Chasing the Dragon Lady

Riding shotgun in a brand new Pontiac G8 as we "chase" a U-2 Dragon Lady at Beale AFB, CA during the golden hour. The G8 Chase car is driven by an experienced U-2 pilot, Lt. Col. Jon "Huggy" Huggins and the GTO is driven by Capt. James "Bog" Bartran, both of who are the eyes for Maj. Will "OBG" Gottenberg and Maj. Pete "Beaver" VanPelt aboard the U-2 as they try to land on the 12,000 ft runway. With the U-2 approaching the runway at over 140+ mph, the Chase cars accelerates from 0-140 in just over 13 seconds, all the while keeping a close eye on the approaching airplane. Normally as the plane over flies "Mobile" or the chase car at just a few feet overhead, Bog would call out critical altitude adjustments and that would help keep the U-2 on the center line and in a controlled decent. Landing the Spy Plane is like trying to land a bicycle on two wheels without being able to see the ground around you. But in this video, the pilots do an unassisted or "quiet" landing where they land the airplane without any assistance from the Mobile Chase car, to simulate an unanticipated landing at an airfield not equipped with proper landing equipment, such as Chase cars.

Many thanks to the men and women of Beale AFB for all of their hard work to keep us safe. "In God we trust, all others we monitor."

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• U-2
• Dragon
• Lady
• U2
• Chase
• Car
• Pontiac
• G8
• GTO
• Beale
• AFB
• USAF
• Huggy
• BOG
• OBG
• Beaver

[blk8911]

this is a nice way to earn a living...

[lammmbda]

wow this is so awesome, you guys must have a really cool capt who signed off on buying the G8 and GTO...

[workshop77777]

The U2 doesnt like no POS Pontiac trying to overtake it !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[porksniffer]

You guys hiring?

[Sierrapup24]

@ BruceK10032 they usually do touch and go for training exercises. They have the pilot land and take off again to make the most of training pilots how to land the U2 because it is so difficult. I was able to take a trip to see this in action and it's quite amazing and VERY loud at takeoff. The chase vehicle guides the aircraft down because it only has two wheels. (a motorcycle with a 104ft wingspan). It is amazing to see in person and if you ever get a chance to see one up close I recommend it.

[BruceK10032]

So what was that about? Why did they land and then take off again? Was it just a show for the video?

[xxxdarkxxrockxxx]

how do i get this job



[ShiniRyuk]

So were they just practicing landings since they took off again right after? How many times would they do this?

I have been trying to find a figure of this airplane that doesn't cost almost $150 for ages yet they don't seem to have them. They have figures of almost every other military aircraft out there!

[skycrazy09]

@justforever96 because they have a primary and a secondary, and only people wanting to do a ride along have to stay in the secondary and they dont really do anything but fallow the primary around...

[jcnme27]

@jcnme27 OK, just read the description and it is Huggy. I remember him from RAF Alconbury from 91-93 when he was a Captain. Awesome pilot and great guy.

[jcnme27]

Hey looks like Huggy talking in the mobile!!! :):)

[justforever96]

Why two chase cars? In case one wipes out? Training for the chasers? Or just because it's fun to bomb around the tarmac in a Pontiac? =P