Pentagon to retire U-2 by 2011
Re: Pentagon to retire U-2 by 2011
Are you sure about that, Dan?
It wasn't true of the President and the SR-71 either, despite popular myth.
Originally the R-12 (developed from the YF-12A prototype for the cancelled F-12 interceptor), the USAF wanted to term it the RS-71 to follow the RS-70, the still-born 1960's alternative reconnaissance-strike version of the B-70 Valkyrie bomber. But the meddling LeMay had preferred 'SR' to 'RS' for the RS-70 and then lobbied for Lyndon B Johnson's 'unveiling' speech to be modifed to term the new aircraft the 'SR'-71. This duly happened on 29 Feb 1964; however, the media transcript still referred to 'RS'-71 so the false rumour grew up that the change of nomenclature was the result of a mistake by LBJ, rather than by LeMay's interference.
The TR-1A was originally a 'tactical reconnaissance version of the U-2R with side-scanning radar, new avionics, and improved ECM equipment; the U-2S was an improved version of the U-2R with a more powerful and efficient engine, GPS and additional sensors.
The TR-1A first flew in Aug 1980, Ronny Raygun didn't become Mr Pres, until Jan 1981.
It wasn't true of the President and the SR-71 either, despite popular myth.
Originally the R-12 (developed from the YF-12A prototype for the cancelled F-12 interceptor), the USAF wanted to term it the RS-71 to follow the RS-70, the still-born 1960's alternative reconnaissance-strike version of the B-70 Valkyrie bomber. But the meddling LeMay had preferred 'SR' to 'RS' for the RS-70 and then lobbied for Lyndon B Johnson's 'unveiling' speech to be modifed to term the new aircraft the 'SR'-71. This duly happened on 29 Feb 1964; however, the media transcript still referred to 'RS'-71 so the false rumour grew up that the change of nomenclature was the result of a mistake by LBJ, rather than by LeMay's interference.
The TR-1A was originally a 'tactical reconnaissance version of the U-2R with side-scanning radar, new avionics, and improved ECM equipment; the U-2S was an improved version of the U-2R with a more powerful and efficient engine, GPS and additional sensors.
The TR-1A first flew in Aug 1980, Ronny Raygun didn't become Mr Pres, until Jan 1981.
Re: Pentagon to retire U-2 by 2011
In the best traditions of pprune the thread could move off at a tangent by including the EHI 01/EH101 'incident' in a discussion of the misnaming of aircraft by senior neddies.
Still, I digress ..........
Still, I digress ..........
Re: Pentagon to retire U-2 by 2011
And the rumour of the "Is ya' 'ere for the 748 'andover, mate....", spoken by some erk to some dimwitted journo, leading to the HS748 being named the Andover in RAF service?
Re: Pentagon to retire U-2 by 2011
Hence, it is said, the Mitsubishi 'Starion' which should have been the 'Stallion' 
.
There was a Chinese take-away in Lincoln called 'Regal Food'. But the impressive neon sign outside said 'Legal Food' - the order had been placed by phone
!
Back to the plot - Mitsubishi also made an aeroplane called the U-2. Well, OK, MU-2!
.There was a Chinese take-away in Lincoln called 'Regal Food'. But the impressive neon sign outside said 'Legal Food' - the order had been placed by phone
!Back to the plot - Mitsubishi also made an aeroplane called the U-2. Well, OK, MU-2!
Last edited by BEagle; 6th Jan 2006 at 09:36.
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: The Wonderful Midlands
Age: 53
Posts: 326
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: Pentagon to retire U-2 by 2011
Often saw that "Legal Food" sign, and wondered what on earth possesed them to name a Chinese restaurant "Legal Food"
Not withstanding the fact that it's only a few hundred yards away from the Magistrates Courts
Not withstanding the fact that it's only a few hundred yards away from the Magistrates Courts
Re: Pentagon to retire U-2 by 2011
TR-1 (tactical reconnaissance) was a diplomatic term used when the USAF envisaged placing U-2s permanently in Europe in numbers - it was a way to avoid the "spyplane" stigma. At one point "TR-1s" and "U-2s" were being built on the same line. The fiction was abandoned because the tactical mission - which was to carry a pasive locating device to pinpoint SAM radars - went away and all the TR-1s and U-2s ended up in the same outfit.
I don't know that I have seen a final version of the RS/SR story, but I have always suspected MacNamara. RS was Reconnaissance/Strike and had been coined as a way to save the B-70. The SR-71 retained the weapon bays of the YF-12 and could have been modified and cleared to carry SRAMs or B61s. But there were people who did not want that to happen, so the change to SR - Strategic Reconnaissance - was more than a typo.
Not sure of LeMay's involvement - by the time the SR was disclosed he was out of the USAF, having run as Goldwater's VP candidate (EEEEKS!) in 1964.
I don't know that I have seen a final version of the RS/SR story, but I have always suspected MacNamara. RS was Reconnaissance/Strike and had been coined as a way to save the B-70. The SR-71 retained the weapon bays of the YF-12 and could have been modified and cleared to carry SRAMs or B61s. But there were people who did not want that to happen, so the change to SR - Strategic Reconnaissance - was more than a typo.
Not sure of LeMay's involvement - by the time the SR was disclosed he was out of the USAF, having run as Goldwater's VP candidate (EEEEKS!) in 1964.
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Pentagon to retire U-2 by 2011
I had the very good luck to get a trip in the talkdown car at a base in, er, Europe. The mount of choice was an AMG. Given a massive runway and a Teutonic autobahn destroyer, well, you can guess 
Ferk me, but it didn't half go .....
Ferk me, but it didn't half go .....
Re: Pentagon to retire U-2 by 2011
Only the best people drive AMGs....
I also had a trip in the chase car at a 'location in USA'. We were given the full tour of the 'facility' and the U-2 the previous day, then were invited back for a very early launch the next day. Interesting to see the pre-flight preparation, including the guy in his space suit pre-oxygenating. Then watched the crew-in - if I recall correctly, another U-2 mate had already done the pre-flight prep (and engine start?). Matey in his orange space suit climbs in , waits for the 'go' signal and we set off for the runway in the car - nothing like as cool as a Corvette, I have to report, this was some horrid Yank tank. Belt down the runway to have a last check for FOD, then back alongside the jet on its right. The driver gives him the thumbs-up, the pilot slams the engine to max thrust and the U-2 goes belting down the runway whilst we follow in the Yank tank to collect the pogos.
Then back to the 'facility'; by the time we'd driven back the U-2 was a distant speck, already up at Flight Level Lots!
Highly dangerous though - not one of us was wearing a natty yellow road-digger's vest...
I also had a trip in the chase car at a 'location in USA'. We were given the full tour of the 'facility' and the U-2 the previous day, then were invited back for a very early launch the next day. Interesting to see the pre-flight preparation, including the guy in his space suit pre-oxygenating. Then watched the crew-in - if I recall correctly, another U-2 mate had already done the pre-flight prep (and engine start?). Matey in his orange space suit climbs in , waits for the 'go' signal and we set off for the runway in the car - nothing like as cool as a Corvette, I have to report, this was some horrid Yank tank. Belt down the runway to have a last check for FOD, then back alongside the jet on its right. The driver gives him the thumbs-up, the pilot slams the engine to max thrust and the U-2 goes belting down the runway whilst we follow in the Yank tank to collect the pogos.
Then back to the 'facility'; by the time we'd driven back the U-2 was a distant speck, already up at Flight Level Lots!
Highly dangerous though - not one of us was wearing a natty yellow road-digger's vest...
Re: Pentagon to retire U-2 by 2011
BEagle,
I've seen the documentation (sad git that I am) at the PRO for the Andover name, and it was chosen well before any 'andover of a 748 to Her Majesty. IIRC, there were some other er... interesting alternatives that were rejected.
I've seen the documentation (sad git that I am) at the PRO for the Andover name, and it was chosen well before any 'andover of a 748 to Her Majesty. IIRC, there were some other er... interesting alternatives that were rejected.
Re: Pentagon to retire U-2 by 2011
Oooh - bitch! Get her!
354 bhp and 0-60 in 4.8 will do for me!
And the seats are 'Bordeaux', I'll have you know, NOT pink. Not at all, not in any way pink...
354 bhp and 0-60 in 4.8 will do for me!
And the seats are 'Bordeaux', I'll have you know, NOT pink. Not at all, not in any way pink...
)
Re: Pentagon to retire U-2 by 2011
The Defense Department plans to accelerate retirement of key Air Force aircraft, including nearly half the B-52 bomber force and the full U-2 spy plane and F-117 stealth fighter fleets, in a bid to save $2.6 billion and boost spending for the services' prized F-22A fighter aircraft program. Full article at:-
http://www.military.com/features/0,1...=airforce-a.nl
???How does one insert text in place of the URL? The new version of PPrune doesn't seem to provide this option when inserting a link (at least, when using Firefox).
http://www.military.com/features/0,1...=airforce-a.nl
???How does one insert text in place of the URL? The new version of PPrune doesn't seem to provide this option when inserting a link (at least, when using Firefox).
