James Mays rides in a U2 spy plane

[ryoder 1,590]

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

I'm going to apply for a job with "Top Gear".

"There are only three things of value: younger women, faster airplanes, and bigger crocodiles" - Arthur Jones.

[Remster 30]

Their job sucks. Really. Just imagine going back to your regular car (like your crappy F355, or your Ford GT) after driving a Konnigsen, or a Veyron. Really, it must suck.

Remster

[LongWayToFall 0]

I got a chance to see a U-2 from the air once, I was flying in my dad's cessna and it flew right underneath us at a fairly close range. It is a cool looking airplane, that is for sure.
My brother's friend's Dad is an ex SR-71 pilot with many hours, listening to him talk about the airplane is totally kick ass. I was actually on the same load as him for his very first skydive!
If you dig spyplane development you gotta check out the book called skunk works.

[shropshire 0]

The SR-71 is one of the most beautiful foriegn planes of all time ... nice one.

(.)Y(.)
Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome

[warpedskydiver 0]

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The SR-71 is one of the most beautiful plane of all time ... nice one.

No plane will ever come close.

There are others that sure are great, but the SR-71 is in a class all by itself.

The (M-21) 80,000 lb (356 kN) was available.

The skin was capable of greater heat than that of an X-15

I do not believe it was incapable of greater than mach 4 at the very least.

If the X-15 could go faster, why not the SR-71?

The top speed is only what is claimed.

So is the altitude, if a modified MiG25 can go over 100k feet the blackbird could easily outperform that,

[shropshire 0]

Hook, line and sinker

(.)Y(.)
Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome

[Bones 0]

Amazing.

Way to go, "Captain Slow".

[MikeJD 0]

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I got a chance to see a U-2 from the air once, I was flying in my dad's cessna and it flew right underneath us at a fairly close range.

Presumably if it was underneath you it was on its way up (or down). Now if you and your dad had been in an AN-2, then you could both have been at cruising altitude.

[Meux 0]

The AN-2 program is still pretty close hold. Not every one who says they've seen or flown in an AN-2 has actually done so.

I think they have them in Area 51, for sure.

[Rookie120 0]

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Their job sucks

Kinda like going back to grade school after you went through college. What an amazing bird and even more amazing the pilots who drive them. The stories these men could tell if most of them weren't classified.

If you find yourself in a fair fight, your tactics suck!

[MikeJD 0]

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The AN-2 program is still pretty close hold. Not every one who says they've seen or flown in an AN-2 has actually done so.

I think they have them in Area 51, for sure.

Yeah, we probably shouldn't even be discussing them in an open forum. Let's pretend I said 'SR-71' instead and hope this thread doesn't attract the attention of the spooks.

[Remster 30]

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The stories these men could tell if most of them weren't classified.

Actually, they have a TV show about those stories every week on BBC...

Remster

[JoeQ.Public 0]

That would have to be a very emotional experience.

Very soon, an honest person will not be able to sing the last 2 lines of our National Anthem:::Practice safe dining....use condiments