James May at The Edge of Space

[Chris71]

Back on i-player: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00lc5ph/Jame...

Only just noticed it. Great documentary following his flight in a U2.

[5potTurbo]

Oooh, that was a good one, too.

[Condi]

Ive watched the 10 minuet section where he's in the U2 on youtube many many times. Its a dream to go to space, and seeing his reaction does nothing to quell my desires. Well worth adding to favourites.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6cZLfK4Zjk

[Shedofdread]

Truly some of the most beautiful imagery seen on TV. To experience something like that would be very special indeed. And to think, he got PAID to do that... Grrrr!

[Eric Mc]

I think he actually went higher than 70,000 feet - but wasn't allowed to say.

[Chris71]

Wasn't a Russian company offering to take people up to almost that sort of altitude in a relatively Mig of some description? How much higher than 70,000ft do you reckon a U2 could potentially go?

[Eric Mc]

I'd guess it can comfortably reach 80,000,

Although these altitrudes are fairly impressive, they really are still pretty much in the atmosphere (or else the wings wouldn't work). 80,000 feet is 15 miles altitude. The Space Shutte/Space Station orbits at around 230 miles.

[Chris71]

True. I'm the sort of person who has their nose pressed up against the window every time they get on a regular run-of-the-mill airliner though (and I used to commute on one!) so anything that gives a clear view of the curvature of the earth and the blue ring of atmosphere would have me transfixed, even if it is some way short of actual space flight.

I still think Joe Kittinger's parachute jump from 100,000ft is one of the most fascinating things I've seen: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81gn2oLeC_U ; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VdSeDqU3EY&fea...

[otolith]

Got round to watching our recording of this last night, excellent programme. James May has done some really good TV.

[droopsnoot]

This was shown again recently, I missed it first time around but I'd have to agree here, it's very interesting and almost a pity it was only a half-hour programme. Nice to see something like this without any false drama added.

[FourWheelDrift]

droopsnoot said:

This was shown again recently, I missed it first time around but I'd have to agree here, it's very interesting and almost a pity it was only a half-hour programme. Nice to see something like this without any false drama added.

I'm pretty sure there were two versions of this, one short (half hour) and one much longer.

Here we go, it was part of the 1hr long "James May : Man on the Moon" - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1489904/?ref_=nm_flmg_...
Not on iPlayer - http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00lfdbv

but can be found online elsewhere.

[djc206]

I get to speak to U2's occasionally, I love how clear the radios and how chilled the pilots are. What a job.

As to the altitude they normally call us at FL600, whether they are actually at that level when they chat to us I don't know, I have my suspicions. I love the performance characteristics, like nothing else we get to work normally.

[droopsnoot]

FourWheelDrift said:

I'm pretty sure there were two versions of this, one short (half hour) and one much longer.

Ah, thanks for that. Will have a look, maybe they'll show it at some point as my internet connection doesn't really lend itself to watching on line.

[Yipper]

One of the best TV programs ever made. Something only the BBC could do. Descriptive, fascinating and entertaining at the same time, without being nerdy or faux-fear.

[kurt535]

Keep your eye on a bunch of Brits and Yanks putting Lightning XS422 back into the blue over in Mississippi.

http://www.lightning422supporters.co.uk.

Bet you they will eventually sell rides to the edge of space.

[Buzz84]

Mythbusters did a special feature on the U2 which is well worth a watch if you can catch it somewhere.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MythBusters_(2015_se...

[AER]

Eric Mc said:

I'd guess it can comfortably reach 80,000,

Although these altitrudes are fairly impressive, they really are still pretty much in the atmosphere (or else the wings wouldn't work). 80,000 feet is 15 miles altitude. The Space Shutte/Space Station orbits at around 230 miles.

That's still not much air when you're up there. At 70k you're looking at 4.5kPa and at 80k it's down to 2.8kPa. When sea level is 101.3, that's pretty close to bugger all.

[CanAm]

I was watching a program about the renovation of a Mosquito recently and one of the pilots referred to the sluggish response to controls in the thin air over 40,000 ft !!

[PRTVR]

kurt535 said:

Keep your eye on a bunch of Brits and Yanks putting Lightning XS422 back into the blue over in Mississippi.

http://www.lightning422supporters.co.uk.

Bet you they will eventually sell rides to the edge of space.

I remember reading about a Lightning pilot that caught a U2 at 88 thousand feet, I remember him saying it was purely ballistic and the wings (what little there are)
were ineffective.

[Eric Mc]

But the U2 was chugging along merilly.

The U2 was designed specifically to fly at extreme altitudes. That is why it has such long thin wings. There are definite issues flying at such heights and the aircraft has to be handled VERY carefully - but that is what it takes to make it work.