Lockheed U-2S "Dragon Lady" Cockpit Tour

[GOTROL]

U2 pilot? Well, there are tonns of U2be pilots here. They know it all.

[pcfd20]

Whats with the alarm going off in the background?

[foogy4]

well you suck at flying

[Atlink]

AND HERE ARE MY MFD'S WHERE I GET NOTIFIED ABOUT Q-BAY HIGH LIGHTS AND LAND WITH FLAT SEAL BOTTLES. Ugh.

I loathe the seal system on this aircraft. But this is a crazy easy aircraft to work on.

[baybam7]

They should put a sr17 engine in a u2 it would fly high and go fast

[forkhead]

Still amazes me that some planes built/designed in the 1950s are still front-line USAF jets today; namely the B-52 and U2. The SR-71 would be too if it wasn't so dratted expensive.

[jjjazzycraig]

obama will nix this asset like he killed nasa.

[ChesterDoraemon]

lol better do good on your exams or you'll be flying this slow piece of shit. this guy is stuck flying this junk till he's 40. P.S. don't fly over China.

[texdcd]

@molestyourmom...you have no clue what you're talking about! It's all volunteer and all ability! We lost a pilot and ACC sent its Weapons School instructors to show us how to fly the aircraft the right way. Had a sierra hotel "Eagle Driver" refuse to fly a second sortie...too much aircraft for the man! Also, you have no idea what this "piece of shit platform" is capable of doing today...a little above your exam level! ;)

[wiesenbefeuchter]

Great, thank you!

[vroomba03]

how does the pilot know when to take the photos when he is on recon. Does the camera view show up on the screen?

[Bstocktwin]

Huggy!!!

[LTF85199]

very interesting stuff

[graciebarraMD]

I was a avionics guidance and control technician on these jets, and that pilot Lt Colonel Cattich AKA Cat Fish is THE MAN!!!

As for the dragon herself, that autopilot system is a nightmare and cost me many sleepless nights....yet I still miss her strangely enough

[Abey0203]

I actually had to do a briefing on the U-2 plane last year for ROTC. Its a pretty awesome plane, they say it can go up to 70,000+ ft high, but the actual height is classified. The pilots also have to have some sort of space suit because of the high altitudes the plane goes.

[OsanBlackCat5RS]

everybody says its retiring in 2014,well see how long that lasts,it seems to be doing better and better as the years go by,i dont know why it should be so hastily retired,it would sure save alot of money,its not only good for reconnaissance but for other things hence "U" for Utility,they should never retire this plane simply for "you never know what could happen" purposes,we wouldn't want to regret anything,i think they are still feeling the aftershocks of retiring the SR-71 back in 97.

[Nnexxxx]

Thanks for posting the video

[78720]

Funny the Sr-71 was suppose to replace the U2 and now its still in opeartion. still wonder why

[zythepsarian]

didnt know it was such an unforgiving plane, those pilots got balls of steel

[EagleWing15]

I dont mean to sound silly, but how do the pilots go to the bathroom on 12 and a half hour missions?

[flight1510]

In simple terms: There's a tube that connects to the suit that carries waste away. There are different sizes based on well... yeah you get the picture. But basically the tube takes care of it. Kind of difficult from what i understand. There is no way to go numer two though

[EagleWing15]

wow that must be rather difficult for the pilots! haha. thanks.

[Chuckjagermeister]

Basically it's a delicate sailplane with an incredibly powerful (and very loud) engine.

[saltspringpictures]

Amazing pilots!

[DruGeDuPmeTaLHeadXD]

id shit my pants and cry if i had to fly this

[mountster226]

Im a former tech on the U2 @ Beale, the weight is fairly balanced due to load weights added in the nose cone along with the weight of whatever sensor is being used. Its hard to land because the pilot cannot see the ground making him rely on AOA and feel to touch, also unlike most aircraft the primary gear is small and the front gear is large and isn't in a triangular formation, meaning balancing of fuel is key to not destroying the aircraft...these pilots are the best of the best

[mountster226]

I was a Avionics technician on this aircraft at beale airforce base until two years ago. The pilot on the video use to go by the call sign Catfish, and he was friggin awesome....god this makes me miss being in the AF

[ALB437]

What would be a better way of thinking for a save landing?

[ALB437]

You say the aircraft is very difficult to fly and to land. Could this be due to an overweight at the back? If the back-wings-area was increased by 30% would it change the situation?

[ALB437]

24.07.2009

This video is excellent! Would it be possible, as far as possible, to film the proceedures you have to follow before taking off, including the move to the runway and the take off?

[macsm]

A giant glider with an engine...

[rozebabyolifantje]

DIE HIPPIE. DIE!

[19Truth53]

"Hippie"!?

[Weirdo10o4]

You notice he doesnt turn the screens on.

[gabrielpanda8]

this plane deveria ser abatido onde fosse

[NunsAllowed]

12 hour missions !!

What happens if you need a leak ??

[HawkKI4HEE]

The pressure suit has a "integrated waste evacuation system"...piddle pack & diaper.

[JamesSHuggins]

Males get to stick their leaker into a leaker tube than then feeds into a storage bladder. Females get to wear a very expensive (expensive enough they won't let the men use it) "diaper". Like DEPENDS but SUPER industrial grade with a three figure each price tag.

[thriftygit]

several u 2 flights over the soviet union made by RAF pilots before the Powers shoot down placed a halt, for some time,on that type of mission. Brave men ,this was prior to stealth technology ,so often tailed by frustrated Soviet fighters unable to intercept due to height limits of their aircraft.

[battleforwaterloo]

couldn't the soviets shoot it down with a missile?

Regardless, this plane IMHO is so much cooler than things like the F-35. To have achieved this in the 50s without computers and the engineering know-how we have today is truly impressive.

[kirkjamestkirk]

Actually they did. CIA pilot Francis Gary Powers was shot down over Soviet territory on 1 May 1960. They also tried to down the SR-71 but it was too fast. [That's why they developped Mig-25 and Mig-31]

[EinkOLED]

No ejector seat was used for the U2 back then since the pilot flew without a pressure suit. Being ejected and exposed into such a low pressure environment would kill the pilot instantly. When the pressure suit was developed, so did the ejector seat for the u2.

[TaserVictim]

So they now descend to 50,000 if the autopilot fails? Those early pilots routinely hand flew the U-2 in the "coffin corner" for hours at a time. Not to criticize today's U-2 pilots, though, it's still a very difficult task!!!!!

[Rabb9]

I was flying from RAF Akrotiri when one of these was buzzing about. Impressive aircraft to see so close in flight..

[gatomas]

Something to be proud of.

Comment: who would ever think of a video or film movie like this 20 or 30 years ago.

[JSHTexas]

See the Air Force U-2 pilot who shows up about 3 min 21 secs into the the video? That's my brother. Because of him I have a whold section of my website on the U-2 at JSH-dot-us and some blog posts at MyEphemerae-dot-com in the u-2 category.

James S. Huggins

...

[jcnme27]

Huggy is your brother huh? I worked with him in the 90's at Alconbury and Beale.

[JamesSHuggins]

Yes. Huggy is my brother. Funny because I am also called Huggy. You can see more by going to my blog. go to jsh-dot-us (have to write it like that so this silly system will accept it-don't put the dashes and substitute a period for the dot) and in the left menu click on my ephemerae to open the blog and then click on u-2 in the right column. also, from jsh-dot-us click on U2 Spy Plane in the left column for my site section on the u2.

[magrillmagrill]

Can they refuel in midair ? How can they carry 12 hours of fuel. Have you ever been to Beale and saw one live in flight ? I wonder if they will let you on base to see them fly.

[JamesSHuggins]

they don't burn it fast, do 12 hours fits in the wing tanks. Because my brother is a pilot I'be been to Beale and looked inside one. I've driven in the landing chase cars that help them land. To get onto base, you need "prearrangements". You need to find someone to help you out. But it is possible.

[magrillmagrill]

Ive seen how they take off on videos with the pylons that fall off. What happens when they land without the little wheels on the wing tips ? Is that what the chase cars do ?

It would be a lifes dream to ride in one of the chase cars. Do the pilots have to go into a decompression chamber when they return ?

Your brother must be a daredevil type. I admire anyone who could do something like that.

Thanks for the info.

[JamesSHuggins]

when they land the wings are empty of fuel and they don't need the support pylons; they don't nee a decomp chamber because they wear the pressure suit; see pictures on my site; go to jsh-dot-us and click on the left menu item for the u2); also you can go to myephemerae-dot-com for my blog and click on u-2 in the right column for the u-2 related posts

[magrillmagrill]

Sorry to be a pest but can you send the full URL of those sites, I cant seem to connect to them. Thanks a Bunch,

Lisa

[JamesSHuggins]

I would if I could; but youtube blocks anyone from putting in the full url; so here is a shortcut jsh-dot-us and myephemerae-dot-com; not take out the -dot- and put in a period and you should have it; try that and let me know

[JamesSHuggins]

should have said NOW take out -dot- and put in a period

[magrillmagrill]

Thanks GREAT SITE !

[u2vet]

@JSHTexas your brother is Maj Huggins? He was a cool guy. I was a crew chief / debrief troop for the aircraft he flew.

[stewysmom]

Is this guy from Central Casting, or what?? What a great combination of looks and brains. I need a bib.

[Crashman2]

Thanks for getting me this GREAT cockpit-check in an aircraft I thought I'd NEVER see the front office of! BEAUTIFUL VID! 5 STARS!

[LOCKHEED17]

actually if they wanted to, on fuull power it can get to 70,000 feet in about 13 minutes, believe me im in CAP at beale and my captain works on them.

[blackout2240]

i also am in CAP in the lesburg Virginia squaderan

[PYNUN23]

I don't think so. I worked these jets for a long time. The S model has the GE F118-101 turbofan. Even with a light fuel load like R2 or R3 at full mil thrust you're not gonna get there in 13 minutes. Ask your captain about air density and climb rates above FL600.

[battleforwaterloo]

I'm sure they're told not to though. The stresses due to the pressure change would probably cause the airframe to timeout very quickly.

[LOCKHEED17]

i live by beale afb (home of the u-2) and im in civil air patrol at beale, we go every monday to beale for our meeting which is right on the flight line, those u-2s are loud they shake our building when they take off and do touch and gos!

[admiralnomad]

Hats off to those pilots. I can't imagine having to deal with such a tight flight envelope. It's a challenge I would take if offered, but it would still make me pretty uncomfortable.

[TECHKLEC]

Please forgive me for posting a comment.

[AVweb]

Not at all. Thanks for sharing!

[TECHKLEC]

I remember seeing a U2 takeoff at a base I was stationed at overseas in the sixties. After reaching speed on the runway, it seemed that it started climbing at about 70 degrees up.

[AVweb]

While compiling material for this video, we came across some information stating that initial climb rate in the U-2 is near 8,000 feet per minute (which probably looks a lot like 70 degrees up) though it may take up to 30 minutes for the full climb to over 70,000 feet. It must have been quite a sight to see, TECHKLEC.

The still image that appears at 00:36 looks to be a self portrait shot during climb out.

[GasFromDogButt]

I know about the first U-2 shot down, but where were the other six shot down?

[AVweb]

Gary Powers was shot down on May 1, 1960, over the Soviet Union. In 1962 he was "traded" back to the U.S. for a Soviet spy.

Five U-2s flown by the Republic of China (ROC) Air Force were shot down between 1962 and 1967 during 102 missions flown over China. Three ROC pilots were killed, two were taken prisoner.

One U-2 was shot down October 27, 1962 over Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis, killing the pilot, Major Rudolph Anderson. Anderson was posthumously awarded the first Air Force Cross.