CLicky clicky linky

 

That plane first flew in 1955.

 

Fasten your seat belt for a fantastic ride.

 

This video is a once in a lifetime experience of a British civilian getting a flight at over 70,000 ft. in a U-2 spy plane.

Please note at the take-off the assist wheels on the outer edges of the wings which drop off upon take-off.

The wings are so long that they need temporary support until lift-off.

What is not shown is at the landing the plane actually slows to a small enough speed that two guys are actually able to grab the wing tips and put those assist wheels back on.

 

The civilian getting the ride is the host of the car show Top Gear on BBC (James May) shown through Europe at 9:00 pm Sunday night in Belgium.

The views are spectacular as the U-2 flies at altitudes which constitute "SPACE."

 

Use your full screen and sound as this is a high-quality film clip, 10 minutes long.

 

Stunning, truly stunning......

I saw this a little while ago and thought exactly the same... Very lucky man indeed. Would be a life changing experience for sure.

 

The perks of being a talking head on the idiot box eh?

Man the U-2 is such a funny plane with it's dolly wheels and all sorts of bizzarre quirks, I can't even remember the other funny bits about them right now.

 

Oh wait, like the fact that it's really difficult to get them to actually touch down when they land.

And how much nose down attitude did it have until like 2 metre above the strip.

 

That would have been right ups James' ally too.

Trivia: They use Monaros (Pontiac GTO) as the chase car :y:

Extended video showing the cars too

, enjoy. :y:

 

*quick edit* They seem to use a Camaro too.....

Edited December 14, 200916 yr by Toy-Yoda

....oh and anbody wanting to see more, this ISN'T from Top Gear. Its from "James May on the Moon". I've been watching a few of the tube vids today.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvExCo43aq0&NR=1

Edited December 14, 200916 yr by Taz_Rx

Trivia: They use Monaros (Pontiac GTO) as the chase car :y:

i did notice this.

 

my question is why are they there?

They follow behind in radio contact with the pilot, telling him how close the wingtips are to being dragged along the runway in a spectacular display of firey sparky death

thats my favorite kind of death.

....oh and anbody wanting to see more, this ISN'T from Top Gear. Its from "James May on the Moon". I've been watching a few of the tube vids today.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvExCo43aq0&NR=1

 

The other part of the documentary is "James May at the Edge of Space" which covers the U2 flight more specifically.

The wings are so long that they need temporary support until lift-off.

What is not shown is at the landing the plane actually slows to a small enough speed that two guys are actually able to grab the wing tips and put those assist wheels back on.

 

I know you didn't write this but.... lol, what a load of utter crap. They have the pogos installed so you don't cruise around the airfield dragging a wing everywhere. Rather difficult to taxi and take off like that. The wings are more than capable of supporting themselves on the ground, otherwise they wouldn't be capable of supporting the aircraft while its flying. The outer tips of the wings have titanium skids installed so when the aircraft lands it just drags a wing until its off the runway and the pogos are reinstalled while the aircraft is stationary. They show this happening in the U2 part of the doco.

Heh, that's what I get for cutting and pasting......

i did notice this.

 

my question is why are they there?

 

Watch the start of this vid....

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHOX3deFhbw...feature=related

 

:y:

man that is like so breathe taking hey,