U2 Senior Span at Fairford
Discussion
2fast748 said:
The fact it's been taken at all (not very secret squirrel is it?)
I can't imagine that's particularly an issue for a decades old aircraft (that was on display at RIAT a few weeks back). Very few people will know where it's going or what it's doing, which is all that really matters. That it still has that capability to this day is hugely impressive.I'm sure there are a few things up the USAFs sleeve that aren't known about which certainly won't be using Fairford, but taking off within the US at night and enjoying a very long trip.
ukaskew said:
2fast748 said:
The fact it's been taken at all (not very secret squirrel is it?)
I can't imagine that's particularly an issue for a decades old aircraft (that was on display at RIAT a few weeks back). Very few people will know where it's going or what it's doing, which is all that really matters. That it still has that capability to this day is hugely impressive.
And I'm told that it's flying in the general direction of Red Square......
Trevatanus said:
One thing of interest... this morning flight was using the callsign "Quid09"
Sneaky buggers
(I believe Quid callsigns are usually assigned to KC135's and the like, NOT U2's!)
[tin hat on]Perhaps all the smoke-and-daggers pods and stuff aren't actually what we think they are but are fuel tanks for inflight refuellingSneaky buggers
(I believe Quid callsigns are usually assigned to KC135's and the like, NOT U2's!)
[/tin hat off]hurstg01 said:
Trevatanus said:
One thing of interest... this morning flight was using the callsign "Quid09"
Sneaky buggers
(I believe Quid callsigns are usually assigned to KC135's and the like, NOT U2's!)
[tin hat on]Perhaps all the smoke-and-daggers pods and stuff aren't actually what we think they are but are fuel tanks for inflight refuellingSneaky buggers
(I believe Quid callsigns are usually assigned to KC135's and the like, NOT U2's!)
[/tin hat off]Amazing pilots flying these. I recall the James May flight where he said they flew within knots of stalling. Also, wearing the full astronaut kit for hours must take reserves of indifference to claustrophobia and desire to scratch your nose!!!
I've always felt stuff like the U2 or flying Hercs off the deck has more pilot skill than fast jets with tonnes of thrust etc. However, having never flown any military metal beyond Chipmunks, Im hardly qualified to know
I've always felt stuff like the U2 or flying Hercs off the deck has more pilot skill than fast jets with tonnes of thrust etc. However, having never flown any military metal beyond Chipmunks, Im hardly qualified to know
[quote=kurt535]Amazing pilots flying these. I recall the James May flight where he said they flew within knots of stalling. Also, wearing the full astronaut kit for hours must take reserves of indifference to claustrophobia and desire to scratch your nose!!!
quote]
It's really the opposite. The pressure suit (NOT the EVA suit) worn by Shuttle crews was a development of the suits worn by U-2 and SR-71 pilots.
quote]
It's really the opposite. The pressure suit (NOT the EVA suit) worn by Shuttle crews was a development of the suits worn by U-2 and SR-71 pilots.
Fairford still very busy, with a couple of B1's currently on deployment
Rockwell B1b Lancer by Jim Pritchard, on Flickr
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