Lockheed U-2R landing on aircraft carrier

[KB4QAA]

I think the plane in the background is an S-1 Tracer (old designation WF Willy Fudd) airborne early warning. If not, it is probably the ship's own COD, Carrier Onboard Delivery S-1 Trader.

[TheFlippy315]

that is a big plane for an aircraft carrier landing.

[DestroyTheseWalls]

Bullshit!

[aemst]

Wow, that is some amazing flying. U2s are hard enough to land when the runway isn't moving. On normal landings, coming in 1 knot too fast results in the aircraft touching down 1000ft beyond its intended touchdown location. Except here the runway is angled, pitching, rolling, and moving away from you at an angle. Could you imagine pitching deck exercises in this thing?

[legoman05]

there were no black hawks in 1969...

[SecondStepGaming]

@legoman05 what plane exactly? are you referring to the blackBIRD? because it was around in 1969, or the NIGHThawk? or something i probably dont remember lol

[legoman05]

@SecondStepGaming no the helicopter on the deck. Its a blackhawk or sea hawk.

[SecondStepGaming]

@legoman05 ahh ok idk how i didnt notice

[shdwcaster]

@SecondStepGaming That's not a helicoptor, it's a Grumman S-2 Tracker with the wings folded.

[SecondStepGaming]

@shdwcaster hell i can't hardly see it lol, looked like a heli to me!

[cypris2002]

i never knew that a U-2 landed on the America

[limitlessracer]

thats has got to be the most difficult thing to do ever cause the u-2 is already hard to land.

[thefallguy1986]

agreed. The U2 is largely considered to be the most difficult plane to fly, especially land, I wonder how they do it without a chase car...

[limitlessracer]

i would imagine they used a spotter on the deck like they do anyway with any plane.

[DystopianVisionary]

BHV, you're confusing airspeed with ground speed, and when you throw in the fact that the carrier was moving, you have closing speed to factor, at which point ground speed is irrelevant.

[OsanBlackCat5RS]

that guy must have been sweatin his pressure suite off

[MediaWhore09]

How did the pilot manage not to tip it over? usually they have to grab the wings and stick the peg wheels in there right away.

[oisiaa]

The U-2 is designed to tip over on its wingtip during every landing. It has abradable tip that is replaced when it wears down. After it comes to a full stop they put the "pogo" wheels in place so that it can taxi to parking.

[refused215]

@MediaWhore09 also these models were made with shorter wings, they were also lauched without the pogo's by holding the wings up with ppl running down the a/c carrier

[KuostA]

@refused215 that is freaking fascinating. amazing.

[frauspi]

@MediaWhore09 The forward speed of the aircraft carrier would be enough for the pilot to keep the wings level. The ailerons are effective at a much lower speed than would be required to lift off.

[me282uk]

When landing on a runway they have to be chased by a high speed pursuit car to help talk the pilot down

[andrebrannan1953]

It seems to be easier to land one on a carrier than on land!

[sdldesertrat]

That would make sense. It has higher airspeed when landing on a carrier. Higher airspeed is better controllability.

[bhv9387]

Yeah exactly, that`s how it works. It is also easier to park a car at high speed into a parking spot, because..... NO ITS NOT! Landing such a huge plane on an aircraft carrier is only possible because it is able to fly very slow. I would guess the speed was around stall-speed with very high windcomponent.

By the way awesome pilot!

[83osborne]

True, but relative speed at stall is a very large portion of the equation. The U-2 has to be stalled to land. Otherwise, it has a tendancy to bunny hop or porpoise. By being able to come to a "full-stop" while still having enought airspeed to control the aircraft, the touchdown and decelleration are more easily controlled. That does not detract from the skill of the pilot, but does offset the difficulty of hitting the postage stamp-sized runway to some extent.

[Mccarronm04]

On the carrier is has nice little hooks and cables to catch it. On land....ha its fucked

[VaCowboy08]

That took place on the ex-USS America (CV 66), and yes it is real.

[PhillyFlyGuys]

That's not real!!

[oisiaa]

Want to bet?

[scythelord]

fail

[U2planner]

Only one U-2 was modified for carrier landings, although all of them have the folding wingtips. The extra weight from the tail hook, reinforced fuselage, etc. lowered its ceiling and range, and consequently it was rarely used.

[LOCKHEED17]

well that was quick...

[LordFuhquaad]

...that's what SHE said!

[ProdigyofPoland]

WHOA!!!!!!! awesome