And you thought your landings were bad..........

[NutLoose]

Watch this full screen :ok: and crank up the sound, the track works well with it, the lyrics are spot on (swear word in it)........

YouTube - U-2 Dragon Lady: Landings (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eamnTyfkUBY)

[BarbiesBoyfriend]

That's a heck of a link.

Laughed my ass off!:ok::ok::ok::ok::ooh:

[TurningFinals]

Forgive my ignorance, but why do these aircraft have cars chasing them on landing?

[jimjim1]

According to various sources on the Internet the use of chase cars manned by experienced U2 pilots was routine.

Lockheed U-2 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_U-2)

Apparently the external pilot provided advice to the landing pilot from his external vantage point.

[Double Zero]

If I was in that car, I'd be keeping well clear at 90 degrees from the approach & off into the sunset ! Good Video, and surprising to see it.

It's a wonder they have any U2 / sorry, TR1's left...

When the Harrier / P1127 was first made, with it's outrigger undercarriage, the chap who came around with the tea & buns trolley took one look and said ' that 'un'll steer like a pig, ain't gonna work' .

He was right, and it took a fair bit of development to sort it out.

Clearly, the Skunk Works may have Men In Black around the place, but they didn't have a British bun wagon consultant !

[glhcarl]

Clearly, the Skunk Works may have Men In Black around the place, but they didn't have a British bun wagon consultant !

We had a Mexican with a TACO cart.

[Double Zero]

A Mexican with a Taco cart ?!

Now I know how Kelly Johnson accomplished what he did - the workforce were under slave conditions !

If only someone had told us, we could have done a sort of 'Operation Manna' flight and dropped in some tea & iced buns.

- Now I see that in type I'm worried it might mean something very different in the U.S, but hell we invented the language, and I could send you a photo' of a British iced bun without fear of being locked up .

If our faithful bun trolley operator was still with us, I'd have suggested a track-race against your Mexican chum.

If he's gone now too, hopefully they're above us comparing notes.

[Ewan Whosearmy]

Ladies and Gents

This video is a collection of *prospective* U-2 pilot landings.

One of the earliest parts of the interview process with the Dragonlady community is to get them to try and land the thing (they get a couple of sims first, but they don't have to acquire any in-depth systems knowledge). It's a check of their basic stick and rudder skills. If they manage to do so, they can continue through the rest of the interview stages (and may still not get picked up by the unit); if they don't, they get chopped from the process immediately.

I talked to a high time U-2 pilot about the video. He said that all but one of the a/c in the video was returned to flight within 24 hours. What a tough old jet!

[Sideshow Bob]

Forgive my ignorance, but why do these aircraft have cars chasing them on landing?
Once saw a documentery about it, IIRC it came about because of the lack of visability out of the cockpit, the americans solved this by having another pilot chase the aircraft and talk the guy down. Beggers belief, but I suppose it's worked for the last 40 years!!

[FCWhippingBoy]

I have actually been in that car as the driver (another pilot), one hand on the wheel, one hand holding a fist mic, accelerates hell for leather from a standing start to god knows how fast on the perry track, power slides onto the runway, and chases the aircraft down the runway probably only 10-20m behind it, calling out the heights to the pilot. 'twas a great adrenaline rush, I can tell you!

It is indeed to assist the pilot in judging height to touchdown, as he cannot see over the long nose on landing.

[wz662]

looks like any normal weekend at an Air Cadet Gliding School:E

[CirrusF]

They even landed them on aircraft carriers:

YouTube - Lockheed U-2R landing on aircraft carrier (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_3WeYXDKQ0)

Here's an example of presumably what happened to the chase cars on a carrier :8

YouTube - Top Gear - The Stig - HMS Invincible - BBC (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_eiJkQzpzRc)

[ShyTorque]

Once called in for a refuel at RAF Wyton in 1979 or 1980. One of these aircraft had to divert in as the runway was blocked at its base (Alconbury?). The aircraft held off until a USAF chase vehicle arrived; the successful landing was as on the video.

Problem is that the wings are so long and the landing gear so short, that it takes only a very small angle of bank to drag a wing tip on the runway.

[Aileron1]

i was lucky enough to witness the last two to land and take off from RAF alconbury from the airfield its self. parents worked on base and was friends with aircrew. the chase cars chase because they have to put on a set of wheels that clip onto the wings.

like a glider the wings are heavy and will topple the A/C. when taking off the wheels just fall off. this my memory from then !!!!

[Navy_Adversary]

When they have the changeovers at Fairford I am not sure if the USAF have to get some cars and crew in for the chase?
I can just imagine aircrew at Mildenhall jumping in the Corvette and bombing down the A14 to Fairford.

Maybe the Dragon Lady will have to find a new changeover point if Fairford does close.

[ninja-lewis]

The designers obviously never saw Thunderbirds and how to land without undercarriage! ;)

http://www.technodelic.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/Thunderbirds/TCTBS044.jpg

[airborne_artist]

I managed far better than any of those in one of Her Majesty's whistling chicken legs at CU.

It was an engine off landing, during which I made the poor beast hop like a demented kangaroo and crushed the frangible tail stop while we careered across the grass in a tightening loop of at least 90 degrees. N*** N**** was later decorated for his actions saving people from Sir Galahad, but he'd earned a good 25% of that DFC on 705 as my beefer.

[oldbeefer]

N*** N***** still going strong at Wallop!

[nice castle]

Great link!

[FlapJackMuncher]

Witnessed a couple of take-offs. :)
Chase cars used for that too.
The car was a top-spec Subaru Imprezza or Mitsubishi Lancer Evo, can't remember which, no flashing lights on top though. :(

[Willard Whyte]

I've seen the Imprezza used, it replaced a white BMW 3-Series at the airfield I've visited on occasion.

[goudie]

YouTube - U-2S/TU-2S Surveillance and Reconnaissance Spy Plane (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUs_Pziz9yI&NR=1)

And this is how it should be done.

[TheWestCoast]

This is intriguing -

YouTube - Venezuela F-16 hunting USAF U-2 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMT9OMgrCds&NR=1)

- any Spanish speakers care to translate what is being said?

[EyesFront]

Here's another U-2 link - a story about landing after a flameout
Above & Beyond: I Have a Flameout | Military Aviation | Air & Space Magazine (http://www.airspacemag.com/military-aviation/Above__Beyond_I_Have_a_Flameout.html)#

About the the chase car, the article says:

"Because control at low speed was marginal and landing required a full stall, all landings were assisted by another U-2 pilot driving a Chevrolet El Camino with a souped-up engine. The driver raced down the runway behind the landing airplane, radioing height information: “One foot…six inches…hold it off…. Good touchdown!”

[TheWestCoast]

An El Camino?! I used to drive one of those - a '73, with a couple hundred thousand miles on the clock. I suspect the writer means a Chevy Camaro...

.....something like this:
Third-generation Chevrolet Camaro - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third-generation_Chevrolet_Camaro)

.....compared to something like this:
Chevrolet El Camino - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevy_El_Camino)

But I would be mighty impressed if someone has a picture of an El Camino chasing a U-2 to prove me wrong!:D

[MarkerInbound]

I can see the AF buying a few 450 horse El Caminos to chase a U-2.

[Ten West]

Wouldn't it have been cheaper and easier to have fitted the U2 with a nose-mounted video camera and some sort of "parking sensor" arrangement for the last few feet? :confused:

Or how about a Concorde droop-snoot? :}

[Megaton]

Guess you could fit a camera on the nose but much more fun screaming down the runway in someone else's car. Spent a day with U2 guys on a detachment once. Surreal experience seeing a guy in a spacesuit being lifted out of the cockpit after a x hr mission.

[MightyGem]

Perhaps they should send them on a gliding course to practise first.

[Bicontatto]

"An El Camino?! I used to drive one of those - a '73, with a couple hundred thousand miles on the clock. I suspect the writer means a Chevy Camaro..."

No, I had a ride in one at Alconbury, a frightening experience to say the least, as your brain is convinced that you are pulling into the path of the approaching aircraft.

It was a El Camino for sure and I remember that the driver said that it was very underpowered, I think the 396 cu inch version??

The vehicles that carried the "pogos" were BL Sherpa pickups.

[Bicontatto]

From Hemmings Motor News: Radio Flyer (http://www.hemmings.com/mus/stories/2005/07/01/hmn_feature20.html)

"It's not any old vehicle that the United States Air Force uses to chase their single-seat TR-1 and U-2S high-altitude tactical reconnaissance planes. This Mustang LX 5.0L's direct predecessors were 1980s El Caminos stuffed full of 396 cu.in. big-block"

[GeeRam]

I remember the Dragon Lady chase El Camino's at Alconbury back in the 1980's...:ok:

Could have sworn one of the guys there said they had 402's or 454's in them though.....:confused:

[Geezers of Nazareth]

When the RAF pilots were trained in them, did the RAF also provide the 'chase car'? What was it ... a Morris Minor, perhaps a Vauxhall Viva, or maybe an Austin Allegro? :rolleyes:

[Green Flash]

A certain USAF base used an AMG as the chase car.:ok:

Got a trip in it up the main rainway.:eek:

Now, I never knew you could do the FOD check at 155mph ..... :E:E:E:E

Ferk me sideways

[texdcd]

Now, I never knew you could do the FOD check at 155mph ..... http://static.pprune.org/images/smilies/evil.gifhttp://static.pprune.org/images/smilies/evil.gifhttp://static.pprune.org/images/smilies/evil.gifhttp://static.pprune.org/images/smilies/evil.gif

He wasn't doing a FOD check...it was a temperature check! By the way, you can't believe how hot the runways get. I know of one individual who tore the oil pan off of a Camaro due to crossing a E-28 type arresting barrier on a 130+ degree day...bounced up after front wheels crossed. Took over a month to receive a new one from stateside.

DCD

[texdcd]

But I would be mighty impressed if someone has a picture of an El Camino chasing a U-2 to prove me wrong!:D

El Camino was used as chase car, at one time, followed by Mustang 5.0 and then a Camaro...in that order. BMW used in one island location...maybe still? Several other autos here and there...some used legally others not so legally? Had a Navy Captain pissed about a red Ferrari (Sicilian-owned) chasing a Duece on his runway! Somebody forgot to ask permission...had to do with the "it's better to ask for forgiveness" but it still didn't work!

DCD

[Corrona]

I've seen them use Subaru Impreza Turbo's to talk him down from - it must have seemed strange for the Americans to find themselves in a car that corners as well as going bloody fast!

[MarkerInbound]

"Wouldn't it have been cheaper and easier to have fitted the U2 with a nose-mounted video camera and some sort of "parking sensor" arrangement for the last few feet? http://static.pprune.org/images/smilies/confused.gif

Or how about a Concorde droop-snoot?"

You have to remember the plane was designed over 50 years ago! As to a drooping nose, it doesn't sit that high off the ground so there isn't much room to droop. Plus the goal was to make the plane as light as possible. Every pound saved was worth some number of feet higher ceiling. Kelly carried this to an extreme when he designed the SR-71 with external starters.

[LowObservable]

That is just farking perfect.

[TheWestCoast]

Awesome - pleased to be proved wrong and glad to know that I was not driving the preferred ride of '80s landscape gardeners and stoners who couldn't decide if they wanted a car or a truck, but a vehicle that played an integral role in the demolition of the Iron Curtain.:ok:

[MichaelBuckle]

When they have the changeovers at Fairford I am not sure if the USAF have to get some cars and crew in for the chase?
I can just imagine aircrew at Mildenhall jumping in the Corvette and bombing down the A14 to Fairford.

Maybe the Dragon Lady will have to find a new changeover point if Fairford does close.

Only just came across this when searching, so sorry for bringing up a old thread!

To answer the question, Fairford don't have chase cars or crews based at Fairford neither are they from Mildenhall. The U-2 team are flown in for the arrivals (the chase car driver is a current U-2 Pilot from 9RW) and the cars are leased.

The chase cars used range really but they're always automatic and high performance - Normally BMW 3/5 series, Saab 9-3/9-5's, Mercades Sl/Cl's etc.

Once the change-over is complete, the team and car returns back until next time!

[ChristiaanJ]

Only just came across this when searching, so sorry for bringing up a old thread!
Please, no apologies!
Even if it's only a snippet, it's always welcome!

CJ

[[email protected]]

The Dragonlady used to do a nice line in wing-drop stalls as demonstrated by a new pilot on the Island doing circuits and trying to wave to his girlfriend who was sunbathing on the Southern Cliffs.

I had previously thought that they used full power on takeoff but when I heard the 'throttle-up' and saw the aircraft disappear from view with about 40 deg AoB and the same nose down I realised there was more power available and he used it all.

I believe he went about 10 miles downwind to calm his nerves before returning to land, getting a bollocking and leaving for home within 24 hours:ok:

[Cows getting bigger]

He was lucky. I presuming you're talking about the same island where ATC/Ops/met took a hit from a U2 in 1977. :(

[[email protected]]

That would be the one:ok: