PDA

View Full Version : U2 Down in Asia


Napoleon
06-22-05, 10:04 AM
Pilot died.

I did not know we still used those planes.
KLang
06-22-05, 10:15 AM
Pilot died.

I did not know we still used those planes.

:( for the pilot.

There was a big article in Smithsonian Air and Space magazine a couple months ago about U2's. They are still being used quite a bit. In fact they are still being upgraded regularly.

Edit: Article isn't available online. The cover:

http://66.111.103.15/Art/FM05Cover.jpg
Napoleon
06-22-05, 10:47 AM
They had one one year at the Cleveland air show as a static exhibit. It is a very fragile looking plane.
Gnam
06-22-05, 01:01 PM
I did not know we still used those planes.
Satellites can be tracked and avoided. The U2 and SR71 can catch people unaware.

Sucks the pilot didn't make it. :thumdown:
Napoleon
06-22-05, 01:36 PM
Satellites can be tracked and avoided.


Great point.
devilmaster
06-22-05, 01:49 PM
Someone remind me here.....

Isn't the U2 older than the SR71? And didn't they retire the blackbird?
RaceGrrl
06-22-05, 02:03 PM
U2 is older, and the SR71 is still in service. It was retired then reactivated in 95 and retired again in 1998.

It's still one of the most beautiful planes in service, IMO.

http://www.area51zone.com/aircraft/sr714.jpg
Napoleon
06-22-05, 02:05 PM
nevermind!
nrc
06-22-05, 02:15 PM
Story:

http://www.latimes.com/la-062205plane_lat,0,1824118.story?coll=la-home-headlines

U2 page at FAS:
http://www.fas.org/irp/program/collect/u-2.htm
KLang
06-22-05, 02:37 PM
Good SR-71 stuff here (http://www.globalsecurity.org/intell/systems/sr-71.htm) . According to that link there are 3 operational with the Air Force, 1 with NASA and a couple in moth-balls. The rest are in museums. Wow, I didn't know we had built 50 of them. Awesome plane!
RichK
06-22-05, 04:16 PM
There is an SR-71 at Ft. Walton Beach, Florida. It's an out-of-the-way, outdoor museum, but they let me walk under the SR-71, touch it, and really check it out. Very cool! :thumbup:
JohnHKart
06-22-05, 05:54 PM
I thought I had read it somewhere and I just found a post on Airliners.net confirming, the SR-71 hasn't been flying for four years. Yes a few were reactivated in the mid 90's, but that was mainly a NASA program and not meant to be longterm.

John
nissan gtp
06-22-05, 06:57 PM
sadly, I think all the SR71's are retired

incredible planes... always reminds me of the old racecar adage: "if it looks fast, it'll be fast" ...

:thumbup:
dando
06-22-05, 07:20 PM
U2 is older, and the SR71 is still in service. It was retired then reactivated in 95 and retired again in 1998.

It's still one of the most beautiful planes in service, IMO.

http://www.area51zone.com/aircraft/sr714.jpg
SR-71 = Mach V of aircraft = :cool:

:)

Now is it in or out of service now? I thought it was back out of service.

EDIT: Originally I thought this thread was about the U2 tour. Thoughts and prayers for the pilot's family. :( It's rare to hear about a U2 going down outside of Gary Powers.

-Kevin
Ankf00
06-22-05, 08:01 PM
U2's range and loitering ability are big plusses, sattelites have pre-determined orbits, you can't just stop one and let it hover over what you want photographed for a couple of hours and then send it on its merry way again...
RaceGrrl
06-22-05, 11:27 PM
SR-71 officially retired in Oct 1998.