And you thought your landings were bad..........
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And you thought your landings were bad..........
Watch this full screen 
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
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
Chase cars
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
Apparently the external pilot provided advice to the landing pilot from his external vantage point.
Lockheed U-2 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Apparently the external pilot provided advice to the landing pilot from his external vantage point.
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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 !
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 !
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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.
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.
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!
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!
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Forgive my ignorance, but why do these aircraft have cars chasing them on landing?
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Chase Car
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.
It is indeed to assist the pilot in judging height to touchdown, as he cannot see over the long nose on landing.
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They even landed them on aircraft carriers:
YouTube - Lockheed U-2R landing on aircraft carrier
Here's an example of presumably what happened to the chase cars on a carrier
YouTube - Top Gear - The Stig - HMS Invincible - BBC
YouTube - Lockheed U-2R landing on aircraft carrier
Here's an example of presumably what happened to the chase cars on a carrier
YouTube - Top Gear - The Stig - HMS Invincible - BBC
Last edited by CirrusF; 11th Mar 2009 at 09:20.
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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.
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.
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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 !!!!
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 !!!!
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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.
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.
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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.
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.
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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.
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.