By Here is an interesting article about what it is like to fly the U-2 spy planes that are stationed over at Osan Air Force Base:
The once-secret U-2 reconnaissance plane is known for its high-value role in some of the Cold War’s most critical events. It’s also known as the world’s toughest plane to pilot.
Capt. Michael Opresko, 29, knows first-hand how challenging it is to fly and land the U-2 Dragon Lady, and how punishing it can be on the body. U-2 pilots fly alone for eight to 12 hours, and so high they have to wear a space suit.
“Going up to 30,000 feet cabin pressure is like going from sea level to Everest each day,” said Opresko.
And if above a certain altitude they were to lose cabin pressure or eject, without the suit their blood, saliva and other body fluids would instantly boil. Literally.
“Not a good thing,” Opresko said.
A typical U-2 flight leaves the pilot drained, stiff, and because they breathe 100 percent oxygen during the flight, dehydrated.
“You’re completely wiped, you’re ready to go to bed, you’re hungry, you know, you feel like you’ve just worked out like none other,” Opresko said. “You don’t have the body aches and pains, but you just feel wiped. You’re done.”
The U-2’s flight controls have no hydraulics, so unless they’re flying on automatic pilot, working the aircraft takes lots of arm strength. Especially at lower altitudes. [Stars & Stripes]
You can read the rest at the link.
The updated version of the U-2 was actually deployed to South Korea in 2006. This article reminded me of these two dopes that got beat down wandering into the U-2 area at Osan AFB.
12:29 am on January 9th, 2010 1
That article is so detailed and well written I’m sure I have experienced flying a U-2. I will be able to add that to my resume. After all the title is What it is like to fly a U-2 spy plane. That article is likely re-printed from someone’s elementary school news paper.
Reply
3:14 am on January 9th, 2010 2
Obviously, that article had to be understated because some things still can not be disclosed. One such understatement was the comment about, “Going up to 30,000 feet cabin pressure is like going from sea level to Everest each day,” since most commercial international aircraft fly between 30,000 and 35,000 feet. To require space suits, the pilots of the U-2 must be going into significantly higher altitudes.
As far as the fatigue factor of flying the aircraft without hydraulics, I didn’t think today’s pilots have it as tough as the aircraft’s pilots a generation ago. One of the things that was spectacular about the aircraft then was watching it take off. They did maximum performance climbs. The long wings appeared to flex like a bow as the aircraft was make climb as steeply as it could while flying in a tight spiral until it disappeared up in the sky. That must have taken a lot of physical strength.
As suggested in the article, the landings not only required strength but finesse. The landing gear is very short, the wings are very long, but I don’t believe the earlier aircraft had installed wing tip wheel gear. So, it took incredible precision to keep the wing tips off the runway. That was part of the mission of the chase car assistant, who back in the day was driving an El Camino, to tell the pilot how level he was and supposedly carry attachable wing tip gear in its cargo bed.
Reply
January 9th, 2010 at 5:14 am
Monoplanes and biplanes went over 50 000ft before WW2 (probably could have gone higher, but 40 000 feet is considered the maximum altitude for most people without a pressurized cabin).
“In 1984, during a major NATO exercise, Flt Lt Mike Hale intercepted an American U-2 at a height which they had previously considered safe from interception. Records show that Hale climbed to 88,000 ft (26,800 m) in his Lightning F3 XR749. ”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_Electric_Lightning
So, the U2 was flying at an altitude that was considered safe from interception, which was most probably not its ceiling (when you think about it, bombers made in the 50’s could fly at 70 000feet).
Reply
3:13 pm on January 9th, 2010 3
Check this out.
http://propilotnews.com/2009/07/high-flight-really-high-flight.html
Be sure to watch it in full screen mode. Awesome video. But, I know my nose would start itching like mad 2 minutes into the flight.
Reply
9:36 pm on January 9th, 2010 4
There’s a difference between cabin pressurization and how high the aircraft is actually rated to fly. At a cruising altitude of about 40k, a Boeing 767’s cabin pressurization would be about 7k. With the U2 climbing to 70k-80k or however high it’s actually rated for, pressurization at 30k or so makes sense.
Reply
5:59 am on January 11th, 2010 5
Good Vid Nomad. James May from Top Gear is great.
Good explanation of the air pressure as well Erik.
Also most people don’t have an idea how an A/C is pressurized. I didn’t so I asked a pilot.
It uses bleed air off the engines and blows it in the cabin. This is why the A/C doesnt have to be perfectly air tight.
Well should your engines go out you will not have a pressurized cabin. In the case of a U-2 I imagine you do not want to risk that chance so they just where the suit so its a non-issue.
If anyone is an actual A/C mechanic feel free to correct me.
Reply