U-2 by junge1
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Description
U-2s became operational in 1957 and still perform an important role in strategic reconnaisance today. On May 1, 1960 a U-2 piloted by Francis Gary Powers was shot down while overflying the Soviet Union photographing ICBM sites. Powers had taken off at Badaber near Peshawar, then West Pakistan, and was to have landed in Bodo, Norway.
In 1966, while en route support deploying to Southeast Asia I saw a U-2 land at Hickam AFB, Honolulu, Hawaii. Later that day I had to go the local Life Support Shop for something, and as I entered a side entrance, I was face to face with the U-2 I had earlier seen land. A full pressure suit, similar to the ones astronauts wear, was hanging nearby. I was kind of shocked. What I hadn't realized was that both hangar doors were guarded, but not the side entrance. Everything about this aircraft was still classified top secret, a clearance I didn't have.
The aircraft shown here appears to be either a U-2R or U-2S, much larger than the original model.
The rearview mirror, mounted on the left side of the cockpit allows the pilot to check his contrails while flying at high altitude.
Statistics:
Lenght: 63-ft. (19.2m)
Wingspan: 103-ft. (31.4m)
Height: 16-ft. (4.8m)
Weight:
Empty: 10,000-lb (4,535kg)
Max T/O: 40,000-lb (18,144kg)
Performanc:
Max Speed: 430mph (693km/h)
Power Plant:
One Pratt&Whitney J75-PW-13B turbojet
Thrust: 17,000lb
Endurance; 12 hrs.
The U-2 is still the backbone of US tactical reconnaisance and can carry a variety of cameras and electronic surveillance equipment to an altitude of 90,000-ft. (27,430m). [Source: Jane's Aircraft Recognition Guide, 1995].
U-2s also provide imagery for commercial consumption. While working for the AZ Dept. of Water Resources we purchased color infrared imagery to verify claimed water uses. This imagery was flown at 72,000-ft.
U-2s can be equipped with an optical, side-looking lens mounted in the nose that allows for oblique, side-looking imagery. The lens diameter is nearly as big as the nose's diameter.
Here is some information I have read (but I can't remember where) that an image taken by an U-2 from 400 miles distance of an object the size of a golf ball can be identified by a skilled airphoto interpreter.
Here is another bit of information, gossip by a number of people that claimed to know, or have heard about it, that when the U-2 was tested to its limits as far as altitude is concerned, it flew so high, that when it turned, one wingtip exceeded the speed of sound, while the other wingtip was at stallspeed causing the aircraft to break up.
I don't know how true this is and I don't know how high an aircraft has to fly for this to happen.
This picture was taken at Nellis AFB, Las Vegas, NV in April 1997 and later scanned.
Thank you for viewing and commenting on my uploads,
Sig...
Comments (36)
lizzibell
nice capture...
bmac62
This is neat...I'll bet there aren't many of these photos around. Thanks for all the fascinating notes. Another prized product of the Skunk Works. Bill
kimariehere
wow i have never seen what one looks like before so thats where the band got thier name !!! ,. awesome shot and historical avation relic!
MagikUnicorn Online Now!
WOW Beautiful shot here!
renecyberdoc
beautiful shot,sorry the expression the nose looks like, the head of....blabla..hihi you know what i mean. well done brother.
lyron
Great capture!!!!
Meisiekind
A real mean machine... great image Sig! :)
jeroni
excellent postwork
flora-crassella
das schaut lustig aus!!! Super Foto!
bugatti
nice shot and interesting data ...
PD154
Nice shot Sig, a real good POV you chose there too my friend, thanks for the cool info too.
timtripp
superb in every way. one of several masterpieces of the skunkworks
Minda
awesome shot sig...never seen this kind look like before,great info and POV...
lucindawind
wow a scary looking plane ! Ive never seen a U2 up clos... excellent shot
flaviok
Outra magnifica captura, de real interesse, aplausos (5)
allnaydi
Great capture and historic background. This plane is alreayd a legend, even while it's still in use.
november22
I've never seen one in this paint scheme, I think it was when I was at Canon AFB that we had several of these, but in the silver. I was occasionally one of the guards.
ekatz
interesting aircraft
cjoe
Very Nice shot and interesting story too!
emmecielle
Interesting image and informations! :)
thevolunteer
Looks a lot like Snoopy the dog on Charlie Brown. Lucky you didn't get thrown in the guard house..... Amazing all the different planes etc we have. Have a great weekend. Aloha
Buffalo1
A good airframe can be modified forever (well almost)and that is the case with the U-2. Great shot of a later model!
danapommet
So that is the famous trouble maker. Thanks for sharing. DanaP
ysvry
great foto and intresting info.
kgb224
Excellent capture and thank you for sharing the information my friend.
debbielove
Brilliant shot! I know these well. They were based at RAF Alconbury, just down the road from me, and knowing people on the base, pilots and ground crew, me and my Dad, often got quite close to these planes. Though, unfortunately, not in the cockpit! There's one a Duxford in the American museum as well. Great shot, Thanks again, my friend. Love them!!! Rob.
virginiese
nice POV and light. Thanks for the informations too !
casmindo
Not very pretty but a great shot of such a famous Aircraft. It has been a real workhorse.
amanda_a42
Another awesome shot, Excellent work!
moochagoo
Quite interesting picture !