Tex Johnston's shocking comments to Tu-104 Captain after he took him onboard for a flight.

#texjohnston #tupolev #tu104 #coldwar

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
✅ Watch 7 JetFlix Videos for FREE – no obligation, just amazing classic aviation videos, start watching right now - SIGN UP:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

DO YOU LOVE CLASSIC AVIATION VIDEOS LIKE THIS ONE?
DO YOU WANT TO EXPERIENCE THE THRILL OF WORLD TRAVEL AND RARE COMMERCIAL AIRLINERS FROM HOME?

HERE ARE SOME NEXT STEPS:

✈️✈️ 1. Subscribe to our YouTube channel:

✈️✈️ 2. Check out our aviation tour playlist here on YouTube:

✈️✈️ 4. Connect with us!

[maxenielsen]

As I understand, the 104 probably really did need two highly experienced pilots at the controls. I believe Johnston, as a former military test pilot, had the requisite experience and aeronautical insight. The Russians probably feared an honest assessment of the 104’s properties, and knew that Johnston could credibly give such after flying it. Johnston probably already knew a great deal about the 104 very well without having flown it. In spite of Johnston not getting to fly it, the history of the 104 bears out his blunt statement. It was a dangerous plane.

[kyle]

I suspect that the Russian captain was scared to death that Johnston would attempt a barrel-roll.

[johnmorykwas]

Did a recertification flight to Tex in a B-52D. He is one of the best pilots I ever flew with.

[AllanBrogdon]

Being a Texan myself, Tex was insulted and cut through all the " nice" and told the truth without sugarcoating. He obviously knew aircraft.

[iansmith]

Given the fact that the Boeing 707 went on to be a resounding success and the Tupolev Tu-104 was a dismal failure; Tex Johnston's observation seemed to be spot on.

[garyjohnston]

First, its Johnston not Johnson. It was a typical on point truthful observation by my father. He didn’t mince words when it came to discussing flight characteristics and performance parameters.

[jonathanwatanabe]

I don't blame the captain one bit. He wasn't being an ass, he knew what the Soviet Union knew.... that plane was dangerous to fly.

[cherifbar]

I am glad Tex chose a career in aviation rather than diplomacy.

[privatehm]

He offered an honest opinion that was demonstratably true.

[mikestafford]

Just found this video. As a retired AA aircraft mechanic I agree totally with Tex comment. In the early 90s I worked at Miami International Airport for AA. We performed an ETOPS check on our B-767. Parked next to it was a IL-62. We communicated with hand signs with a Russian pilot to see his airplane. We didn't speak each others language. On seeing the flight deck it was like stepping back in time. Very crude looking controls and instruments. 5 man flight crew. Painted in bluish green. They would hose down the brakes once parked. They would fly Miami-Shannon-Moscow. That was an interesting day at work.

[samueljohnclark]

I’ve read Tex’s biography. What a great individual he was.

[iansmith]

The design of the Tu-104 having the engines blended into the fuselage at the wing roots created alot of noise and vibration inside the passenger cabin. The 707 has its engines in pods under the wings; a design configuration that still dominates the airline industry today.

[incomitatus]

The Tu-104 was based on the TU-16 strategic bomber, the old NATO codenamed, "badger". Same airframe & engines. It was actually modified from the badger to save time & money during commercial development.

[kevincoulombe]

This was pilot to pilot. An experienced pilot told his colleague his aircraft was crap. This was no cold war moment. This was pilot to pilot.

[christianful]

I've been on this russian Tu-104 aircraft once in 1981 between Budapest and Bucharest, +-1.5 hrs trip. I guess it was the worst airplane trip of my life ! This aircraft was shaking on the tarmac like hell before we took off ! It was so noizy inside that we coul'nt even hear what the captain was saying while we were flying ! Unfortunately, I had to fly again onboard that shit on the way back !

[martykarr]

Wasn't Tex Johnston the guy who barrel-rolled the 707 prototype over Lake Washington?

[bryanrussell]

Tex Johnston had an enormous set of balls that he had to lug around. Sometimes those enormous balls can produce mild bouts of cantankerous conversation. The guy was an American Badass.

[aj-savage]

Worked alongside some Pratt & Whitney guys back in the day. They hosted some Soviet counterparts and mentioned time-between-overhaul of their engines as 5000 hours. The Soviets said, 'you mean 500 hours." Pratt guys said, "no."

[crhvideo]

The TU-104 had a catastrophic accident rate of 37 of 201 planes built being lost to crashes. I am pretty sure that was evident by the fact that two pilots had to wrestle it, and I am sure Tex Johnson observed this when he visited the cockpit, even if he had no opportunity to test the controls himself. I think the statement was fair.

[cpcattin]

Tex Johnson was a Seattle legend. My former girlfriend’s mother (1919-2004) took flying lessons from Tex. Just after WW2.