Ride along on a Lockheed U-2 spyplane and check out the amazing view cruising at 70,000ft as the sky above turns black.
Thanks to Jill Rutan Hoffman for the tip about this video. Follow Jill on Twitter: @LookingSkyward.
If the video does not play or display properly above, click here to view it on YouTube.
What a spetacular ride! Thanks for sharing it. I consider the U-2 Kelly's second best design.
ReplyDeleteTruly amazing... being in that seat would be the only thing better, but thanks for sharing this with us! I wanted to "...reach out and touch the face of God."
ReplyDeleteHi! What I just seen is simply wonderfull, is an great experience.
ReplyDeleteI am a Lear Jet Pilot, what I do is Air Ambulance with LJ-20´s and LJ-30´s. In 1994 just two days after the attack in NY. I was flying from Guadalajara, México to Tijuana, México. Our flight altittude was 410 FL We were flying over head LMM VOR, when We saw two planes, with nav lights ON, over us, I call to MZT center to ask for traffic and they said, We have nothing on the screen, I calculate the planes was flying about 30,000 Ft more or less. I think they could be two U2, perhaps. May be, I will never know.
Regards.
Capt. Rogelio Muñoz.
royair@prodigy.net.mx
Thank You
The only thing I can honestly say....UNBELIEVEABLE AND THANK YOU FOR SHARING....HOW TRULY WONDERFUL TO SEE....
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing with Us HUMANS on Mother EARTH SPECTACULAR Ride.
ReplyDeleteGlenn, Miami Florida
What great adventure. Than you for that humbling moment.
ReplyDeletei say, who is man, that you would be mindful of him? how small we are in comparison to God, and yet, he looks after us little tiny things that we are. awsome, and wonderful.
ReplyDeleteWonderful video. Worked on th U2 for 15 years but never flew in one.
ReplyDeleteIf i ever had a single chance to fly in a U-2 aircraft, i´m pretty sure that a could die in peace after that.........
ReplyDeleteThks to all those who invented these awesome machines!!!
The passion for flight...
Portugal..........
The Brit who was ataken up in the U2 was James from the British BBC show called Top Gear. Does anyone know if this will be a future episode of that show?? We can watch the show here in the USA on BBC America. A fantastic automobile buff's show!
ReplyDeleteKevin
That U2 video was just awesome, inspiring, and beautiful.
ReplyDeleteKelly Johnson rocks!
Zach
The clip is lovely. Too bad you can't hear what the men are saying for the volumn of so aclled "back ground" music.
ReplyDeleteFantastic. Absolutely Fantastic. That made me cry.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the opportunity to view your amazing 'edge'of the sky travels!
ReplyDeleteJust Wonderful.
The background music was perfect... and the commentary from both pilot and passenger was big fun as well.
Tip of the hat!
In 1971 I was at the RTAFB Udorn Thailand taking a friend to the Air Force terminal to go back home. As we approached we saw this huge black X take off and climb at an impossible angle at great speed with little sound. I went into the terminal and asked the airman what had just taken off. He said, "Nothing took off sir". I said, "No, that big black plane, what was that?" okay, so I'm a little slow. He scowled looked me right in the eye and through clenched teeth said "NOTHING took off SIR." It was several years later that I found out what that nothing was called!
ReplyDeleteI share the awe with all of the other comments about this video. Unbelievably beautiful. One additional note re: the Anonymous at RTAFB Udorn in 1971. The aircraft he witnessed take off and disappear in seconds was not our beloved U-2 but rather our other beloved SR-71 Blackbird and I was the one who issued the order to say nothing. It had come in with an electrical problem and was repaired and gone in under 12 hrs.
ReplyDeleteThat was quite an amazing and even emotional video. To see the earth from that view is absolutely amazing and to that that plane is from the 50's and still flying... that is also amazing.
ReplyDeleteI think the clip is from the BBC DVD "James May on the Moon" which was released this Summer. It's available on the BBCshop UK site, Amazon UK (and others) and cdwow in the US
ReplyDeleteI see these aircraft along with the Global Hawk all the time. You see it for a moment then all of a sudden, can't see it but surely can hear them. Its a real kick to sit outside of the base and watch the touch n' go's or the chase vehicles racing to place the landing gear under the wing tips. Often wondered what it would be like to fly in one... especially for someone who doesnt like flying.
ReplyDeleteWe are a lucky few (hundreds of millions) to live at a time when technology allows (a) this to happen and (b) people not on the scene to have such an excellent view. There has never been a better time to live and quite possibly -- because of environmental degradation -- no future time will be as good.
ReplyDeleteJust spectacular! Yes the the U-2 was one of Kelly Johnson's brilliant conceptions - only the SR-71 and the exquisite P-38 rate along side it......... Bomps
ReplyDeleteWhy would anyone imagine a "Face of God"?
ReplyDeleteThank God we have people that are so dedicated to keep this country free. Keep up the good work.
ReplyDeleteEx Pilot - The comment "Reach out and touch the face of God", is from a poem written by John Gillebpie Magee, Jr., "High Flight". I have a bronze engraved copy with my Command Pilot Wings attached.I often quote from the lines. I flew B-57B's wearing the same pressure suit, above 50M with some U-2's above, during Nuc testing in 1957 & 58, in Nevada & in the Pacific. It was and is one awsome aircraft.
ReplyDeleteWhy did my tax money have to pay for that?
ReplyDeleteGreat video of the U2 experience. The footage and the music brought emotion to this video. Having flown in the AT-6, I have aspirations of one day taking a flight in a P51 Mustang. This is the only thing that could top that. Along with the SR-71 and
ReplyDeleteF117, the U2 is another entry in Kelly Johnson's resume of GREAT planes. One of the greatest minds in any field of endeavor. He had no equal in airplane design and development.
James May you are one lucky son of a *****.
ReplyDeleteMan that was awesome, believe me when I say I do not use that word much.
I am going back to watch it again.
The sound track fit perfectly.
My ambition is to ride Bert Rutans
starship.
BJP
If this does not bring tears to any aviators eyes then they are truly no aviator. Why do we fly? Becasue we love the limited freedom that it allows us to experience and this is as close to the ultimate freedom that one could ever hope to experience.
ReplyDeleteWhat an awesome experience to ride along from this perspective. I also thought about Gary Powers and what it must have been like for him being shot down from this altitude. Thanks for the ride along. Tom L.
ReplyDeletenot sure what the cars are for,but in my day the early 1970's tey would chase the U-2 on landing with chevy el caminos an reattach the wing wheels as it slowed on the runway doin about a 100 mph wiyh guys standing in the bed...an awesome site!!!
ReplyDeleteif you like this, watch Top Gear on BBC....cool show about engines and cars...lots of hysterical humor, too!
ReplyDeleteI thought Air Force pilots had to have perfect vision. The pilot was wearing glasses. Is that new?
ReplyDeleteJ
"J"...yes the pilot was wearing glasses, but he was a major. You must have 20/20 vision when you are chosen to go through pilot training... Being a major the pilot obviously has been in the AF for at least 17 years. His vision must have become worse during that time, which required him to wear glasses. Such was my case when I turned 39 as a major. Roy
ReplyDeleteI'm British and yeah the guy is James May and he's hilarious on Top Gear. The other co presenter of 3 is Jeremy clarkson who does similar stuff as James May did in this video. Clarkson went up in an F-15 E though and basicaly threw up all the time due to the G,s that were pulled lol. This clip though was awesome and a fantastic aircraft.I also had the thrill of seeing the sr-71 numerous times at the local USAF bases near me here in England which held public airshows. Go Pittsburgh Steelers too !!
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, I live in Turkey and the sick and useless Islamist government here have blocked U-Tube. Being ex-RAF, I really wanted to see the video my friend sent me the link to but I guess I'll have to make do with the comments from those of you lucky enough to see it.
ReplyDeleteI had the priviledge to meet Gary Powers Jr. and this video gave me a feel for what his father went through. I remember the U-2 incident like it was yesterday. This was an awe inspiring video and we should give thanks that Kelly Johnson was designing planes for us and not our enemies.
ReplyDeleteTo anoymous and his tax complaint. We have freedom in this country because we have planes like the U-2. It can take pictures of objects on the ground which are as clear as if you were there. Your taxes pay for development of good aircraft that work to protect our land! After 35 years with Lockheed and military folks I have seen such wonderful advances.
ReplyDeleteKnew Kelly, knew Gerry Powers but also knew hundreds of men and women who built these wonderful planes.
Incredible video...thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeletei doubt if anon in september has paid too many taxes anyway, but get a life buddy, our Air Force needs good publicity !
ReplyDeleteA wonderful thing happened the other day, when a good friend of mine told a story that made two grown men’s eyes well up with tears. I’d like to share it with you
ReplyDeleteA number of years ago Ed had suffered a devastating stroke. He is able to walk, however not for long and with a shuffling gait. But most importantly unable to talk, except for a few words here and there. A man trapped in a body that will not co-operate. Life continued on for Ed. In a most frustrating way it seemed. It was grand parents day at the University of San Diego where Ed’s granddaughter is attending as a freshman. Ed and his wife, his daughter, and his son-in law Bill all met in San Diego for the weekend. After much cohersion Ed agreed to ride a historical trolley tour through San Diego. He didn’t want to go at all.
The tour group leader took note of Ed’s difficulty climbing into the trolley, and as everyone was seated in the large bus he started his spiel. “Old thing here and old thing there”. As the trolley rounded a corner and slowed to a crawl passing some military planes on display at the San Diego Aerospace Museum, Ed jumped out of his seat and stammered “my plane-the 71- my plane ” in a very exited voice. The look on the tour guides’ face was one of a looming medical problem, until Bill sat Ed down and stood to explain to the entire trolley group that Ed had a stroke a few years ago. But that Ed was Capt. Ed Payne USAF (ret) and that Ed used to fly one of those planes on display, the SR71 Blackbird. The entire trolley group erupted in applause for Ed. And the tour guide said Ed would not get off the bus without giving him an autograph. Ed never wanted to go on that tour. As it would turn out, it was the “tour” of duty Captain Ed will never forget.
In the early sixties I had the opportunity to be a supersonic target in a F-101-B during an ADC excercise at 54,000 ft.. We wore partial pressure suits which were very uncomfortable, but the view along the east coast of the US was magnificient. I envy this aviator to be 3 miles higher. Thanks for the ride.
ReplyDeleteRon Venturini
USAF Ret.
Does anyone know the name and artist for the background music?
ReplyDeleteAnonymous: Worked many a U2 flight back in my AC&W days, Amazing
ReplyDeleteI have to say , at times it frost my butt to see reporters etc. riding in AF planes for a joy ride. spent 8+ yrs. AF not in a flying job Radar AKA Scope Dope worked many AC from Gooney Birds to U2s and everything in between, We could not get a ride in jet how hard we begged, only rides we got were to and from remote sites in a C47 or overseas on a Mats C118that being said that U2 is Amazing!!!
ReplyDeleteTOTALLY INCREDIBLE!! Being a person with a disability, I can only imagine such an experience. Or perhaps only dream of being able to be aboard the ISS. But truly to be at 70,000 feet and witness outer darkness, escaping earth's bonds, and then return back to my wheelchair, would be an experience too great to describe and share with anyone.
ReplyDeleteVernimal
that was neat
ReplyDeleteconnie in Florida
Fantastic - am 83 yr old Sun City lady who followed Gary Powers and U2, now thanks to Sun City Stan G am able to feel his flight. Joan
ReplyDeleteMy son is a current U-2 pilot. This video gives me, as the "proud papa," a chance to ride along with my son. My son is NOT the pilot in the video, but I still feel the strong connection. He loves his job, his Country, and his family and serves us in ways I can only imagine. I salute all the men and women in the service to America. I never know where he is or how long he'll be gone, but I know he is happy to do his job. He also has 52 missions into Iraq when he was assigned to a different plane. Thanks for the video it means a lot to our family. Every time he comes home on leave, it's very special.
ReplyDeleteProud Papa
And my kids wonder why I cherish my Black Cat memorabilia.
ReplyDelete1 Kings 19:11,12
ReplyDelete11. And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake:
12 And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a a still small voice.
I noticed many people who viewed this video felt His still small voice saying "I am here."
Well said Dave!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely Beautiful! Reverent and Worshipful! The high resolution view was like actually being there! Brought tears to my eyes because I know that my heavenly Father, the Creator of the Heavens and the Earth, spoke it all into existence! Would have been a good opportunity for James May to call upon the One who created Earth. He came close when he commented about how it was "rather humbling". So true, as it is the same God who gives us life and breath, who sustains us by His powerful word!
ReplyDeleteIsaiah 40:22 says, "It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in:"
The Good News is all people can experience God's Eternal Glory in the Heavens and live Forever by asking His Son, Jesus Christ into their hearts.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. ~ John 3:16-17
Jesus Loves You!
CLRandolph
Besides being truly awesome to watch and hear, the soundtrack was perfect! Where can I get the music, please?
ReplyDeletevideos like these make me so proud about where i live. no one comes close as the old air force motto used to say. we have so much military power in this country that no one realizes how much of an impact it has on the world by the virtue of its existence alone.
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing video.. I have no words to explain my feelings. May God richly bless this great land and the people who protect us. We should all give thanks daily for our precious freedom. dph
ReplyDeleteExcellent video. Its a salute to the technology and the men a woman who make it all possible.
ReplyDeleteYes. Ryan uk steelers fan is correct. James May is a co-host on BBC's Top Gear. He holds a pilots license and flew the civilian, light aircraft in Top Gear's Great Truffle Race. Basically, the two competitors each transported a truffle from northern Italy to a restaurant in London. May (pilot and aka Captain Slow) and Richard Hammond (passenger and aka The Hamster) flew their truffle at an indicated 80 knots. Jeremy Clarkson carried his in a Bugatti Veyron (top speed 219 knots/407 kph/253 mph) directly through the Alps and points north. May's light plane could not top the Alps. They had to go west to southern France, before turning north. Hammond was dismayed: You mean he not only can go faster than we, he can go higher too?
Mac us west ham fan (and not a pilot)
Makes one wonder how Gary Powers felt when he came down behind the iron curtain. Launched from Giebelstadt Germany and then had his wings clipped. What could the folks in Russia have that would have affected his aircraft at that altitude. I have flown over the Alps several times and had the opportunity to fly atop the clouds in my military machine, but I have never experienced a spectacle such as seen in the video.
ReplyDeleteFantastic! Having been a KC-135 Strato-Tanker crew chief for 23 years I did a lot of flying... but never had this perspective! Thanks so much for sharing! (57-1504)
ReplyDelete"And my kids wonder why I cherish my Black Cat memorabilia."
ReplyDeleteOnce a Black Cat...Always a Black Cat!!
It's beyond our dimension on earth, but what a beautiful world we're connected to.
ReplyDeleteWow, what a video.........My first aircraft ride was a GV up to 63,500 where it stalled.......and I acted like a little kid at the ice cream store.......How can you explain what you are looking at.......I can't........except just beautiful........Now I can show my friends what that looks like.......
ReplyDeleteWow! That was great! Thanks for sharing,
ReplyDeleteCurtis
Wedding Photography Miami
"Per Ardua ad Astra"
ReplyDelete(Through Adversity to The Stars), courtesy of the RAF & RCAF.
This aircraft and its pilots make me (new pilot, flying Cessna 150/2's & 172's) feel pretty insignificant. Sort of like a grain of sand on one of the thousands of beaches of the world. This concept of flying on the edge of space is quite amazing!
ReplyDeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteLike many people posting here, I am an airline pilot who flies at as much as 39000 ft altitude. At those altitudes I can already see and admire how immense is the love and power of God who created all that we know and we don't know yet, but after watching this short video I can just say "thank you Lord" for the beauty we can enjoy every where we look around, either beyond the skies, on earth or in the microscopic world. How fantastic and breath taking is all the Universe.
Thank you Lord!!!
Thanks to Kelly Johnson and the crew at the skunk works. I'm proud that my tax dollars are spent on equipment like this. What a dream to have a ride along like that...
ReplyDelete"...thank God...."
ReplyDeleteSure, all you want.
Just don't forget to thank 'Science' also.
In 1966 I was at working at Christchurch Airport, New Zealand. A single seat U2 and a B47 were there for a month conducting High Altitude Clear Air Turbulence research.
ReplyDeleteWatched the U2 take off and land several times, an awesome sight.
I worked on the U-2 Program for many years and can honestly say it was the best experience of my career. Amazing aircraft... thank you so much for this... brought tears to my eyes.
ReplyDeleteI can't help but wonder what the stall speed of the U2 is at 70,000 feet. It must be operating at a point just above stalling. Anyone have an idea?
ReplyDelete...Wow... I want to see more! THANK YOU!
ReplyDeletename of the song is:Flight" performed by Ty Unwin, but it's not available to buy yet.
ReplyDeletenice video
tks for sharing
B747cap.wuisner
atlas air
This is a really good video, but the music is too loud. It overrides the comments the guys are making... which is much more important than the music. Other than that.... great!
ReplyDeleteSome years ago, I was assigned as a US Army MP Accident Investigator on Okinawa. One day I had the opportunity to be on the main highway, west of Kadena AFB, at a time when the SR-71 Blackbird (called the Habu in Okinawa) was taking off. I aimed my radar speedgun at it as it lifted off heading UP-broke the electronics in the speedgun. What a sight to see such a bird fly!
ReplyDeleteM.D. Austing
Dennison, OH
Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteMy late father was in air-crew in the R.A.F. [UK], and then in Flight Service / DCA. He worked with the likes of Blackbirds, and always spoke of the U2, and had many books. He would have loved this video, and I found myself emotional thinking it was selfish of me watching something he could not. Thanks for allowing me to miss him, once again.
Garth
Tasmania, Australia
During the early 1960s, two U-2s were launched from the aircraft carrier USS RANGER (CVA-61) in the South Pacific in order to observe and collect data from French nuclear tests. The planes launched and very carefully landed aboard the carrier numerous times.
ReplyDeleteCVA61Sailor
Some comments:
ReplyDeleteThe U-2 was designed and developed in the late 1940’s and was operational before 1955.
The U-2 touches down (lands) about 70 knots and maintains wing control to about 40 knots on run-out.
700M (70,000 feet) altitude is a safe U-2 cruising level, the U-2 can fly much, much, much higher then that.
At the very cold 70,000 foot conditions aircraft hull metal is more brittle and more likely to break.
Because pressure deceases as you go higher there is very little pressure at 70,000 feet. The plane isn’t pressurized as flexing under pressure would try to blow up the plane like a balloon and after a few cycles of pressurizing and un-pressurizing that could cause the hull to “pop.”
Above 43,000 feet there isn’t enough pressure to force oxygen through a human’s lung lining and into blood vessels. The pilot wears a full pressure suit that simulates ground level pressure – so he is pressurized.
When you catch a bottom fish and reel him up quickly from say 150 feet down – when you get the fish to the surface, you’ll notice his stomach has come out of his mouth – well, if you suddenly decompress a pilot – his lungs and other entrails come up and out of his mouth – obviously it is difficult to fly like that!
Flying above 43,000 feet is a very dangerous business. Things shrink, get cold and brittle and if you loose pressurization up there (even while sucking 100% oxygen) your useful conscious time is 4 to 15 seconds and death happens in less then a minute or two.
hate to rain on the parade but I too found the music to be too loud. Just mentioning this to help the quality of future videos. Would have enjoyed what the comentatior was saying more than the music. Thanks for the video. Enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteMay I ride?
ReplyDeleteA few years ago, I was a guest of the outgoing Squadron commander at Beale to learn about the U2s - what an experience. They even have as a consultant one of the original "Skunk Works" employees with them. The reason those GTOs and Camaros ride down the runway at 120 ais to advice the pilot the distance between the runway and the rear window - they will call out the distance as he is landing.
ReplyDeleteAs to the Mexican LearJet pilot wondering if those planes at 30,000 feet were U2s - I doubt it - unless he was talking 30,000 feet above hom at his cruising altitude.
What an experience that was....
Someone prior to me stated:
ReplyDelete"The U-2 was designed and developed in the late 1940’s and was operational before 1955.
The U-2 touches down (lands) about 70 knots and maintains wing control to about 40 knots on run-out."
There is a good history on the development of the U2 (and SR-71) in the book Skunk Works - by Ben Rich.
The U2 was developed for the CIA specifically to fly over Russia. Until Francis Gary Powers, they had flown over Russia for 6 years.
Lockheed submitted a bid proposal for the U2 at the last minute - they weren't even originally invited for a proposal but it was the genius of Kelly Johnson, who mated glider wings to essentially an F104 fuselage, that gave us the original U2.
The current "U2" is about 30% bigger than the original one has has uplinks to feed info to satellites.
I am proud that the USAF thought to invite James from Top Gear( a fine show) for this awesome ride along. That was a great video and he is lucky to have been chosen to present this super high world to the rest of us. As for taxdollars, I don't care a bit, I am sure the extra hours of flying will help make this pilot the best person for the job one day when it's a vital mission. I only wish I will one day have enough to pay the aifare on a trip like this myself
ReplyDeleteI concur. The U2 is awesome, but the SR 71 is truly the "skunk works" best effort. I had the priviledge of working with the Air Force and had the chance to spend a week at the "works" discussing the capabilities of the SR 71 for a Naval project. Both of these aircraft are still amazing even today. Thanks for the ride. Check your 6!
ReplyDeleteNovember 21-23 1969 U-2 made a number of landings on the aircarft carrier America. They even "folded" the wings placed it on the elevator and took it down to the hangar deck.
ReplyDeleteLet us not forget Major Rudolph Anderson who was shot down and killed over Cuba in a U-2 during the Cuban Missile crisis. He took off from Orlando's McCoy Air Force base on a recon mission over Cuba. American Hero!
ReplyDeletemajskyking@gmail.com .... On a SAC mission from Guam to Kadena in June or July, 1955, saw my first U2 ...actually, two U2's!!
ReplyDeleteBoth were landing ... I was on the observation deck of the control tower. One of the aircraft landed perfectly (in 1955 there were no wing struts, simply "roller skates" on the wing tips). The other pilot released his drogue chute too soon and made a "five point" landing ....five really spiffy bounces, each at a lower height than the previous, then a very nice stop.
Needless to say, plenty laughs on the flight line!
Bob King
Someone asked "Why did my tax money have to pay for that?"
ReplyDeleteYour tax dollars paid for that for the same reason the military hosts air shows and other public exhibitions.
Additionally, the pilots have to fly on a regular basis to maintain currency on the airplane. Little extra money was spent allowing a journalist to come along.
In any case, from the positive responses you can see the effect it had. ITS CALLED PUBLIC RELATIONS!
I have tears in my eyes, and gratitude.
ReplyDeletesó demais!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteesta re feo el avion jajajaja ya jubilenlo y compren helicopteros
ReplyDeleteA friend emailed me a link to this wonderful U-2 video, knowing I would love it. For me this has special significance as I worked on the SR-71 project when it was still ”black” before President Johnson blew it’s cover. I started my flying career when I was just 15 and was privileged to call men such as Tony LeVier, Fish Salmon, Paul Mantz and Francis Gary Powers my friends. They allowed me to be their co-pilot. Tony, Fish and Paul had a great influence on my life and taught me things about flying that few will ever know. I met Gary one day as I was waiting for the “Whale,” the shuttle that flew from Lockheed in Burbank to the “Ranch” (Area 51) and would do a bit of “hanger flying” with him from time to time until his death in 1977. What extraordinary men all. From Tony I learned that the U-2 was designed and the first article delivered in just 9 months. This was partly due to the fact that the fuselage was basically an F-104 with giant wings replacing the stub wings of the F-104. I learned that it ran on Ronson Lighter fluid in the beginning. When Gary was shot down, a higher flying plane was a necessity and the SR-71 was the result. The most amazing thing about both of them was that they were designed the old fashioned way… with a slide rule. The SR-71 was so far ahead of its time that it remains the fastest “air-breather” ever flown and it achieved altitudes that were more than 20,000 feet higher that the U-2. Certainly Kelly Johnson and the Skunk Works team were very, very far ahead of their time. It makes one wonder just what new aircraft we will find out about after it has been flying for 10 or 20 years. I salute the pilots that were privileged to fly these amazing aircraft… who could “Reach out and touch the face of God” and the dedicated people that designed, created, built and maintained these great planes.
ReplyDeleteAt 70,000 ft, the margin between top speed and stall speed is 10-15 knots. That's why these planes are so hairy to fly at that altitude.
ReplyDeleteTop Gear, eh? So why bother to give rides to snotty Brit elitists? After all, Top Gear would have us believe anything built by Americans is woefully deficient.
ReplyDeleteMy teacher at Bible School was an SR-71 training pilot. Now I know a bit more what he was able to see back in the 60's when he flew way up there...by the way the blackbird will go above 80k and do over mach3.....
ReplyDeleteThis Would be alright if the damn music wasn't there so you could tell what they where saying
ReplyDeleteSimply AMAZING!!! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteouterbanks1Who am I to comment on such an awesome ride ! It's travel like this that adds to the fact that I am so proud to be an American ! We americans are so lucky to be who we are and to have what we have !
ReplyDeleteI am a retired M/Sgt USAF, came in in '45 and retired in '73. During that time I flew as a photographer in F100, The fantastic F104, B57, B26,B25, F4c,C45, C54,C47, and many others. Enjoyed the U2 flight and the video was out of this world. Have flown at Mach2 in the F4C so I have a slight feel for how it must feel to fly in aU2. Keep up the good work and lets see more Felton in Pensacola
ReplyDeleteMany thanks to B. N. Sullivan for creating the blog to share this most enjoyable video. As a pilot who spent a 23 year USN career flying off aircraft carriers and a second career flying for a major US airline, videos like this are a treat for me to enjoy. Thanks to all the military and civilian folks who made this happen.
ReplyDeleteGreat commentary from all posters, especially those referencing the Zipper. The 104 is STILL the hottest dang thing-with-wings ever built, and King Kelly made it happen.
ReplyDeleteThe climb rate/AOA of the Dragon Lady is staggering, considering the relatively low puff from the pipe.
I went to college on an ROTC scholorship to be a Naval Aviator. Found out I was color blind and could not be a pilot. Later got a private pilot's license. This video reminds me of why I wanted to fly. It is very difficult to explain the joy of being a pilot but this video would help.
ReplyDeleteBEAUTIFUL video! Not too long, not boring, music was perfect. The Earth like most of us don't get to see her! Made my afternoon watching that!
ReplyDeleteWOW!!!At 79 I could only dream and wish for such a ride on my 80th birthday. It was a great trip, unimaginable.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful video! Well done! Take an atheist up in the U-2 and once you are level at the edge of space, watch the atheist convert.
ReplyDeleteGreat video!
ReplyDeleteI was in the Russian Air Force museum at Monino, just outside Moscow a few years back. While walking around one of their exhibit hangars, I noticed a piece of black metal on the wall. A closer look revealed it was part of the wreckage of Gary Powers' U2.
A week later, I was in the Smithsonian in Washington looking at their exhibit on Powers. A surreal juxtaposition between the cold war superpowers.
Please dump the background music.
ReplyDeleteWhy does the U2 Pilot wear, what I perceive to be PRESCRIPTION Glasses? I would have thought that 20-20 or better vision was mandatory for AF Pilots here in the States? What would happen if he bumped his head and they fell off or became miss-adjusted, or Fogged up? I imagine that the pilot had a strap to hold them around the back of his neck.. but I'm just surprised?!?
ReplyDeleteWonderful Video, BTW
Absolutely fantastic! I'm so envious....I'd love to do this. It is a real privilege to see the earth, the sky and the Heavens in the video. Thanks so much for sharing. I'm a "wind in the wires" kinda guy...but this..this is incredible.
ReplyDeletethe u-2 is abeautfiul and powerful feather of an airframe, the blackbird;it predessor is four step more powerful in every way. i waould to hitch ride in any USAF jet or high flyer.
ReplyDeleteI hitched rides on cessna in the 70's and wasa hooked i could lift off, urn coorectly and land at age 14, but then lif tok other turns. But i would to fly in a powerful machine or this wonderful high flyimg feather!
marc las vegas
For Whipper Snapper: The glasses snap into place as part of the helmet and do not fog up because they are in the 100% O2 area of the suit.
ReplyDeleteGreat video to say the least and from someone who has over 1000 hours above 70,000, viewing this still give me a rush!
David....you can fly the big guys but none this high. Figure out how we can touch reality....and go up. If I win the lotto, will throw it towards it.
ReplyDeleteReally on my personal Bucket List.
Joel from Kelowna, B.C. Canada
(1100 ft. above sea level)
How does one become a pilot like that or an astronaut maybe?..
ReplyDeletei don't know why, but being able to see what they saw in this video juat drives me, and makes me want to be able to do the same someday.
i'm a sophomore in highschool and i don't think they can stress enough how important it is that we decide on a career. i think i might've found what i wanna do for the rest of my life..
anywho, any tips, comments, etc.
please contact me at olivia_elite@hotmail.com :)
-Olivia J.
That brought tears to my eyes. It made me remember 1963 at Davis-Monthan AFB in Tucson, Arizona. I was a brand new Air Force 2nd Lt. Public Info Officer and had the honor of writing monthly Top Secret histories of the 4080th Strategic Wing. I got to know many of the pilots and support people as I interviewed them for the Histories. I can tell you they were, and still are I'm sure, a very special family of dedicated, professional, unique pilots and support people. I have ridden in the recovery vehicle behind landings, as pilots literally "flew" the airplane to full stop until when one wing dropped to the runway. I think they would compete to see who could hold it straight and level the longest before a wing dropped. Awesome video that brings back many great memories. I was sitting in the O-Club having lunch with Colonel Jack Nole, who had survived bailout at altitude by free falling to conserve his limited bottle of oxigen to an altitude where he could breath and pull his chute. He said "see that guy over there at the next table? That's Gary Powers." Powers was a consultant for Lockheed at the time, and of course a legend. I was a young lieutenant in awe. Wonderful memories. I am now a USAF Retired officer since 1984 and still flying my little Cessna around the patch.
ReplyDeleteWow - Thanks for the memory! I was lucky enough to be working at Lockheed's Skunk Works in the 60's (on the SR-71 Blackbird) and when Powers was released from the Russian prison (exchanged for a couple of REAL spies)he was given a desk out in one of the hangers where he pretty much was the quiet consultant, and did not talk to us engineers much...sadly, he was killed in a KMPC Traffic Helicopter after being shot down on his historic flight over the USSR. (The Russians used this to scuttle the Summit meeting between Krushchev & Eisenhower) God Bless the USA!
ReplyDeleteI just watched this video and it brought back so many good memories. I never get tired of watching I just cannot believe that the Air Force is still flying that particular aircraft. I goes to show how well the Air Force takes care of its aircraft.
ReplyDeleteBreathtaking. I'm so jealous.
ReplyDeleteLaurie