I’ve listened to a lot of SR-71 crew interviews - some are extroverts, some are very technical, others are self-effacing. But, no matter what creed or colour, all are extraordinary gentlemen.
You just know that guys like Col. Watson has got SO much more to tell, and yet he has to hold it back. What he can’t talk about fascinates me more and more. He is one of those guys you look up to, and thank for his knowledge, skills and service.
He is a good speaker but would probably say listen to Brian’s version. He is much more introverted than Brian, that’s the wrong word.he is not a showman. I would love to see them together, I think that would be very entertaining. They didn’t match these crews randomly, the would have done a lot of work selecting guys that absolutely complemented each other. Despite Brian Shuls funny side , both these guys would have been totally professional, very tough individuals. I notice he is a pilot, in this plane the level of trust must have been so high between both of them.
Lovely to hear walt again ,had the pleasure to meet him at an air show in Norwich uk with the det4 caravan .even after a long day he spent time chatting to us .Brian and walt great ambassadors.
I've gotten the impression from these talks and things I've read that some in the SR "community" look down on Brian Schul as either a loud-mouth exaggerator or a liar depending on the source. Just wondering what the opinion of y'all is.
I see 6.8k people who viewed this video and only 226 liked it before me. Such a shame. This Man has achieved a place that few have even thought of. Yes, Brian Shul puts on a great show, but Walter Watson's stories tie it all together.
Col. Watson is an amazing person. Brian described him as the brains of the operation, with all the stuff he was dealing with in the back. The pilot had to be top notch, but the RSO was amazing because they knew the front cockpit as well as theirs, which changed with each mission. You could have the best pilot in the world up front, but if your RSO couldn't perform you couldn't do the mission. It took both, working in tandem, with the RSO coordinating the intelligence gathering and defense of the aircraft.
I'm in my early 40s. As a child, I always wanted to be a pilot. When I was 17, I signed up for the Reserves and found out I was "colourblind" and was told I could never fly. I saw one of Col. Watson's video's a couple of years ago and found out about the alternate test. I did some research and was able to do that test and I passed it! So I've gone for my Category 1 Aviation Medical exam. Fingers crossed, I may still get my wings. My fascination with the SR-71 brought me to Brian Shul, which introduced me to Walter Watson, who talked about flying my dream plane AND being "colourblind", and how to overcome this obstacle. Life has a way of connecting the dots! Thank you Col. Walter Watson! You restored my hope to realise a lifelong goal.
Brian Shul talks with great respect about Walter. They are obviously close friend. I am reading “Sled Driver”, I was lucky enough to find a copy. It is a totally fascinating book. What these guys went through as a crew was just amazing. It is my opinion that Walter kept Brian calm. Both are compelling speakers. An interesting point is the one aircraft that was happy near 60000 ft was Concorde. At the end of its cruise it was often near 58000 to 59000 ft. Holding Mach 2. 100 passengers in relative although a little tight comfort drinking Champagne & eating the very best food. Both these aircraft were developed at a similar time. The RAF tried to catch Concorde with Lightnings, they just didn’t have the range with Concorde flying at Mach 2.
Love Col. Watson Jr. and his pilot Brian Shul! They have such interesting stories, and are the perfect team! I never get enough of either one of them! I can never get enough of their stories! Thank you for posting!!!
Thank you Black birds for keeping the peace. This was absolutely incredible to watch and listen,thank you Walter Watson, I learned allot from you sir, and could listen for hours to your stories. 🇺🇲
These oral histories deserve to be captured and preserved. I could listen all day to Col. Watson. Living fairly close to Mildenhall and going to the air shows as a school boy in the 1980s, I was in total awe of the Blackbird and the men that flew them. Hopefully before too long I'll get a chance to visit Udvar-Hazy again.
Thanks for sharing! I thoroughly enjoyed watching the SR doing touch and goes at Kadena when TDY there for a month many moons ago. Got to see one broken down at Mountain Home AFB leaking fuel all over the ramp as we taxied in. I still love the old SR-71 joke between Oakland Center (well, one of the centers) and an Aspen aircraft requesting FL650. Oakland, reportedly responded, “you’re cleared to FL650, if you can make it.” Aspen (the SR call sign) replied, “departing FL850 for FL650…”. The Oakland controller was a new guy and didn’t recognize the Aspen call sign yet.
Thanks for sharing such an inspiring story of overcoming challenges to make history. God bless you for staying strong with your passion on flying airplanes. Keep the speeches going to inspire this generation and the next one as well.
Someone like Colonel Watson is a true role model. Unlike the nonsense so many young people are inspired by today. That was very good presentation from Colonel Walter Watson the one and only black man to be part of a profound program. His knowledge and skill is inspiring and noteworthy. He has fascinating story about his time in the Air Force and the flying of numerous aircraft. His stories about the SR-71 program were quite interesting.
Met Brian and his wife at Reno 'round 2010. Signed my book I bought (The Untouchables) and invited my wife and I inside under his pop-up (hot day!) and offered us both coke's! Had a great time talking with them about flying, photography, and athletics! What a thrill!!! Would love someday to meet Col. Watson!
I absolutely died laughing at the 31:00 mark when Walter said "this guy is already burned up".🤣 It's amazing how someone like yourself can have such a serious role and still have a sense of humor.I salute you and thank you for opening the doors to other African African Americans and it is truly amazing how you were able to overcome so many personal hurdles and you were able to fly and operate this magnificent plane.
Yes, he is African American, but I don't look at him as that. He is just an American, doing his job. He is just a person, doing his job. Doing a FANTASTIC job of it, but, doing what they were paid to do. BUT, doing it better than anyone else could do it! Or at least as good as anyone else. In my book, they were the best team! The PERFECT team!
While working at an "aerospace" facility I ran into a situation that until now was a "story".... from now on it shall be simply a "Walter" moment. Thank You.
What a great guy. Could listen to him sharing his experience for hours. The " He's already burned " was hallarious ! Ex. IAF Structural technician / Airframe fitter. (serviced F-4E Kurnass)
Im thinking when I sit down in a Black Barber Shop Im going to tell them about the History of Walter Watson, and that Response about when he had taken off his Helmet and they said look that guy got burnt 😂😂 but its a Beautiful thing to be able to tell the story about his Journey and Mission in the SR71 Blackbird, Thank you for your Service Walter Watson
I know exactly how Walter Felt with that patch. I have amblyopia...diagnosed at 5 years old..I'm 53 now. Not fun as a 5 year old in the 70s, like Walter...KIDS ARE MEAN. I too had reading issues and they thought I was dyslexic as well...By 6th grade I was reading high school level, working math at a high school level, and more. Like Walter said...you have to work to overcome it. He had it tougher for sure...
An immense thanks, from the bottom of our hearts, to major Shul and colonel Watson and all those who dedicated their lives to counteract the oppressors and contribute to support helpless and necessitous.
I absolutely enjoyed this interview with Col Watson...also watch Brian Shul's "From Butterflies to Blackbirds" session. I was a child on Okinawa in the early 70s and I recall the SR-71 (who wouldn't!). I can now connect Watson/Shul with the experience. AWESOME!
When I was a kid in SW Wyoming I heard this things sonic boom every few days, could look up and see a contrail go across the sky in like 45 seconds. It scared me to death th first time I experienced this! This was in the early 80’s. Right on man!
I really enjoyed listening to Walter Watson! He put things in terms that you can really understand. I am working on my communication skills right now and really enjoyed his take on communicating with his Pilot over the intercom.
I found that utterly fascinating. I don’t know how UA-cam took me here after I fell asleep watching an air disaster video, but I’m glad it did. I honestly thought Concorde was the ultimate in supersonic flight at that time. Of course we always had fighter jets (usually in pairs) that came roaring overhead and quite often they’d break the sound barrier, but they were normally flying low, to practice getting under radar. I had no idea these planes existed! What an eye opener. 😳
Actually Brian was referring to himself as the "12-year-old" who was about to reach for the mic but Walter grabbed it first and requested the speed check. Brian states that when he was recovering from his crash, he felt like he was reborn as a two-year-old in the hospital, then, 10 years later in his career, was "12" during his time with the SR-71.
Thank you sir great story great story that is one of my all- time favorite the Blackbird. Also thank you for serving in the military. I too wanted to join the airforce because I love speed and flying. but now I get to drive my Corvette ZR1 and pretend. LOL
I want to go see the Blackbird in person. Interesting was the fact that the pilots had to be married. Then they would be less likely to defect and land the Blackbird in Russia!
That couldn’t be true. There were several bachelor SR pilots. And no pilot in his right mind would ever defect to the Soviet Union. In fact, the married pilots may have wanted to get away from their marriages but they wouldn’t head for the Soviet Union to get rid of their wives. Geez. These wacko myths.
tHIS MAN IS A HUMBLE DECENT HUMAN BEING , YOU CAN TELL HOW BRILLIANT MIND IS IN HIM, REMINDED ME OF DOCTOR NORMAN R. BERGRUN (RIP) WHO WROTE A BOOK CALLED RINGMAKERS OF SATURN, He did a conference showing hos those enormous cylindrical objects built not only the rings of Saturn, but everything we see with our own eyes, these objects are GOD's Tools of CREATION
the manual feedback for the pilot's ... yup another Avro Arrow first ... pity they only have 2 redundant systems on the sr71 ... the arrow was triple redundant
I’ve listened to a lot of SR-71 crew interviews - some are extroverts, some are very technical, others are self-effacing. But, no matter what creed or colour, all are extraordinary gentlemen.
You just know that guys like Col. Watson has got SO much more to tell, and yet he has to hold it back. What he can’t talk about fascinates me more and more.
He is one of those guys you look up to, and thank for his knowledge, skills and service.
Impressive and inspirational
I would love live near both of them! Just to sit and listen to them talk.
I feel like Col. Watson could talk for at least another hour on these topics and never get boring.
He has a couple other REALLY entertaining videos I've seen ! I REALLY like both his and Brian Shul's sense of humor !!! 💪🙏🍻😂🤣👍
I would love to hear Walter tell the “LA speed check” story.
That would be great.
He is a good speaker but would probably say listen to Brian’s version. He is much more introverted than Brian, that’s the wrong word.he is not a showman. I would love to see them together, I think that would be very entertaining. They didn’t match these crews randomly, the would have done a lot of work selecting guys that absolutely complemented each other. Despite Brian Shuls funny side , both these guys would have been totally professional, very tough individuals. I notice he is a pilot, in this plane the level of trust must have been so high between both of them.
Lovely to hear walt again ,had the pleasure to meet him at an air show in Norwich uk with the det4 caravan .even after a long day he spent time chatting to us .Brian and walt great ambassadors.
Great story, I've heard it from Brian. " I'm showing closer to 2000 knots" lol
I've gotten the impression from these talks and things I've read that some in the SR "community" look down on Brian Schul as either a loud-mouth exaggerator or a liar depending on the source. Just wondering what the opinion of y'all is.
I see 6.8k people who viewed this video and only 226 liked it before me. Such a shame. This Man has achieved a place that few have even thought of. Yes, Brian Shul puts on a great show, but Walter Watson's stories tie it all together.
Not everyone remembers to tap the like symbol and me included. Dont mean we didn't like it
Some people are just lazy
Walter and Brian are 2 new heroes that I get to study and research. Thank Col. Watson for your service!
Col. Watson is an amazing person. Brian described him as the brains of the operation, with all the stuff he was dealing with in the back. The pilot had to be top notch, but the RSO was amazing because they knew the front cockpit as well as theirs, which changed with each mission. You could have the best pilot in the world up front, but if your RSO couldn't perform you couldn't do the mission. It took both, working in tandem, with the RSO coordinating the intelligence gathering and defense of the aircraft.
I'm in my early 40s. As a child, I always wanted to be a pilot. When I was 17, I signed up for the Reserves and found out I was "colourblind" and was told I could never fly.
I saw one of Col. Watson's video's a couple of years ago and found out about the alternate test. I did some research and was able to do that test and I passed it! So I've gone for my Category 1 Aviation Medical exam. Fingers crossed, I may still get my wings.
My fascination with the SR-71 brought me to Brian Shul, which introduced me to Walter Watson, who talked about flying my dream plane AND being "colourblind", and how to overcome this obstacle. Life has a way of connecting the dots!
Thank you Col. Walter Watson! You restored my hope to realise a lifelong goal.
Nothing short of brilliant! Loved listening to Walter.
This was absolutely wonderful. The SR-71 a beautiful aircraft flown by a beautiful eloquent man.
VERY inspirational....we need MANY more like him.
Brian Shul talks with great respect about Walter. They are obviously close friend. I am reading “Sled Driver”, I was lucky enough to find a copy. It is a totally fascinating book. What these guys went through as a crew was just amazing. It is my opinion that Walter kept Brian calm. Both are compelling speakers. An interesting point is the one aircraft that was happy near 60000 ft was Concorde. At the end of its cruise it was often near 58000 to 59000 ft. Holding Mach 2. 100 passengers in relative although a little tight comfort drinking Champagne & eating the very best food. Both these aircraft were developed at a similar time. The RAF tried to catch Concorde with Lightnings, they just didn’t have the range with Concorde flying at Mach 2.
Love Col. Watson Jr. and his pilot Brian Shul! They have such interesting stories, and are the perfect team! I never get enough of either one of them! I can never get enough of their stories! Thank you for posting!!!
Thank you Black birds for keeping the peace.
This was absolutely incredible to watch and listen,thank you Walter Watson, I learned allot from you sir, and could listen for hours to your stories. 🇺🇲
Great interview! Thank you!
Brian was the driver and I wondered how great the spy was ...
Now I know he was great.
These oral histories deserve to be captured and preserved. I could listen all day to Col. Watson. Living fairly close to Mildenhall and going to the air shows as a school boy in the 1980s, I was in total awe of the Blackbird and the men that flew them. Hopefully before too long I'll get a chance to visit Udvar-Hazy again.
Quite possibly the coolest plane ever!
What a great and Humble patriot, thank you Sir !
Thank you so much for this with Col. Watson. I was a SR-71 maintainer in the 1970's. 🙂
Thank You colonel Watson for your time, dedication & commitment to our safety, and for your brilliant explanations of this plane and its demands.
I love hearing these SR pilots share their life changing and amazing experiences.
Thanks for sharing! I thoroughly enjoyed watching the SR doing touch and goes at Kadena when TDY there for a month many moons ago. Got to see one broken down at Mountain Home AFB leaking fuel all over the ramp as we taxied in. I still love the old SR-71 joke between Oakland Center (well, one of the centers) and an Aspen aircraft requesting FL650. Oakland, reportedly responded, “you’re cleared to FL650, if you can make it.” Aspen (the SR call sign) replied, “departing FL850 for FL650…”. The Oakland controller was a new guy and didn’t recognize the Aspen call sign yet.
Legend, Top Man, and yet so humble, awesome listening to him!
God Bless you sir. And your service. Great Americans are becoming harder to find. But nothing could be needed more.
Thanks for sharing such an inspiring story of overcoming challenges to make history. God bless you for staying strong with your passion on flying airplanes. Keep the speeches going to inspire this generation and the next one as well.
Someone like Colonel Watson is a true role model. Unlike the nonsense so many young people are inspired by today. That was very good presentation from Colonel Walter Watson the one and only black man to be part of a profound program. His knowledge and skill is inspiring and noteworthy. He has fascinating story about his time in the Air Force and the flying of numerous aircraft. His stories about the SR-71 program were quite interesting.
Met Brian and his wife at Reno 'round 2010. Signed my book I bought (The Untouchables) and invited my wife and I inside under his pop-up (hot day!) and offered us both coke's! Had a great time talking with them about flying, photography, and athletics! What a thrill!!! Would love someday to meet Col. Watson!
I absolutely died laughing at the 31:00 mark when Walter said "this guy is already burned up".🤣 It's amazing how someone like yourself can have such a serious role and still have a sense of humor.I salute you and thank you for opening the doors to other African African Americans and it is truly amazing how you were able to overcome so many personal hurdles and you were able to fly and operate this magnificent plane.
Yes, he is African American, but I don't look at him as that. He is just an American, doing his job. He is just a person, doing his job. Doing a FANTASTIC job of it, but, doing what they were paid to do. BUT, doing it better than anyone else could do it! Or at least as good as anyone else. In my book, they were the best team! The PERFECT team!
Amazing interview. Thanks for the video and especially to Walter Watson!!!
great interview, really enjoyed this. Walt is a great american, glad to hear him speak.
I would love to meet this man. What a hero.
While working at an "aerospace" facility I ran into a situation that until now was a "story".... from now on it shall be simply a "Walter" moment. Thank You.
Excellent interview. Thanks for posting!
What an interesting life the Col had. Thank you for your service.
Totally cool....of the dozens of times I listened to Shull telling the LA Speed Check story, race was never mentioned.
Beautiful man and story
That has to be the most epic intro in the history of film. You guys are the best lmao
Love they way he explains how things happened and worked, super clear and calm. Amazing person!
Very interesting to hear Mr Watson about his experience !!!
Thank you for sharing it !!
What a great guy. Could listen to him sharing his experience for hours.
The " He's already burned " was hallarious !
Ex. IAF Structural technician / Airframe fitter. (serviced F-4E Kurnass)
I am honored that men like Col. Watson were up there in the sky making sure My family and I are free. God bless and thank you.
Great interview. It would be awesome to have Walter and Brian in the same room giving a presentation together.
Great job Walter!
Thank you from Singapore.
It doesn't get any better than that. Thank You for your short story
Wow what an amazing man, amazing career and amazing achievement! I could listen to him all day!
Im thinking when I sit down in a Black Barber Shop Im going to tell them about the History of Walter Watson, and that Response about when he had taken off his Helmet and they said look that guy got burnt 😂😂 but its a Beautiful thing to be able to tell the story about his Journey and Mission in the SR71 Blackbird, Thank you for your Service Walter Watson
So much respect for this fine intelligent man.. god bless you sir
I know exactly how Walter Felt with that patch. I have amblyopia...diagnosed at 5 years old..I'm 53 now. Not fun as a 5 year old in the 70s, like Walter...KIDS ARE MEAN. I too had reading issues and they thought I was dyslexic as well...By 6th grade I was reading high school level, working math at a high school level, and more. Like Walter said...you have to work to overcome it. He had it tougher for sure...
An immense thanks, from the bottom of our hearts, to major Shul and colonel Watson and all those who dedicated their lives to counteract the oppressors and contribute to support helpless and necessitous.
A fresh way to tell the story. I really enjoyed this. Thank you. 💘
THANKS FOR YOUR SERVICE, LOYALTY, COURAGE AND PATRIOTISM.., GOD BLESS YOU Sr.
I absolutely enjoyed this interview with Col Watson...also watch Brian Shul's "From Butterflies to Blackbirds" session. I was a child on Okinawa in the early 70s and I recall the SR-71 (who wouldn't!). I can now connect Watson/Shul with the experience. AWESOME!
You, Sir, are inspirational! Great work, and God Speed!
When I was a kid in SW Wyoming I heard this things sonic boom every few days, could look up and see a contrail go across the sky in like 45 seconds. It scared me to death th first time I experienced this! This was in the early 80’s. Right on man!
What an American!! What a great history and story. Thank you for your service.
I met Major Shul at the beginning of my USAF service, in 1987. I wish I could meet Colonel Watson.
I really enjoyed listening to Walter Watson! He put things in terms that you can really understand. I am working on my communication skills right now and really enjoyed his take on communicating with his Pilot over the intercom.
I found that utterly fascinating. I don’t know how UA-cam took me here after I fell asleep watching an air disaster video, but I’m glad it did. I honestly thought Concorde was the ultimate in supersonic flight at that time. Of course we always had fighter jets (usually in pairs) that came roaring overhead and quite often they’d break the sound barrier, but they were normally flying low, to practice getting under radar. I had no idea these planes existed! What an eye opener. 😳
Thanks Walter
A great American hero for sure Thank you for your service!
A great interview, it takes an exceptional man to fly the SR-71, thanks for the video.
Thank You, Col.!
Thank you for sharing this
"Adjust his behavior" damn they don't make'em like this anymore.
Outstanding....
Timeless design!!!
Thank You so much! Amazing
This guy knows a lot about the SR-71, and butterscotch pudding!
So he is "The Twelve Year Old" who went for the mike button in "L A Speed Check". I am BLACK and am proud to know some of his story.
Actually Brian was referring to himself as the "12-year-old" who was about to reach for the mic but Walter grabbed it first and requested the speed check. Brian states that when he was recovering from his crash, he felt like he was reborn as a two-year-old in the hospital, then, 10 years later in his career, was "12" during his time with the SR-71.
God Bless You Sir!!!!
Great inspiration for the next generations! Congratulations and Respect! From Brasil.
WOW! What a guy.
Great episode for getting done!
Fascinating and engaging speaker, thanks for another great upload.
Thank you sir great story great story that is one of my all- time favorite the Blackbird. Also thank you for serving in the military. I too wanted to join the airforce because I love speed and flying. but now I get to drive my Corvette ZR1 and pretend. LOL
Outstanding. Wow....
Col. Watson is a national treasure 🪙
What a fantastic crew 👍
I want to go see the Blackbird in person. Interesting was the fact that the pilots had to be married. Then they would be less likely to defect and land the Blackbird in Russia!
That couldn’t be true. There were several bachelor SR pilots. And no pilot in his right mind would ever defect to the Soviet Union. In fact, the married pilots may have wanted to get away from their marriages but they wouldn’t head for the Soviet Union to get rid of their wives. Geez. These wacko myths.
Inspiring. Thanks
What a true great American.
Inspiring
tHIS MAN IS A HUMBLE DECENT HUMAN BEING , YOU CAN TELL HOW BRILLIANT MIND IS IN HIM, REMINDED ME OF DOCTOR NORMAN R. BERGRUN (RIP) WHO WROTE A BOOK CALLED RINGMAKERS OF SATURN, He did a conference showing hos those enormous cylindrical objects built not only the rings of Saturn, but everything we see with our own eyes, these objects are GOD's Tools of CREATION
Religious idiots taking over comments section, lol.
It can't help not to go fast, it's all engine 😎
How cool is this!! Love it.
Great story!
That they hear his side of the LA speed check that Brian tells
Still the best airplane ever made
Great guy
As a white protestant I was reduced to tears hearing this dissertation. He is a true hero. I would truly welcome he and his family at my table.
So you’re a racist then?
Are you the same walter who flew with Brian Shul?
Yes
Vantastic
GREAT MAN - GREAT AMERICAN !!
so cool
Awesome story!
like it my friend
"He's already burned up!"
Classic!
Excellent lecture but not the best skilled Host.
Thank You for Your Service!
the manual feedback for the pilot's ... yup another Avro Arrow first ... pity they only have 2 redundant systems on the sr71 ... the arrow was triple redundant
Are there any books on Col. Watson?