Why Does a Pilot Drive Behind the U-2 Spy Plane When It Lands? - Part 1 of 8

Why does a muscle car chase this airplane every time it lands?

This high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft flies all the way up to 70,000 feet to gather intelligence. What makes this aircraft so different is its wide wind span of 105 feet. The wings are so narrow, resembling a glider, that the U-2 Dragon Lady can fly efficiently at higher altitudes.

While the narrow wings can’t accept landing gears, the U-2 has a bicycle-type landing gear with only two tandem gears along the belly. This makes the aircraft super unstable during the landing run. In addition, with restricted vision due to the cockpit design and the pilot’s pressure suit, he is having a hard time positioning the aircraft. It's time for his wingman to come to the rescue. Another rated U-2 pilot who follows the aircraft from a chase car guides the pilot on aircraft altitude, runway alignment, and speed via a radio link. This helps the pilot gain better situational awareness, helping to land the Dragon Lady in style.

#U2DragonLady #militaryaviation #intellect #USAF

[memoxd]

-What have you done since graduating from the air force academy ?

- I drove a car....

[Intrepid_Elder]

When you’ve mastered backseat driving and get a promotion to back-car plane driver

[francisvantuyle]

We used to watch U2s land at Moffett field. A jeep would chase the U2 until it got slow enough. A person in the jeep would catch the U2 wing. When it stopped. The dri er would get out and place a wheel on the end of the wing on the opposite side. Then get the second wheel out and play evit on the wing with his partner holding the wing. Then follow the U2 over to the hanger. On take off the team in the jeep would pick up the landing gear on the wings after they fell off.

[ishady]

Sir, sir, we've been trying to reach you about your car's extended warranty

[mistermister]

Muscle car😂😂😂 that’s an Audi A4 my dude!! 🤣

[feathermerchant]

It flies efficiently at high altitude not because of 'narrow' wings, but because of the aspect ratio of the wing (long wingspan in relation to a narrow chord).

[sargera]

Ironically

When ure a spy plane with all sorts of cams but you cant even land or park on ur own

[PapaDan]

They had El Caminos with corvette engines when I saw them in S Korea. Early 80s

[kegwf]

I picked up a Camaro from military surplus a few years back that had been used for the U2 chase car. I think it was from Edwards? Might have been Vandenberg though.
It still had the radio mounts and such in it, but a blown engine lol

[johndjenssen]

Not to mention that the wings are so efficient that the plane WANTS to fly. The pilot basically has to force the plane to the ground

[paranormaledits]

Muscle car driver: "Sht I forgot the key"

[Skymedc]

When I was at Beale AFB they used the Chevy El Camino SS. They were handy because the outboard wing gear that's attached after the U2 stops could easily be carried and accessed in the bed of the vehicle.

[steventaylor]

My nanna's 4 cylinder Audi is a muscle car now?

[williammills]

They used Camaro SSs when I was stationed at Osan in 2009-2010

[CharlieTheAstronaut]

Ah yeah, Audi, the well known muscle car manufacturer.

[jeremyklar]

My uncle flew these for years and I was lucky enough to be in one of the chase cars. Such a cool experience

[thorstenhanskarlhallhanspe]

Wait wait wait.... Is my buddy called my wingman when we go get girls because he helps me to stick the landing?
I'M FINISHED

[Jon-fhnf]

In 2001 I was stationed with these and they used Camaros.

[givenfirstnamefamilyfirstn]

It is unstable because it has the main wheel forward of the centre of gravity and has a tail wheel. This leads to ground loops and bounces unless both wheels touch at exactly the same time (or slightly tail wheel first), the chase car assists the pilot gauge a wheeler (main gear only) landing which is the alternative tail wheel landing technique but which demands a near zero descent rate touch down.

[MrMoccachinoo]

This is no muscle car, it’s an average German family car