Please Scroll Down to See Forums Below
U2 spyplanes.....
- Thread starter danielson
- Start date
The U.S. used to fly SR-71's to gather data also. These birds are something special if you ever get a chance to see them at an air show.
http://www.wvi.com/~lelandh/sr-71~1.htm
They still use the U2's because they do the job better than anything they can replace it with. But the SR-71 is still the most spectacular plane around.
http://www.wvi.com/~lelandh/sr-71~1.htm
They still use the U2's because they do the job better than anything they can replace it with. But the SR-71 is still the most spectacular plane around.
danielson said:
Mach 3 is the top speed of the SR-71 and they fly at the edge of the atmosphere. Part of the reason the Air Force wanted to discontinue them was the high cost to operate. Add in the fact that some in the AF didn't want to spend money on a plane that didn't drop bombs and the money for it got cut. Some people say that the replacement for the U-2 has already been built, but nobody knows for sure.
jnuts
New member
Re: Re: U2 spyplanes.....
Open source, the Global Hawk operates at 60,000' plus.
http://www.fas.org/irp/program/collect/global_hawk.htm
We you operate in that high altitude environment, you have an incredibly small operating envelope with regards to speed. A few knots too fast -> overspeed, a few knots too slow -> stall. Things can get away from you mighty quick.
-nuts
XBiker said:
Open source, the Global Hawk operates at 60,000' plus.
http://www.fas.org/irp/program/collect/global_hawk.htm
We you operate in that high altitude environment, you have an incredibly small operating envelope with regards to speed. A few knots too fast -> overspeed, a few knots too slow -> stall. Things can get away from you mighty quick.
-nuts
jnuts
New member
manny78 said:
I really think it's because of the cost. Those airplanes were pretty finicky to fly and had a lot of specialized requirements which meant is was VERY expensive to operate. I know that the conspiracy theory folks think it was done because "there is something better out there." From what I've seen it's usually the $$ driving the bus.
It was a technological marvel, but flew in a tough flight regime. A testament to this is the significant amount of them that were lost due to inflight emergencies.
That thing was LOUD. Saw a flyby of one once and when it lit the burners, the whole place was shaking.
-nuts
big4life said:
It was originally built as a YF12 Interceptor and because the plane was faster than the missiles it carried it would essentially shoot itself down.
Each airframe had its own personality and flew differently from another SR-71. In addition, the design of the plane, the faster it flew the faster it could fly because it's design would pull itself through the air faster and while in flight the SR-71 would actually stretch two inches.
Testosterone boy
New member
velvett said:
Because they cost 6 million dollars per mission to fly and were replaced in the early 90's by satellites that are more effective, accurate, economical, cannot be shot down and do not violate any other country's air space.
Bingo
I alwas loved the SR-71.....what an airplane. BTW....do you believe that $6 million figure? I don't.
XBiker
Well-known member
You have not lived until you have witnessed (and felt) a SR-71 Blackbird take off and fly by.
I saw it first hand at an air show shortly after it was retired and declassified.
What astounded me was this was circa 60's technology and it looked as aggressive and awesome as anything in the (current) US arsenal.
I saw it first hand at an air show shortly after it was retired and declassified.
What astounded me was this was circa 60's technology and it looked as aggressive and awesome as anything in the (current) US arsenal.
Testosterone boy
New member
XBiker said:
Yea....the design of the B2 came from Nazi Germany....40's. It was to bomb NYC etc.
Testosterone boy
New member
velvett said:
The logistics, for example, the multiple re-fuelings, the security, the maintenance, service, the support and training of air crews all have to be factored into the overall cost of a per mission cost.
Thats nice but I still don't believe it. They wanted satellites and we are the kings of creative accounting.
Hey....I love the SR-71. What do you expect?
XBiker
Well-known member
For those of you who have not seen the SR-71 Blackbird, I found some really good NASA pics.
To give you an idea of the size of this bird, that's an F/A-18 in tandem with the blackbird.
This has got to be the coolest photo of all. Shock diamonds, which are shock wave pulses the engines are putting off. Amazing.
To give you an idea of the size of this bird, that's an F/A-18 in tandem with the blackbird.
This has got to be the coolest photo of all. Shock diamonds, which are shock wave pulses the engines are putting off. Amazing.
danielson said:
Mig-25 could reach Mach 3.25 and the SR-71 Mach 3.
The Mig-25 was essentially built to intercept the Valkiry bomber (which was supposed to be a Mach 3 bomber) but the first prototype crashed and they just scrap the rest.
No need for super fast fighters, it's kinda useless today.
Testosterone boy
New member
manny78 said:
These are fightin' words Manny. You be saying a Ruuskie Mig be faster than my Blackbird? I be on my way to Montreal. We be having a showdown bro. I be bringing my nunchucks too.
Last edited:
Testosterone boy
New member
XBiker said:
Well give the biker a brownie. He can spell a word.
H
~HOUNDOG~
Guest
The Mig-25 foxbat would take 3.5 minutes to turn 360 degrees. What a PIECE OF SHIT. That's why it was only usefull for intercepting bombers. Reminds me of the F-4.
The MIG-25 is so ugly.
The MIG-25 is so ugly.
Testosterone boy
New member
Whats this? Now my F-4 is being attacked? I'm going to get my can of whoop ass out now! The F-4 fuckin rocked man.
H
~HOUNDOG~
Guest
The F-4 SUCKED ASS.
I'll take my F-15 over any other aircraft in the world. It is THE air superiority fighter. (excluding f-22 + JSF)
F-15
I'll take my F-15 over any other aircraft in the world. It is THE air superiority fighter. (excluding f-22 + JSF)
F-15
H
~HOUNDOG~
Guest
Oxandrins is right. SU-37 has great performance but it's electronics aren't anything great.
supersizeme
New member
I was at an airshow when I was around 9 years old that had an SR-71 do a flyby. It was the loudest thing I have ever heard in my entire life. My father was covering my ears with his hands, my mom was covering my face with her hands, and it was still complete and total ear destruction. My chest was pounding like someone was continually dropping grand pianos on it. I have no idea how my parents didn't go deaf.
wayne and zeus
New member
there was a great book called "Spy Tech" I read when I was a kid. It was written for teenagers, but talks about the development of U-2 and the A-12 which was the CIA version of the SR-71. Also gives the history of Skunk Works with photos of the 117 stealth mocked up in wood in the mid 70's
H
~HOUNDOG~
Guest
I had that same book man! Strange.
Similar threads
