He Ejected From an SR-71—and Lived to Tell the Story

SR-71 Ejection: Blair Bozek's Incredible Blackbird Survival Story What happens when a routine Mach 3 flight at 75,000 feet suddenly becomes a fight for survival? During an SR-71 mission over the western Pacific, Reconnaissance Systems Officer Blair Bozek and pilot Dan House were enjoying what Blair describes as a "rocket ride" when they heard a seemingly innocent pop. Within moments, their SR-71 Blackbird was in serious trouble. What initially seemed like an engine unstart became something far worse. The left engine failed and seized, problems developed with the right engine's hydraulic system, and the Blackbird began violently rolling—at times reaching approximately 75 degrees of bank—while pitching upward. The crew fought to control the aircraft, worked emergency checklists, coordinated with support aircraft and tried to reach Clark Air Base in the Philippines. But as hydraulic pressure became increasingly unreliable, the situation reached the point every aircrew trains for but hopes never to experience. It was time to get out. At roughly 10,000–12,000 feet and 350 knots, Blair and Dan ejected from the SR-71. But getting out of the Blackbird didn't end the danger. Hanging beneath his parachute, Blair watched the aircraft he had just escaped continue maneuvering and falling nearby—describing the surreal scene almost as though the SR-71 was engaged in "air-to-air combat" with him. Then came the water. The survival equipment. Local fishermen. An unexpected request for payment before assistance. A borrowed ham radio. And eventually, rescue. In this Old Fly Guy conversation from our Duxford SR-71 series, Blair recounts the emergency, ejection and survival in remarkable detail—and explains how years of training took over when there was no time for hesitation. Investigators eventually traced the catastrophic failure to a problem involving the engine oil system following an oil-filter change, leading to lubrication failure and seizure in the compressor section. Perhaps the most remarkable chapter came afterward. After surviving the loss of an SR-71, Blair and Dan contributed their experience to the accident investigation and improvements in simulator training. And then they did something that says a great deal about the men who flew the Blackbird: Within weeks, they climbed back into an SR-71 and flew again. This isn't simply a story about losing one of the world's most extraordinary airplanes. It's a story about training, teamwork, survival and having the courage to climb back into the Blackbird. Inside Aviation: The Most Popular Old Fly Guy Stories Playlist:    • Inside Aviation: The Most Popular Old Fly ...   Visit The Old Fly Guy Channel:    / @oldflyguyn1217w   Visit The Old Fly Guy Website: https://oldflyguy.com/ Visit The Old Fly Guy Spotify podcast: Visit The Old Fly Guy Apple Podcast: