Topic: Muscle car in the Air Force

1217 · May 27th, 2004

I know about the U2 story. But as I recall the "muscle car" was there (and still is btw) to get another pilot near the landing of the plane. Because the U2 drops his wing-wheels at take-off to save weight, it is kind of like an unstable, high speed bicycle when it lands. And because the landing has to be absolutely perfect, a car trails the plane on the runway, with a pilot on board who can tell the pilot on the U2 how he's doing. The U2 pilots usually fly ten hour missions, so it's no luxury.
I don't know about catching the wingtips. That sounds like a fairytale to me. But then again, those wings are really thin, and they use extra wheels on take-off. I’ll check and see what I can find out.

I don't know about the SR-71 being given a welcome like that, it doesn't need it, at least not for the same reasons the U2 does....

May 27th, 2004
1217 Primus Pilus	I know about the U2 story. But as I recall the "muscle car" was there (and still is btw) to get another pilot near the landing of the plane. Because the U2 drops his wing-wheels at take-off to save weight, it is kind of like an unstable, high speed bicycle when it lands. And because the landing has to be absolutely perfect, a car trails the plane on the runway, with a pilot on board who can tell the pilot on the U2 how he's doing. The U2 pilots usually fly ten hour missions, so it's no luxury. I don't know about catching the wingtips. That sounds like a fairytale to me. But then again, those wings are really thin, and they use extra wheels on take-off. I’ll check and see what I can find out. I don't know about the SR-71 being given a welcome like that, it doesn't need it, at least not for the same reasons the U2 does.... __________________ "It is not supreme excellence to fight and conquer in all your battles, It is supreme excellence if you break the enemy's resistance without fighting." Sun Tzu, the Art of War