U-2 pilot

[GAHorn]

One of the funniest things I ever heard GW say was in another misconstrued reference to the Al Gore - Internet misinformation, where he said, "If he invented the Internet... then why does everything on the internet start with W W W !"

[voorheesh]

The guy I was flying with that day at SFO was quite the comedian. For the rest of the month, he would answer every question with "thats classified". It worked well when crew scheduling wanted to know how many hours we'd flown so they could extend us.

[W.J.Langholz]

Don't know any U-2 pilots...but my 1st cousin flew one of these birds..I had him send me the link to share.

http://www.greatdanepromilitary.com/SR-71/index.htm

W.

[Mike Smith]

All the U-2 pilots I met were really pretty cool! Besides, how classified can it possibly be when the indicated airspeed at cruise is about the same as a C-170 at cruise

Mike

[GAHorn]

Yeah, but the TRUE airspeed is somewhat different.

[Mike Smith]

And therein lies the big difference , not to mention the sportier landings with only centerline gear.

[GAHorn]

Don't care for the music, but a fellow TIC170A member sent this video of X-wind landings in a U-2:
The caption says "The U-2 Dragon Lady is the most difficult airplane to land in the world. The two-week-long pilot interview involves three flights. All interview landings are videotaped."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eamnTyfk ... r_embedded

[Brad Brady]

Don't care for the music, but a fellow TIC170A member sent this video of X-wind landings in a U-2:
The caption says "The U-2 Dragon Lady is the most difficult airplane to land in the world. The two-week-long pilot interview involves three flights. All interview landings are videotaped."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eamnTyfk ... r_embedded

George,
I was going to post that one but thought the lyrics were to offencive........altho says it all ....Brad

[4583C]

I can't think of a more appropriate tune

[Mike Smith]

Sounds like you've flown her on a windy day

Mike

[GAHorn]

Maybe the USAF and CIA, NOAA, etc, should have Cessna 170's in inventory (or at least put L019's back into service) for those guys to practice on before they wreck such expensive equipment.

[johneeb]

U-2 pilots and their airplanes.jpg

[GAHorn]

OH! NOW I get it! They were learning in the U-2 before they hurt anything really valuable!

[johneeb]

Excellent!!!!!!!!!

[blueldr]

The only airplane I ever flew with a bicycle gear was the Boeing B 47. We had front wheel steering, which I imagine the U2 must have in order to taxi.
I don't remember any particular dificulties we had in a cross wind, but we were very much heavier, a great deal faster, and I'm sure the brake 'chute helped in keeping it straight. There sure as hell was no differential brakeing.
I'm kind of surprized the U2 didn't have a "Dial in the drift angle" on the landing gear as on the B52.