18:00 BBC news says mission was over Afghanistan but crash elsewhere :(

U-2 Down
 

http://www.latimes.com/la-062205plan...home-headlines

U.S Spy Plane Pilot Dies in Asia Crash
By Daryl Strickland, Times Staff Writer
The pilot of a U.S. spy plane died in a crash while returning the aircraft to its base in the United Arab Emirates, the U.S. military announced today.

The plane, a U-2 model designed during the Cold War and still the stalwart of the nation's airborne intelligence, went down late Tuesday in an undisclosed location in southwest Asia, U.S. Central Command said.
The aircraft was returning from an assignment for Operation Enduring Freedom, the military name for the U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan, when the plane crashed. The cause remains under investigation, the military said.

The military was unwilling to disclose the crash site, it said, "to ensure the safety of local citizens and the integrity of the site for the investigation."

The pilot, whose name has been withheld until the military can notify family members, was described as "a true American hero in the service of his country," according to Col. Darryl Burke, 380th Expeditionary Wing commander.

Since early 2002, the pilot had been based at the Dhafra air base, near Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, the Associated Press reported.

The U-2s provide frequent intelligence reports for the U.S. military on Afghanistan. But the U.S. Air Force has reported at least 22 major mishaps from 1963 through 1996, according to a report by www.globalsecurity.org.

The latest versions of the spy planes, built in the 1980s in Burbank and updated in recent years, have been fitted with the world's most advanced sensors, radar that can take images in which an apple can be distinguished from an orange.

The U-2 is a single-seat plane with wide wings like a glider that can climb past 70,000 feet altitude, making it the world's highest-flying aircraft.

But the ability to soar so high makes it hard to handle in the air — and on the ground. Pilots wear a full pressure suit, similar to those that astronauts use to help keep nitrogen from building up in their tissues. That can cause a condition known as the bends, which can lead to paralysis or death.

While difficult to take off, the aircraft remains even harder to land. Once close to the runway, the engines must be stalled for a landing to occur. The U.S. Air Force has described the aircraft as the hardest in their arsenal to touch down.

The plane made its maiden flight in the mid-1950s, when the U.S. military used its advances to track the Russian military, its technology and weaponry.

In 1960, U.S. pilot Gary Powers was brought down while taking pictures of ballistic missile test sites in the Soviet Union. While flying at 67,000, he avoided a series of surface to air missiles, but the shockwaves caused the aircraft to disintegrate. Powers safely ejected from the plane, according to the website.

The U.S. military said the aircraft was conducting weather research, but the ruse was spoiled when Soviet Premier Nikita Kruschev said Powers had been detained. He was held on espionage charges for nearly two years.
________________________________________
Times staff writer Peter Pae contributed to this report.

LA Times online, 1 hour ago, according to Google News.

I am intrigued to read that the U2 can operate at 90000(ninety) Feet. Assuming this is correct, can anyone explain how even a (presumably) Turbojet can function in this rarefied atmosphere. Also, are there no"Coffin Corner" implications.

Thanks

Officially its "above 70,000ft" ;)

The Dragon Lady just naturally flys high, a combination of the wings and fine tuned engine......as the fuel burns off she just keeps climbing and climbing. The air is so thin up high though that the throttle is at mil power from take off until its time to come home. And yes she burns more fuel taxying on the ground than cruising up where Pinion belongs.

"The U.S. military said the aircraft was conducting weather research, ..."

Yes, people employed by my government were happy to lie to us then and are happy to lie to us now. I do not believe this is particularly different from behavior over the years/centuries/millenia by people in power in any location, and I do not know the solution.

I don't care where he took off from, or how high it can fly.

The death of a fellow aviator is tragic.

RIP fella; sincere condolences to family and friends.

Let's not speculate ... where 380 is based (near Abu Dhabi) is well known and reported on the BBC News article (most recent update) ... as for anything more - if and when it comes, it'll come.

RIP and condolences to the family.

Jordan

He or she - RIP whoever you are.

My condolenses to the family of the pilot involved, another sad loss.

Kansasw, i think you miss the point.......

Why are they still operating these things anyway? I thought the Global Hawk was so much better, higher, safer, smarter etc etc

And it seems that the previous flap about secret locations and host nation sensitivity is a bit unrequired. Their base locations, missions, equipment, aircraft details and what they serve in the staff canteen are all published on their own sqaudron website, listed below. It also has a handy hyperlink to an airforce "singles" club on it in case you guys get lonely out there.

http://www.globalsecurity.org/milita...saf/380aew.htm

cheers

gin

Not to be picky, but that's a link to Global Security rather than the squadron's own website. Very different!

RIP fella

SBG

He died serving his country - RIP; condolences to the family he leaves behind.

FJJP

Sincere condolences to the family and friends of the pilot. I know quite a few U2 and TR1 boys and girls from my days working with them at Alconbury (gosh that seems such a long time ago now)
My prayers are for you all at this sad time.

Farewell Dear Dragon Lady warrior. Your loss will not be in vain, and I thank and salute you for your efforts to make our world a safer and better place.

The Swinging Monkey

Gin....
 

We have had two of those crash here as well.....:ugh:

U-2 will be here for a while yet, there's a lot the Global Hawk can't carry yet.
RIP.

New York Times:

WASHINGTON, June 22 - The Air Force pilot of a U-2 spy plane was killed early Wednesday when his aircraft crashed near its base in the United Arab Emirates, shortly after completing a routine surveillance mission over Afghanistan, military officials said..... Col. Darryl Burke, commander of the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing, ordered an investigation. Military officials said there were no initial indications of hostile fire. The Pentagon withheld the pilot's name pending notification of his family......

An Air Force spokesman in Qatar, Capt. David W. Small, said it was unclear whether in Wednesday's predawn crash, the pilot had tried to eject. The body has been recovered from the crash site, near Al Dhafra air base, and is being returned to the United States, service officials said.

Add my condolences too.

From the BBC web site: the headline reads " Deadly US spy plane crash in UAE". Hope they recovered all the bombs! Press - who needs them?

Bombs?

What bombs:confused:

Got to know a couple of Dragonlady a couple of years ago. I found their laid back attitude somewhat at odds with the sensitivity of their operations (but very refreshing). Very sad that another pilot has been killed and my condolences go out to the pilot's family and colleagues in the tightly-knit U-2 community.