Author Topic: U2 spyplane (Read 2924 times)

Hot Flatus · « **on:** 05 June, 2020, 06:33:19 pm »

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Its 6.30pm friday, and if you click on here

https://tar1090.adsbexchange.com/?icao=ae094c

you can see one over the north sea at 60,000feet returning to Fairford

Hot Flatus · « **Reply #1 on:** 05 June, 2020, 06:41:18 pm »

Basil · « **Reply #2 on:** 05 June, 2020, 06:57:55 pm »

Is it Gary Powers?

Cudzoziemiec · « **Reply #3 on:** 05 June, 2020, 06:58:48 pm »

No, it's Bono.

Asterix, the former Gaul. · « **Reply #4 on:** 05 June, 2020, 07:02:13 pm »

I can see nothing.

Hot Flatus · « **Reply #5 on:** 05 June, 2020, 07:26:05 pm »

now head SE towards oxford

ElyDave · « **Reply #6 on:** 05 June, 2020, 07:38:12 pm »

how many of them are left in service?

It is quite impressive in the Duxford museum seeing a B52, SR-71 and U2 in the same location, alongside some cool WWII stuff as well

Lightning Phil · « **Reply #7 on:** 05 June, 2020, 07:40:14 pm »

Quote from: asterix on 05 June, 2020, 07:02:13 pm

I can see nothing.

Maybe drive to Barnard Castle to test your eyesight

pdm · « **Reply #8 on:** 05 June, 2020, 07:46:47 pm »

Its landed at RAF Fairford.

spesh · « **Reply #9 on:** 05 June, 2020, 07:50:58 pm »

Quote from: ElyDave on 05 June, 2020, 07:38:12 pm

how many of them are left in service?

As of last year, there were around 30 single-seat aircraft for missions and 4 two-seat training aircraft in USAF service. NASA operates 2 ER-2s as high-altitude laboratories.

Mr Larrington · « **Reply #10 on:** 06 June, 2020, 12:28:43 pm »

Quote from: Basil on 05 June, 2020, 06:57:55 pm

Is it Gary Powers?

No. He's dead.

TheLurker · « **Reply #11 on:** 06 June, 2020, 03:34:09 pm »

U2 heading into Fairford a week or three back. https:// vimeo.com/412075421 (lose the space in the URL).

According to a neighbour who was working there at the time, Gary Powers stopped over at Brize Norton. Whether he really did or not I can't say.

Asterix, the former Gaul. · « **Reply #12 on:** 06 June, 2020, 03:35:18 pm »

Quote from: Mr Larrington on 06 June, 2020, 12:28:43 pm

Quote from: Basil on 05 June, 2020, 06:57:55 pm
Is it Gary Powers?

No. He's dead.

But Elvis is not and he stopped at Prestwick.

Hot Flatus · « **Reply #13 on:** 06 June, 2020, 03:57:47 pm »

Quote from: TheLurker on 06 June, 2020, 03:34:09 pm

U2 heading into Fairford a week or three back. https:// vimeo.com/412075421 (lose the space in the URL).

According to a neighbour who was working there at the time, Gary Powers stopped over at Brize Norton. Whether he really did or not I can't say.

They are quite frequent at the moment. I've heard them fly over a few times, but never seen them. Need an easterly wind for them to come over my house.

Read wiki page yesterday. 32 left in service. Manufactured from mid 50s to 1989. They keep planning to retire them, then not. Lockheed say they can last until 2050...which is astonishing.

TheLurker · « **Reply #14 on:** 06 June, 2020, 04:09:18 pm »

Quote from: Hot Flatus

Quote from: TheLurker
U2 heading into Fairford a week or three back....

They are quite frequent at the moment. ...

They are. They've been stooging around for months now, since early Feb I think. See them (it?) landing two, three or more times a week. Rarely seeing them taking off, prevailing winds being westerly, but it makes a hell of a din on take-off so I always saunter to the front of the house on the off-chance.

I think the B-52s are also expected to see out a century in service.

Hot Flatus · « **Reply #15 on:** 06 June, 2020, 05:03:20 pm »

Wiki page quite interesting. U2 pilots used to carry suicide pills when the planes were operated by the CIA. Also there were British pilots too.

Pingu · « **Reply #16 on:** 06 June, 2020, 07:52:55 pm »

Quote from: TheLurker on 06 June, 2020, 04:09:18 pm

Quote from: Hot Flatus
Quote from: TheLurker
U2 heading into Fairford a week or three back....

They are quite frequent at the moment. ...
They are. They've been stooging around for months now, since early Feb I think. See them (it?) landing two, three or more times a week. Rarely seeing them taking off, prevailing winds being westerly, but it makes a hell of a din on take-off so I always saunter to the front of the house on the off-chance.

I think the B-52s are also expected to see out a century in service.

Really? We saw them on their supposed farewell tour last year.

Hot Flatus · « **Reply #17 on:** 06 June, 2020, 11:51:16 pm »

https://www.boeing.com/defense/b-52-bomber/

Jaded · « **Reply #18 on:** 07 June, 2020, 12:14:54 am »

Are they like Trigger's Broom - bits get replaced all over so what is flying now is not what flew originally?

Otherwise - why aren't they grounded like old British planes?

Hot Flatus · « **Reply #19 on:** 07 June, 2020, 12:21:37 am »

Read the wiki page. It seems the longevity comes from a strong air frame and the ease of reconfiguring and adapting the plane because it is roomy. Interestingly they only replaced the 1960s era cathode ray communications screens six years ago.

TheLurker · « **Reply #20 on:** 07 June, 2020, 08:58:27 am »

Quote from: Pingu

Quote from: TheLurker
I think the B-52s are also expected to see out a century in service.

Really? We saw them on their supposed farewell tour last year.

Very droll. You win the thread.

Jakob W · « **Reply #21 on:** 07 June, 2020, 09:09:57 am »

Interesting that the original aircraft was so overbuilt it doesn't look like they'll need to replace wing spars.* https://www.flightglobal.com/fixed-wing/what-makes-the-boeing-b-52-stratofortress-so-long-lasting/134194.article has some detail - looks like the relatively low flight hours of the nuclear deterrent mission helps.

*Which I'm guessing would be a nightmare; IIRC none of the aircraft skin panels are interchangeable with other aircraft any more, as they've all warped and wrinkled in different ways over the past half-century...

TheLurker · « **Reply #22 on:** 07 June, 2020, 09:59:00 am »

I suspect even when they were new swapping panels around quickly wouldn't have been an option as they would have been jig built rather than *modern* *shiny* CAD with CNC cutting of parts so some *cough* fettling would be required. Rather like our own dear Nimrod.

pcolbeck · « **Reply #23 on:** 07 June, 2020, 10:03:28 am »

I have seen articles on line where the grandfather, father and then son have all been in the USAF and have all flown the same B52. Amazing.

ElyDave · « **Reply #24 on:** 07 June, 2020, 05:25:10 pm »

Quote from: Jaded on 07 June, 2020, 12:14:54 am

Are they like Trigger's Broom - bits get replaced all over so what is flying now is not what flew originally?

Otherwise - why aren't they grounded like old British planes?

I suspect that unlike the Harrier, or private Vulcan, there are enough of them still going to give sufficient workforce for skills retention, and engineering capabilities. That was the real death of the Vulcan in flying terms, insufficient manufacturer support for a one off to be able to manage an ageing airframe.

That and very deep pockets in the US DoD