U-2 Takeoff Chase Landing and everything in between U2 airplane 720 HD

U-2 Takeoff Chase Landing and everything in between U2 airplane 720 HD

Watch closely & all questions about the pogos will be answered.

This video was shot at Beale AFB in 2010 by Walter Colby Productions.

[ThePsycholloyd]

Thank you for this awesome behind-the-scenes footage. Love it!

[danielmorris]

Those are some efficient wings; I can't believe how quick it got in the air. Excellent footage.

[KR]

I just got to spend time in a chase car at Beale AFB, what a rush to pull in behind a landing U2 going over 100mph! I have spent my life in aircraft and had a 30 year career in aviation and this topped anything else I have done by far!! Much thanx to the U2 pilots and Major Van Houton for the first class treatment while I was on the base!

[benharrison]

In the early 1960s I was a lieutenant at Davis Monthan AFB in Tucson, in the group overseeing the Titan II missile base construction. I joined the base aero club, learned to fly and became the club maintenance officer. This meant that I was out on the flight line almost daily. In the summer of 1963 the 4080th Recon wing was moved from Laughlin AFB in Del Rio Texas, to Davis Monthan. This was the wing that flew the U-2, which was very secretive at that time. They were assigned a section of the flight line adjacent to ours, and had a couple of T-33s, a C-54, a C-45 (twin Beech) and occasionally a C-130. However, we NEVER saw a U-2 parked on the flight line, and indeed, even outside their own hangar. Occasionally I saw a U-2 takeoff early in the morning, and they appeared to roll only about 300-400 feet and climb much steeper than what I just saw in this video. On a clear day they would climb steeply until they were not visible to the naked eye. My recollection is that when they came home in the late afternoon the guys would install the outrigger wheels and then tow the airplane to their hangar while two guys walked along the wingtips, presumably to steer as required. I only saw this a few times, but I have no recollection of seeing one taxi under its own power. Indeed they lifted the pilot out and loaded him into an ambulance type vehicle. I was told they were pretty much immobile until the guys unlaced them from their pressure suits and gave them a massage . My impression is that flying the U-2 for 8 hours or so was not a fun job. I would hope that 50 years later they have developed pressure suits that are more comfortable.


I was told the landing was very difficult because of the poor visibility out of the cockpit. I once rode as a passenger in a U-3 (Cessna 310) with the safety pilot, flying in close formation with the U-2 as he made two or three practice instrument approaches, and ready to call for a go-around if he got out of shape on the approach. In the hot summer weather in Tucson, there was a lot of severe thermal turbulence, and I was surprised how much the wings flexed on the U-2. Landing one of those in serious instrument weather would have required some serious skills.

[GJones-W]

I've got that copy, and if you love the U-2, it's got everything you need, inside. Great mag., and thanks for posting. It did clear up a lot of questions.

[alexcornell]

ive wondered what goes on with the extra 2 wheels at the wing that the craft drops when it flies of.. i thought the chase card poped them back on before stopping and taxing.. i was wrong, it lands and parks with a wing on the ground.. you see the rest on the video. Thanks Walter for showing me this

[GlideYNRG]

I have a great appreciation of the difficulties you guys have operating the U2 thanks to the great article in AirSpace a while back. I do hope you guys have success with the increase of cockpit pressures that they were talking about. Thanks for the great video mate.

[bats]

I worked with U-2s a long time ago at RAF Akrotiri. This video brought me back.

[dictaham]

As a Ret Army MS I say Go Air Force! My Daughter is currently a Capt at Lackland AFB. Great Vid I can not believe the short Take off. I fly RC and that U-2 almost seems to use less Runway than my Models. ( in proportion of course)Thanks for serving.

[opmike]

This question was asked, answered, and became a top comment on this page 6 months ago.

[wcolbyHD]

@Th3Ap3x There are many reasons... top three, The gentlemen flying the aircraft wear a space suit, it is difficult to tilt your head down to reference the ground, so another pilot will come up behind the aircraft and tell the pilot how close he is to the ground. The landing gear don't have a lot of travel (shock absorbing) so you need to land soft. Third, the aircraft is near stall, & the pilot needs all the help he can get. 4, its good clean fun for the pilot not in the U-2

[giovannicherico]

This video is awesome! This is one of the strangest aircraft I've ever seen. What an interesting procedure for take off and landing.

[faithfamilyandcountry]

I lived at Beale as a child from “87-91” my stepdad was a jet engine mechanic I use to stand near flight line when he was working and watch U2s and SR-71 take off and land

[Ormbunken]

another U-2 Pilot rides in the chasecar to update the pilot in the plane about altitude, alignment and so on. The plane is regarded as the hardest plane to pilot, and to make sure that everything goes well in landing and takeoff, this chasecar-exercise helps a lot

[murraybeans]

i love the amount of technology that goes into to putting the wheels back on, just get some one to hang off the other wing haha.

[gottagobuy]

my teacher talked to a u-2 pilot and he said the most dangerous part is when you're above 60, 000 feet and below 60 feet because at 60, 000 feet the controls have to be so precise that a minor mistake can lead to you crashing and below 60 feet you can't tell when you're about to hit the ground

[DaBlazesUSay]

That is an AWESOME bit of flying ! ! ! I can't imagine myself trying to land on those two-wheel bogies bicycle landing gear.

Kudos for the GOAT, too ! ! !

[andretsmith]

2 seat u-2s are trainers. The support wheels are called pogos. They are used for taxi, parking, and takeoff to level the jet. U-2 pilots are some of the best pilots in the world bc of the bicycle style landing gear.

[chartphred]

To the guy driving the car in this video. You're the sorta bloke I'd love to share a beer with mate. I'm sure you've got some great yarns to share. Very impressed with the professionalism and care you take with your flying. Nice bit of video footage and this Aussie certainly appreciates you sharing it with us. Thank you.

[scismgenie]

It has excellent balance, but is challenging to fly. The Pogo wheels are to allow slow speed ground travel, the pilot balances the aircraft as he lands and slowly decelerates until one wing tip touches, Then the Pogos are installed so they can taxi into the flight line. The wing tips have skid plates at the end.