USAF Using A GTO

[Code Red]

[TonyL]

funny. The caption is all wrong. It should read "a U2 landing gear crew chases down the U2 in a new GTO to install it's wing gear"

/the U2 needs a landing gear installed AS IT LANDS on the wings or it'll crash.

[70TWO NOVA]

actually the U2 uses the "spotter car" (previously ls1 camaros,fox body mustangs and originally El caminos) to tell the pilot which side is tipping when it lands to compensate since he has very limited view from the cockpit. Landing gear is not installed upon landing, the u2 actually tips over onto one wingtip once its speed slows enough. Then once its completely stopped it gets its wingtip landing gear reinstalled

[WS6]

how much of a rush would that be to have to chase down a plane in a GTO to help it land? So cool.

[derekf]

I read the caption and found myself wondering if the military designation for the GTO was "Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicle" (that's GHUAV and not GTO though) as the plane obviously wasn't taxiing, it was off the ground.

[BMF Machine]

actually the U2 uses the "spotter car" (previously ls1 camaros,fox body mustangs and originally El caminos) to tell the pilot which side is tipping when it lands to compensate since he has very limited view from the cockpit. Landing gear is not installed upon landing, the u2 actually tips over onto one wingtip once its speed slows enough. Then once its completely stopped it gets its wingtip landing gear reinstalled

Very GooD! You get an A+!

I saw the special on the U-2's on the old wings channel. They were using a chase camaro on that episode. The SR-71 still remains my favorite plane!

[EFI69Cam]

Journalists cannot be expected to differentiate between a drone and a U2.

[ZoomieFoosh]

I've actually had the chance to ride in the chase car when I lived in Korea. You sit on a taxiway toward the approach end of the runway and as the bird comes in, the pilot in the chase car floors it. You're haulin' A$$ down the runway letting the pilot know how high they are off the ground since they are tilted back in the seat and can't see the ground at all. It was a pretty unique experience.

[130fe]

In 1996 I was on a deployment over in Saudi. We flew to a base were they use to stage out of and I got to go for a ride in one of the 5.0 mustangs (they used at the time) for a landing, pretty fun!

[ZoomieFoosh]

While we are on Car-Related-AF stuff... how about the TWO Buic 426's that they used to start the ole SR-71's engines. One hell of a Start Cart.

[130fe]

While we are on Car-Related-AF stuff... how about the TWO Buic 426's that they used to start the ole SR-71's engines. One hell of a Start Cart.

When I was stationed at RAF Mildenhall (England) in the late 80's, our building was across the taxiway from the SR hangars. That cart sounded great when they cranked it up!

[ZuperZport]

That is too cool.

Armed Forces guys (and girls) get to play with the coolest toys!

I may try to get on the tarmac at JFK today on the way home to see if I can duplicate the picture!

They won't mind if I race a few jets down the runway will they?!?!??!?!

[Kenova]

I have to ask, does anyone know what they used as a chase car in the '60s ?

The SR-71 still remains my favorite plane!

What can you say about a plane that has a top speed that is faster than any known armament. This thing was designed and built in the late '50s. Imagine what it would be like if someone "freshened it up" with modern technology.

Ken

[TonyL]

it was a big block elcamino first as far as I know.

[Code Red]

I have to ask, does anyone know what they used as a chase car in the '60s ?

I know there was a EPA superbird car that chased planes

[grand_marquis_gt]

So that's what they are using nowadays!

You guys who get to play on the flightline get all the cool stuff :(

[BMF Machine]

I have to ask, does anyone know what they used as a chase car in the '60s ?


What can you say about a plane that has a top speed that is faster than any known armament. This thing was designed and built in the late '50s. Imagine what it would be like if someone "freshened it up" with modern technology.

Ken

EExactlY! FL of 90,000 feet, the pilot and copilot had to wear space suits. At that level you can see the curvature of the earth very well. I saw, on wings, one time a SR-71 was doing s-curves at mach 3 and 85,000 feet. The plane tore apart under the stress. The Copilot passed,RIP.... But the pilot was ejected in the crash, the harness holding him in was ripped apart. His emergency parachute opened, as he was unconsious. He lived and had no serious injuries. I am sure he lost a good friend(his copilot), but could you imagine living through a 2100+MPH crash at 85,000 feet?

I also have to believe this; The P-51 was built in the early 40's. A very cool plane, but it was almost Flinstoney compared to the SR-71. Where did the technology come from? how could they build such a state of the art craft in the 50's? The answer is in Area 51.......Roswell........oooooooooweeeeeeoooooooo.. .. I am looking for an alien smiley and my bottle of TyloX!



Just a thought.