U-2 just arrived at Fairford
Discussion
Hooli said:
I thought the U2s had reitred with the introduction of the SR-71, learn something everyday.
Absolutely not. The U-2s have continued to be developed all through the decades they have been in use. At one stage they even redesignated a new version as the Lockheed TR-1. They then reverted to the U-2 designation.They are just too useful to retire. And I am sure they are a lot more economical to use than the SR-71 was.
For a good feel for how they are used today, watch this -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N05NXotFvFs
I remember watching the TR1's at Alconbury in the early 1980's. They had to be handled with care due to their long wingspan and detachable stablilizers. You could get right up by the lane adjacent to the runway and chat to the security guards.
There was also a squadron of multi-coloured camouflaged F5's that used to be used as pretend MiG's for practice.
Known as the Agressor Squadron, they attempted to mimic Warsaw Pact tactic for NATO pilot training. So it wasn't just Hollywood who chose the F5 to be the baddy. Here's a link to a photo.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/emdjt42/4023811868/
Edit: link added
There was also a squadron of multi-coloured camouflaged F5's that used to be used as pretend MiG's for practice.
Known as the Agressor Squadron, they attempted to mimic Warsaw Pact tactic for NATO pilot training. So it wasn't just Hollywood who chose the F5 to be the baddy. Here's a link to a photo.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/emdjt42/4023811868/
Edit: link added
Edited by LotusOmega375D on Wednesday 2nd November 14:09
Edited by LotusOmega375D on Wednesday 2nd November 14:10
The U-2 is the only aircraft that the USAF re-opened the production line for. The CIA paid for the first ones which had a smaller wingspan than the later USAF versions. The USAF didn't like the fact that the CIA had it's own Airforce so had some built for themselves.
After the initial USAF batch were worn out or crashed the Skunk works under Ben Rich were asked to build some more. The U-2 designation was too much of a political hot potato so it was called the TR-1 for Tactical Reconnaissance One, everybody just called it the TR-1 spyplane.
The U-2 is still very useful in the mordern day as it can overfly a target at random but the overflight times of satelites are well known. Also when the first satelites were built the US didn't want to admit they had them. So if something was spotted by satelite a U-2 would sometimes be sent up to take photos and thus give the US a credible story about it's detection.
A couple of totally useless facts, U-2 stood for "Utility Two" in the hope that it would conceal what the CIA were having built and the Rock Group was named after the aircraft not "You Too"
After the initial USAF batch were worn out or crashed the Skunk works under Ben Rich were asked to build some more. The U-2 designation was too much of a political hot potato so it was called the TR-1 for Tactical Reconnaissance One, everybody just called it the TR-1 spyplane.
The U-2 is still very useful in the mordern day as it can overfly a target at random but the overflight times of satelites are well known. Also when the first satelites were built the US didn't want to admit they had them. So if something was spotted by satelite a U-2 would sometimes be sent up to take photos and thus give the US a credible story about it's detection.
A couple of totally useless facts, U-2 stood for "Utility Two" in the hope that it would conceal what the CIA were having built and the Rock Group was named after the aircraft not "You Too"
Tango13 said:
The U-2 is the only aircraft that the USAF re-opened the production line for. The CIA paid for the first ones which had a smaller wingspan than the later USAF versions. The USAF didn't like the fact that the CIA had it's own Airforce so had some built for themselves.
After the initial USAF batch were worn out or crashed the Skunk works under Ben Rich were asked to build some more. The U-2 designation was too much of a political hot potato so it was called the TR-1 for Tactical Reconnaissance One, everybody just called it the TR-1 spyplane.
The U-2 is still very useful in the mordern day as it can overfly a target at random but the overflight times of satelites are well known. Also when the first satelites were built the US didn't want to admit they had them. So if something was spotted by satelite a U-2 would sometimes be sent up to take photos and thus give the US a credible story about it's detection.
A couple of totally useless facts, U-2 stood for "Utility Two" in the hope that it would conceal what the CIA were having built and the Rock Group was named after the aircraft not "You Too"
The C-5 produc5tion line was re-opened to build the C-5B variant in the 1980s.After the initial USAF batch were worn out or crashed the Skunk works under Ben Rich were asked to build some more. The U-2 designation was too much of a political hot potato so it was called the TR-1 for Tactical Reconnaissance One, everybody just called it the TR-1 spyplane.
The U-2 is still very useful in the mordern day as it can overfly a target at random but the overflight times of satelites are well known. Also when the first satelites were built the US didn't want to admit they had them. So if something was spotted by satelite a U-2 would sometimes be sent up to take photos and thus give the US a credible story about it's detection.
A couple of totally useless facts, U-2 stood for "Utility Two" in the hope that it would conceal what the CIA were having built and the Rock Group was named after the aircraft not "You Too"
Bedazzled said:
Cheers for the link Eric, what an amazing aircraft. It's even got a little wing mirror, presumably to check if the tail is still attached. 
taken from another forumThe forward cockpit also is equipped with a small side-view mirror extending into the air
stream. It is used to determine if the U-2 is generating a telltale contrail when over hostile territory.
Eric Mc said:
Definitely a USAF/DoD one than - rather than a NASA one.
Perhaps it might soon be making short hops in the direction of Syria?
Nah... there will be enough operatives on the ground in Syria.. Plus other intelligence services/systems that gather digital data such as Voice Capture would be more valid/in use than legacy fly overs...... (... a certain place near Harrogate is part of one of these systems....)Perhaps it might soon be making short hops in the direction of Syria?
The U2/TR1 and derivatives quite old technology (airframes/engines)and the Syria AD system would have no problem bringing one down.... obviously this wouldn't have been the case in the 60's/70's etc..... the SR-71 was still valid on account of its speed, but retired due to costs and other advances in the Information gathering arena.....
Edited by ForzaWhitesGen2 on Wednesday 2nd November 14:53
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