By Colin Wood
Jan 28, 2020
Working for a car magazine is cool, but do you know what is cooler? Getting in a Camaro and chasing down a U-2 Spy Plane when it’s taking off and landing.
You might be asking why the Air Force employs this tactic, and the answer is fairly simple: An experienced U-2 pilot in a chase car is the best way to guide the pilot in the U-2 through the surprisingly delicate process of taking off and landing.
1/28/20 1:00 p.m.
I didn't even know they still flew U-2's. Those first flew in 1955.
1/28/20 1:05 p.m.
I thought the U2 was a drone. Archaic technology I guess.
1/28/20 1:12 p.m.
We still fly (operationally) a number of aircraft built in the 50's
1/28/20 1:16 p.m.
In reply to yupididit :
I'm almost positive there is a trainer from the late 40s still in use.
But the B-52 is also a '55
1/28/20 1:40 p.m.
There's a history of various hot cars they used over the years for chasing the U2s on the runway, I think at one time they had souped up El Caminos since they could carry the drop-off landing gear wheels in the back.
There's a guy from my home town who flew the U2 as well as the SR71; he had some interesting stories to tell.
1/28/20 11:14 p.m.
Way cool!
1/29/20 7:33 a.m.
https://www.veteranaid.org/blog/5-oldest-us-aircraft-still-in-operation
https://www.veteranaid.org/blog/5-oldest-us-aircraft-still-in-operation
One is from 1949
1/29/20 9:28 a.m.
The NEWEST B-52 airframe was built 58 years ago.
1/29/20 11:05 a.m.
They've used everything from 4th Gen Camaros, to Pontiac G8s, to El Caminos, and so on. It's a very cool but crucial job. With the way the landing gear is positioned on the U-2 along with the enormous wing span a spotter is required to walk the pilot through landing to ensure the wings aren't destroyed in the process.
There's a very cool James May special on the U-2 and the last I saw it was on Amazon Prime.
1/29/20 11:07 a.m.
Public education is failing us.
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