement and low-key was how we operated and if anyone came in with, or started to develop an ego they received immediate and certain counseling on the way we did things. Those who did become active in promotion of their role in the program during or after they left it were not looked upon w/ much favor and to the best of my knowledge the community in general tended to shy away. Many units across all branches point to their history and take pride in the conflicts they engaged in, and good on them. That was their mission, to go in and win the fight and they did. We took pride in our mission as well which was to avoid conflicts whenever possible. The best public example of that would be the Cuban Missile Crisis in the early 60's.
I could go on (I already have), but I'll end w/ this: while the programs or the people who created, led or supported them will probably never get the recognition they deserve they don't mind. The vast majority of us actually prefer the relative anonymity. It was our job, it was our mission, it was our privilege and it was our honor to be part of something so great. WE know what we did, and that's all that matters to us.
Thank you for the support and God bless you all.
Well, now. The P-38 wasn't the first airplane to have counter-rotating propellers. As it happens, the Wright Brothers' plane had counter-rotating propellers so it was clearly the first. The P-38 was probably the first to have them rotate such that both engines were critical, which improved the accuracy of its guns but made it nastier in case of engine failure.
There were a special help to make it happen ?
Wow not even 400 views. This thing was designed in the 1960s and there's still nothing like it. Steve Jobs is considered a genius and nobody knows who Kelly Johnson is. Sad.
Adults and teens rather watch gaynite and their bullshit shows it truly is a disgrace how many views this has. Ahh the 21st century what a pos!
The problem is that we who are interested in aircraft are few in comparison to the Apple products.
We can talk next year's about jets, engine and other equipment because we are interested in it. Most people don't care they are user's customers and don't have the ability to understand Mach 3+ jet from the 50s.
Ben Rich said that was a problem even when pitching an idea to the Pentagon and Air Force. Often times, so few people were familiar with the Skunk Works they wouldn't be privvy of their greatest achievements. Certainly a result of their tight security.
This was less of an issue with Kelly Johnson. Everyone in the industry back then knew who he was. And often ran the other way!
@@rzr2ffe325 why would they avoid him?
I know there are books about Kelly Johnson but his life story would make a great movie.
I'd kill to see a movie made about his life! Such an interesting man!
Today's social justice mobs would probably dig up an old quote from the 40s of Johnson saying something un-PC, and that would be the end of that. Sigh ....
Unless he had some serious personal struggles it's unlikely to become a big movie but I'd be interested anyway. "From immigrant kid to Mach-3" maybe could sell it :-)
I always thought Chris Cooper looked like him, he would have pulled the persona off well too. They shoulda done it years ago though.
There is one -"Secrets in the Sky - The Untold Story of Skunk Works"
Kelly Johnson is the best asset we ever had
If I have to go to war, the #1 guy I want in my camp would be Kelly Johnson. All other candidates pale in comparison.
@Douglas Warner, Kelly was one of the best aviation/aerospace engineers EVER... He and so many other engineers made amazing advances with their ideas... I feel that Jack Northrop was another amazing Aerospace/aviation engineer who made advancements well ahead of the time that other systems to support their designs became available... So many brilliant people designing things like this... It's like an SR-71 pilot - Brian Shul put it , when a USAF General was asked by a former Russian adversary : "How can people from this country build such a machine with such a relaxed society?" , To which the General Replied "Because that is what people who live in FREEDOM can do!!!!"
This man and his team designed a masterpiece of aviation. No computer calculations, models or simulations. Also they designed methods to engineer titanium, which is a difficult material to engineer, and they pioneered the use of composite materials, many of which are used in commercial aviation today. Still the world's fastest and highest-flying aircraft ever built. A true genius.
Not exactly the highest or the fastest aircraft ever built but it is the aircraft that holds both the record for altitude and speed for a maned fixed wing airbreathing aircraft. There are examples of autonomous and or non-airbreathing aircraft that have flown higher and faster.
And all that titanium came from Mother Russia!!
Chief engineer Ben Ruch was a brilliant man also. Read the book “The Skunk Works
Kelly had a stroke in later years, on his birthday he was taken to Lockheed plant try had the SR 71 fly,over pulled straight up at full after burner
Kelly had a hand in SEVERAL groundbreaking and unique Lockheed aircraft; Electra, P-38 Lightning, P-80 Shooting Star, Constellation, U2, F-104 Starfighter, and the magnificent family of Blackbirds, A-12/YF-12/SR-71. His concept of the Skunk Works later turned out the F-117 Nighthawk stealth fighter.
God Bless Skunk Works and all the men involved with the SR 71
The greatest plane ever designed
Mikoyan Gurevich: my Mig-25 can fly to Mach 3 for short bursts.
Kelly Johnson: try to catch my SR-71 dick!!
He should be awarded the highest Civilian Medal the US has got for his service to this country. Thank you, Mr. Johnson, and to all of those who built & worked with the equipment and machines that defended and defends this country through today and tomorrow.
What a legacy this gentleman left behind.
Like having ... Kelly Johnson give you a personal tour of an SR-71, like a proud grandfather....
Certainly justification for that Pride !
He’s a true genius and one of the greatest aeronautical engineers of all time. His contributions to aerospace technology has been unsurpassed till date. How and what methods he used to arrive at the design of the SR-71 is remarkable. As mechanical engineer I am always fascinated by his work. He’s really awesome.
Im not American, but this men is my inspiration
God he must have been so proud of the SR-71. What an amazing feat of engineering.
SuperSix Delta God was probably proud too.
It seems Kelly Johnson had a no nonsense approach to airplane design, nothing was done that was frivolous. No doubt a brilliant designer, engineer and leader who created amazing airplanes.
Ohh yeah a master of masters but listening to old stories of the other engineers who worked with him started on vuy say he was no pussyfooting that's forsure..lol but also said he was very good at all an aircraft understanding..just brilliant man
What he said at the end just gave me bitter sweet feels. 😞 It's been a long time indeed.
Kelly Johnson: An American Treasure.
Kelly Johnson and the Lockheed Skunkworks team were multiple decades ahead of any other aerospace company. I had the privilege of building spacecraft for NASA for six years-- Kelly Johnson was a hero to all of us. Watching this vid gives you the impression he had zero patience for fools. An incredible visionary and technology leader- what he built has not been excelled in 60 years. Oh- and he did it with slide rulers. Not a single snow flake anywhere on his teams. Just...wow.
It's sad seeing Kelly at the end of his life. He gave so much to aviation and to the nation. I'd give anything to see Kelly in his prime, directing the work at Lockheed and making all those breakthroughs.
I was at his wife's house and fixing something for him . My dad sent me he had alzheimers. He was very nice to me.
Mr. Johnson was a true national treasure, a one-of-a-kind genius, and very devoted to his country.
Loved working on his masterpiece in the 1960s.
I just finished reading his autobiography. 10/10 recommend!! What a REMARKABLE human being. Beyond his genius tho, I was so moved to read and learn about who he was as a person. So much compassion, so much love, so little ego. A true inspiration. 💜🙏
Same here. Never realized how dirt poor his family were back in the day, in which he and his brother would travel miles to get locomotive coal handouts from sympathetic engineers, just so they could heat their home in the frigid Michigan winter? Such an amazing journey this man went through, from such humble beginnings. Oh, and nobody could beat him in a arm wrestling match either 😂
Legend! - What a legacy!!!!!!
'A thing of beauty is a joy forever!'
What an amazing person. RUclips's algorithms aren't very good for this subject. Otherwise, any of the viewers of military aircraft, and the SR-71 in particular, would have seen this as a suggested video, and would certainly have viewed it.
They probably make it like so on purpose.
Kelly Johnson was exceptional in much ways, working with almost no management layers, not blaming people on errors so they don't tell him but just going for a solution. Not starting work when conditions aren't clear and well defined and set. Finding solutions for every error, and building a plane without computers even maybe something that wouldn't be built if they had computers, because so much borders where crossed that nobody knew anything about. And in he end create such a wonderful plane with exceptional performance. Glad that we can enjoy soo much stuff about him, and even hear him talk in uncut version is too great. My admiration for this guy even now still rises, and skunk works was always a dream place. I wonder how much is possible these days, with managers who only can look at economics and numbers, and don't know what's going on at the work floor, let alone can speak to engineers on their level.
It always amazed me how the blackbird sat ready to go leaking all over the place yet it was a case of kick the tyres light the fires lets go! And the minute it took off it stopped leaking!
There are greats and then there is Kelly Johnson A ledgend ,
A visionary with one hell of an eye at designing some of the weirdest yet truly amazing aircraft!
When the Blackbird approached Mach 1, friction from the shockwave would cause the fuselage to heat up and expand, sealing up all the leaks.
A statue of Kelly should stand tall in many places, University of Michigan, MIT, and besides a few SR-71s in the museums to inspire new engineers. He is the Einstein of aeronautics!
@johnielehew8192 yes, as it should be. Did not realize that he was involved w/the p-38 until read a review on it. Kelly was such a blessed individual. Knew that he would take flights early on, w/pilots on initial prototypes. He indeed listened to his pilots, in reference how the plane was handling. They would make any changes that were necessary. Kelly was such an innovative individual, aviation are so blessed to have this individual. He was a no nonsense, wanted any protect to succeed; even when he had a time line of 180 days, he/his staff was able to deliver prior to the date, believe it was 138 days.
His statue would be lost to a generation of college students who can't read, can't talk, who need their spaces, who are coddled, and need therapy after each lecture.
Kelty Johnson, was a genius, and a leader, what he accomplished is simply amazing, without his influence where would we be. He deserves to up there with all the Astronauts 🇺🇸❤️
What an engineer he was ! He had many aircraft and other projects that excelled in their class. Anyone born after 1980 know what is or seen a slide rule?
Is that the main rule you have to follow when you go on a water slide, dude?
@J Smith Yep, they just press the buttons on the calculators today. Back in the 50's and 60's, they all used slide rules. I have one called a Pickett, all aluminum and has a leather case.
@J Smith That is called knowing what you are doing while the calculator version is like auto pilot engaged and no lift.
J Smith SpaceX engineers built a self landing rocket by just “punching numbers” bucko, don’t let nostalgia hide obsolescence. I bet you Skunkworks would’ve loved a big box of TI-85’s and they’d have used them good too.
@Garth2011 perhaps not, way before that was way to go, slide rule, protractors to due any mathematical equation/solution. All formulas were writren in hand in notebook fashion, calculations/and or formulas then translated/expressed on chalkboard, to result in a final answer.
Thanks for putting this video on youtube.
As an engineer I've always been fascinated about Kelly Johnson and his accomplishments ... yes, he was an innovator and very creatives .. however speaking with people that worked with him, his best quality was managing the engineering project and teams of engineers ... he knew how important it was to keep the bureaucracy away from his top talent and to trust in them to solve problems
I read Ben Rich's Skunk Works, and this is a major RUclips find! Thanks for uploading.
I personally new this man and had many conversations with him.
Write a book.
So?
@fusiongurudotcom8195 you were blessed to met this extraordinary individual, absolutely way ahead of the curve. Brilliant !!
He smiles at that plane like a proud father
What a genuine, amazing what he would design today if he were alive, great great man
the 🐐, long live kelly, and his countless acomplishments.
Great to see this film. I live in the city of Malmo in Sweden from where his parents came. Kelly Johnson is unfortunately not very well known in Sweden.
@Erikslust I never knew Kelly Johnson's family was Swedish. That might explain a few things like excellence in mechanical engineering, metallurgy and work ethics.
I live in the U.P. of Michigan where Kelly was born. He is only moderately well known up here. The access road to our local airport was named in his honor, but I would guess that less than half the people driving it would know anything about him. His hometown of Ishpeming just recently erected a statue honoring him and two other famous native sons. That was long overdue.
@@thecraigster8888 Ishpeming was the hometown of both Kelly Johnson and Nobel scientist Glenn Seaborg. Something in the water, in Ishpeming, to produce two genius-level individuals?
@@starguy2718 Not only that , but they were both first generation Swedish in a town that was mostly Finnish and Italian immigrants working in the iron mines.
Spread it ! , his work was a human progress , despite its uses , even the microwave kills fatty’s yr round
Clearly he was the Best of the Best! Thank You for everything!
He said "it will be a long time before we have an airplane that has higher performance". Well, he was wrong, it wasn't a long time, we still don't have another airplane with higher performance. Designled with a slide rude, but still unbeaten. What a brilliant guy!
In the early 90’s I was at Hill AFB. Occasionally an SR71 would depart, always at night. Twin flames of cobalt blue and a sound like the ripping of time and the cosmos.
Now my youngest daughter works at the museum there. They have a fine SR71 on display. I always touch it when I visit.
When I was a kid in the sixties, I got a SR-71 plastic toy for Christmas. It was probably about 10" long and green in color. A few years ago I was at Evergreen Museum and touched the titanium tip on the inlet spike, It was sharp as a nail.
Impossible it was still a secret
@@brianhurt3801 " A few years ago" the plane was already on display in several places - I touched it too.
@@brianhurt3801 not true. www.beale.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/667175/this-week-in-beale-history-sr-71-revealed/
@@jlscott64 that was just the MENTION of the program. Not a model
I think Revell made the first model in 1981 called the "Spy Plane". Remember, that was Cold War times.
Genius is probably an understatement to describe Kelly Johnson. We owe our security to him and his team for creating and making the SR-71 and U-2. It doesn’t look like this was filmed at Palmdale, Beale, or Edwards.
Looks like "Blackbird Air Park" in Palmdale.
@Randy Michel Agree, we all owe our security to Kelly Johnson and the SkunkWorks.
I'm glad I met him my dad was one of his engineers.
I had the honor of working for then Rockwell Aviation at Plant 42 in Palmdale in 1982-1983. We were building the first 10 B1-B aircraft. Some had test modules, some were bound for the customer, the Air Force. Besides the pride in building the B1; what else was happening around us was even more awesome. We heard scuttle about what was going on in the new Lockheed hangar across from us and found out later it was the B-2. In the building next to ours, Space Division was building whatever. Our tolerances on the B1were to the .001. My friends who worked in Space said theirs were to .0001. We also found out later that the F-22 and F-23 were also being developed in buildings down the runway. But the things I remember most are: when the U-2 would drop in for Lockheed; when they test fired the SR-71 engines (as in the video), or the ultimate, when the SR-71 took off with its chase plane. Our building was 1/4 mile from the runway and no matter if the doors were open or closed, when the pilot hit the A/B the shock waves vibrated your clothes. Took forever to get off the ground, but when it did, you didn't see it very long as its climb rate was unbelievable for an airframe of that size. Truly, a one of a kind!
B-2? What was Lockheed doing building a Northrop airplane?
God bless this absolute GENIUS of a man. Basically, he designed this and countless other airplanes and didnt even really have a computer.
Sad that this video has so few ‘Likes’. Had this been some super-dumb reality Kim Kardashian type nonsense it wud have had like 100 million.
He designed many planes but officially didn't really design this except in concept. There were many other aeronautical engineers that worked for him that made this and other projects possible.
Kardy Kim has something in common with the 71's inlet spikes. Their both made of plastic.
They had digital computers. The kind with punched card input and fanfold printed output. Those were used for difficult computational problems. For routine design calculations they used the sliderule because they did not have handheld calculators.
Kelly Johnson in my book is one of America's greatest living treasure and hero from our past. He deserves his place in American history for sure.
he ain't living
Kelly Johnson; a true American legend. A pioneer throughout his career. Not only a genius aeronautical engineer, but a master of organization, and he had a gift for getting the best from his people.
Anybody know when this interview was? Haven't seen many interviews of Kelly. Such a soft spoken genius. You could spend much time talking about those magnificent engines. Those are working miracles of engineering by themselves. Nothing has come close to tha5 performance. Obviously Kellys will always be known for the sr71 and the u2 but with him at Lockheed they made so many other cutting edge planes ahead of their time. The p38 is another classic. This guy is a inspiration to many and if you ever get the opportunity to read the book skunk works do so. Terrifc book with more Kelly Johnson tails.
What a great find. Clarence Johnson is the John Browning of aircraft design. Thank you for sharing.
An absolute legend! A true pioneer.
God father of aviation industry . Extraordinary Talent , Passion & leadership qualities .
In todays computer age every thing has outclass the previous years products in quality , design & features but in aviation computers still needs a long time to outclass this 50 year old plane .
They started materials and structures testing in '58. First flight with J-75 engines (A-11) in Apr "62.
it is wonderful to see this great American Aeronautical and systems engineer up close, and to be able to hear him talk. He is a national treasure.
This video absolutely made my morning. Two aviation Legends, Kelly Johnson and the SR71. Incredible interview
Kelly Johnson is the most underappreciated aviation designer if all time. No argument can be made to the contrary.
Kelly Johnson, true aviation pioneer and legend!
This guy is a one man engineering powerhouse. Mostly just coming straight out of his mind initially
Thank you for uploading. It's a special piece of film. A walkaround what is perhaps the most exquisitely engineered creation ever, with the only man capable of bringing it to life, especially when you consider (judging by the filmstock) that it was still a black project at the time this film was shot.
More please...!
Those closing words are kind of beautifully haunting.
KELLY JOHNSON HIMSELF 🔥
I USED TO SEE THE PLANE IN SOUTH AFRICA , WE USED TO SEE IT TOO BUT WE NEVER KNEW WHAT WAS IT BUT NOW I KNOW
Your caps lock seems to be stuck.
I think this plane never landed in Africa. Not sure if it ever made it into Southern Hemisphere. The Nasa u2 has been in SA.
@@fekard probably not, after reading that most of the stuff about the plane is still classified, I thought most probably S.A. would be interesting for them, post and pre apartheid.
@@fekard it went into the southern hemisphere at least twice to Diego Garcia.
Hall Hibbard once said that Kelly could see air. GOAT.
before computer modeling and high tech wind tunnels, i believe it!!!
Hall Hibbard.
Amazing video! Never really seen this legend in an interview to explain his beautiful creation. Thank you!
Mr. Johnson was one very smart man, think of all the planes he helped bring to life and the missions they accomplished that served to protect our way of life, thank you sir.
Kelly Johnson not one for fashion, a brilliant engineer and manager of teams, what that man accomplished in such a short space of time was amazing
Mr. Johnson demonstrates the rare Genius we see so rarely. He is a humble man. The effort that went into this aircraft is so rare. We see thse folks once in an industry, sometimes.
The book “Skunkworks” is a nice account of the era. It touches on the SR-71 and it’s design and then moves into the stealth fighter.
Read Kelly's autobiography, "Kelly: More Than My Share Of It All"
its just insane to me how casually Kelly walks around those two planes like he's watering the grass. just insane how ahead of its time that SR was. Kelly was one of the greatest everything to ever live.
Those airplanes are basically his children. He acts like a proud and loving father.
He’s a man for whom on seeing something classified - “Top Secret” would say, “that’s okay, I know everything that’s in there anyway.”
Built with slide rulers, and punch cards the SR71. My late father in law worked at MITRE, Lincoln Labs, Raytheon, and few
others, NASA as well, he had one in his desk drawer. My father in law was a radar
systems engineer. Both the SR71, and radar were offensive military
weapons of their time. I've never used one, but its purpose is part of many
trades that we have not seen the last of I'm quite sure of, transistors are noteworthy for failure.....
As a young kid I saw a static SR-71 at Castle Air Force Base in California. It’s like seeing the 8th wonder of the world in person. To this day 20 years later, I still am mesmerized thinking about it.
This is a brilliant man. What a great story of a feat of engineering. Fascinating! The man hours that went into the design and testing is truly amazing. I chuckled when he said “it’s very expensive to fly supersonic”. Especially when we now have satellites that can circle earth every 90 minutes!! It’s hard to fathom exhaust gases at 3500 degrees!! Mind blowing technology in 1958. True pioneers!
Kelly Johnson is the greatest aeronautical engineer who ever lived. From the P-38 to the SR-71 his designs are legendary. Our nation is safer due to his work.
This was a very good thing to hear Kelly Johnson talk about this amazing plane... He and his team of engineers & technicians who brought this aircraft from a blueprint , to reality are true legends in the aviation world...
I don't know why but I got tears watch him speaking of this aircraft. One of my favorite aircrafts of all time and the epitome of what engineers can achieve under the leadership of person like "Kelly". RIP sir.
Not only was Mr. Johnson the greatest aeronautical engineer he was a tremendous manager. "On time and under budget."
October 2019... 20 years ago Lockheed SR-71s made their last flights... replaced by drones & satellites
The SR 71 Blackbird is a truly awesome aircraft but its not surprising as Kelly Johnson was a truly awesome aircraft designer and engineer. To have created such a plane at the time with the technology available one can only guess the headaches there must have been. RIP Kelly Johnson. Creator of some fantastic aircraft.
Kelly is a legend in the aerospace engineering world. I think it is safe to say that he will never be forgotten there.
He was indeed an incredible engineer with a 6th sense for airflows. His creations were all ahead of their time and were often delivered on time and under budget. Underpromise and overdeliver must have been his motto. Todays F35 program in comparison is nothing but a boondoggle of cost-plus contracts for Lockheed. The F35 does have an impressive situational information management system (I could be ported to other planes) but as a flying platform, it will never be inspirational like the SR71, not even close. Its development cost is nothing but staggering and should be an example for all times of poor project management at the expense of the US taxpayers.
The SR71 is an incredible machine. An inspirational idea, brilliantly designed, beautiful, menacing in the way that all of its forms follows their respective functions, and totally unmatched to this day when it comes to flying capabilities. Amazingly, its speed limit came from its compressor inlet temperature (max of 427degrees C). Depending on atmospheric conditions, its top speed could therefore vary quite a bit. Brian Shul (Sledd Driver )tells some of the best stories about flying the SR71.
It is one of these amazing facts that at high speeds, the faster the SR71 flew the more efficient it became.
As he says, it is hard to imagine a future scenario where anything similar would need to be designed and built. Satellites, the U2 newer variants, drones, social media have all replaced the need for an SR71.
Another mythical plane like the SR71 is the Valkyrie. Brilliant engineering and incredible performance, but again, a design whose need disappeared and will most likely never be seen again.
Cool to watch loved the comment about slide rule my dad used to have one at all times. He worked up at murac as well
As a Brit A respect Kelly Johnson more than just about any engineer in history. His passion for the craft shines through and I’m sure inspired those that worked and subcontracted for him. The fact the sr71 was never shot down after any attempts is a brilliantly legacy for Kelly and the following stealth aircraft that no doubt saved many allied lives.
Wow. Just... wow! I like the way he moves confidently under the plane without ducking. He's so familiar.
Gotta admit, he sounds different than I imagined.
an incredible man and breathtaking work
Have seen the Blackbird, and even touched the airframe, WHAT A FEELING😊
Johnson was a true design genius!
A man with the ability of 'reducing' the horizons of mankind, through a genius that comes naturally to those destined to be remembered as being true 'Greats Of All Time..
Amazing man, amazing machine. Amazing video too! I’ve never seen an interview with the man himself!
I'm still utterly obsessed by this aircraft
My Uncle, Richard “Dick” DeGrey, was program manager on the SR71. Just one of many behind the scenes hero’s who sought to make the world a safer place.
There's a LOT more to the story of Kelly Johnson as well as the SR71... small details that are almost unbelievable. He was truly one of aviation's greatest minds.
Kelly is the reason I became an engineer!
What a genius Mr Johnson was.
Absolute madlad. Legendary madlad
i have read so much about him this is a treat thank you. Go Kellys Rules
The Blackbird at the end of the film is being chased by another Kelly Johnson 'Skunkworks' creation, the F-104 Starfighter. Wow!!
I was lucky enough to be one of the first Air Force jet engine mechanics to work on the SR-71. I went to school at Lockheed Palmdale and engine school at Pratt and Whitney in East Hartford, CT.
I go to Beale a year before we got our first SR and only had 6 months on the bird before I finished my enlistment. We learned something new every day.
In the very early 1980’s, I had the privilege of seeing the SR-71 do a high speed pass at Norton AFB. When it climbed at full afterburner, it was gone from sight in 15 seconds. Kelly Johnson was a masterful engineer and designer. He’s an American icon.
The only man that walked the earth and when something flew over he could look up and say yeah I invented it or helped invent it ,or inspired it ,or made it better , but he never did or have to, because everyone in the aviation industry knew it ,and his humbled mannerisms earned him greatness .
What a great legacy. You come into this world you create a magnificent piece of art and engineering then you leave. I could imagine waking up the wright brothers and showing them this on full after burner while watching the expression on their faces. In the scheme of things your life flashed pass as quick as the blink of the eye. RIP!!!