Skimming the Edge: U-2 Spy Plane Pilots See Earth From Space's Doorstep
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- Опубліковано 10 вер 2024
- Beale Air Force Base, located in California, is home to the U-2. This aircraft was originally designed to fly high-altitude intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions during the Cold War to gather intelligence on enemies. Today, the U-2S flies in support of a variety of missions from ground combat to disaster relief.
The U-2S is a single-seat, single-engine, high-altitude/near space reconnaissance and surveillance aircraft providing signals, imagery, and electronic measurements and signature intelligence, or MASINT.
Routinely flown at altitudes over 70,000 feet, the U-2 pilot must wear a full pressure suit similar to those worn by astronauts. The low-altitude handling characteristics of the aircraft and bicycle-type landing gear require precise control inputs during landing; forward visibility is also limited due to the extended aircraft nose and "taildragger" configuration. A second U-2 pilot normally "chases" each landing in a high-performance chase car, assisting the pilot by providing radio inputs for altitude and runway alignment. These characteristics combine to earn the U-2 a widely accepted title as the most difficult aircraft in the world to fly.
While on missions, U-2 pilots often see a natural occurrence called the terminator line. It’s a line that separates day and night. It is also referred to as the "grey line" and the "twilight zone." It is a fuzzy line due to our atmosphere bending sunlight. This "ah ha" moment is a beautiful reminder of how small we are when skimming the edge of space.
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Credits: Andrew Arthur Breese
Derivative Works: AiirSource
![James May Rides in a U2 Spy Plane [HQ]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/w-COlil4tos/mqdefault.jpg)
The fact that they designed most of this stuff half a century ago is pretty incredible!
Imagine how much better modern engineered equipment is. Too bad we wont see it for another 50 years.
@@BunglowBill I completely agree for years I have thought that the government processes technology decades above what we consider to be modern day technology
@@pulln100 my father was in the Navy for 26 years. He would always tell me when I was a kid that military has tech that's 15 years ahead of what's on the market and its slowly released.
Logistical Solutions like... their perfect smartphones, computers or network systems? mate, i am an engineer, and i can tell you that it is the opposite. the only way the military has an advantage is to prevent the commercial companies using certain tech, or if it is too expensive to produce without a military customer, i.e. bombers, missiles or drones. but i am always a bit shocked how outdated the tech inside the f-18, f-22 or the space shuttles is
@@misterbeach8826 to be fair he did tell me this in the early 90s so given the exponential rise in tech advancement I'm sure the comment is a bit outdated.
You know you’re on the top of your profession when you’ve got a whole team dressing you.
Wait posted 2 hours... 2 likes.....
did you hear the "final adjustment" haha, nows your last change to get rid of that wedgie
Or may be you are just to capable enough to do it
@l , James may didn’t fly the plane obviously… and he also said how spectacular it was up there.
Like a knight and his squires
Living on the edge?
He was clearly sitting deep in that couch.
Stupid people man......
New definition of Chair Force.
u2bueygbb923 I
mrKILLstreak 19 what did he say
with that suit he can't sit up right. With his elite status, he entitle to be transport to the plane on a couch.
7:41 We.Come.In.Peace.
『Kyousey』 :: SJTE
**slowly walking**
Hahaa!!! Too fuckin funny!!!
Best comment ever...
seriously looks like humans going to negotiations with aliens
Hahaha nice one
Lol
This was cool with no narrative.
Or music 😄
Love that at 6:19 you can see a Garmin 296 rubber-banded on, to one of the most advanced spy planes of its day.
What I appreciate from this film is the complete dedication of all the support staff attached to the plane and to the pilot as well, the camaraderie and the connection between all the humans involved with operating this very fine aircraft. What a great thing to be selected for this job.
After all this gear - “hey I need to take a leak “
Kunal Shah they have a tube for that
@@offended9081 what if he needs a shit
did I ask? Good question. They probably just hold it in or something like that either that or they come back with brown pants.
Kunal Shah enjoy.
@@oliverpeters9340 it's called a diaper ;)
4:31 for the first time in his life , that guy thought to himself "I'm cool"
Plural Entropy 😂 then he walks off abruptly like.... yeaaaahhh
the guy flies U2s for the Air Force. You're projecting
LtRiot did you translate your sentence from another language?
you're so ignorant its astonishing
LtRiot I have been told that before, interesting
Whoever shot this video is fucking amazing. They have a real talent for cinematography.
SALO or The 120 Days of Sodom: I can't eat rice with my hands like this... Then eat Isht! I
was just about to say that.
@dev null ok sour puss, nobody asked you
@dev null @dev null if I dont like it then block you? got it. your replies under my comment are useless and nobody cares. you just seem like a miserable person
that looks like the most uncomfortable suit ever. Excellent documentary work. Also they still use sheet film! amazing.
It's very comfortable
I thought the helmet looked super snug when he put it on. Like you could put it on and take a nap straight away.
Real film has always been "high definition" it makes no sense so many movie theaters went digital, because that was what made the movies so awesome. Film has always been high def.
@@TallmanMike it's identical to what the Shuttle astronauts wore on the first four flights in 1981 and 1982. It looks snug due to the "diaphragm" around the face, which allows the pilot to receive oxygen separate from the suit itself. The similar Launch-Entry Suit (partial pressure) and the ACES "pumpkin suit" (full pressure) worn by Shuttle astronauts after Challenger is based off of this suit, however the helmet has a different configuration to work similarly to the Apollo-era "bubble" helmet used on the Extravehicular Mobility Unit (requiring the use of a "Snoopy Cap" similar to those caps worn by Soviet/Russian cosmonauts), plus the connection for the astronaut's oxygen supply is on the left thigh, which then enter the suit at the base of the neck below the neck ring.
4:11 Dammmmmmmnn, he thick. 😂😂😂
Who would win, a global eastern superpower with advanced secret technology and nuclear weapons
vs
*one thicc boi*
He's sneakin his cheetohs...
Kim is now jealous
lol
I want to say hes wearing a diaper and the suit is pressurized
>when you want to be an astronaut and go to the moon but a U2 pilot gets to be in a cooler "space" suit more than you do
Lots of flight videos but never all the suit up and prep. Thanks for this. Greater appreciation of what everyone has to go through to get this amazing craft into the air.... Added - Yeah, what was with the weird ending? I don't think we have enough U-2s for all those pilots.... Some are going to have to double up!!!
Hnng... Colonel... I'm trying to spy on rival nations... but I'm dummy thicc and the clap of my U-2's engine is alerting the guards
No
No
No
No
No
4:30 guys like him make me want to enlist
make me wanna cringe
an enlisted man aint gonna be no pilot
If you fly a fighter plane you’re gonna be super lucky, but a spy plane I don’t even wanna know all the training and he definitely has more than a bachelors degree and all that other Air Force stuff
Do it regardless, you will never look back and you will be better for it.....but go Navy.
what a gay
6:26 Because the one thing you need at 70,000 feet is a good set of rear view mirrors...
Checking the condition of the plane and to see if he's leaving a contrail re the exterior mirror. The ones inside the cockpit are so he can check his suit connections.
Yeah and to see if somethings following you
well what if somethings wrong with the plane? or hes getting followed? or maybe he simply has to see more of his surroundings?
@@nootaboot7042 please take just a couple of minutes and look up the word... "Sarcasm"...
this is a spy plane intended for reconnaissance over possibly hostile territory of course the pilot will need to see his surroundings
What an awesome privilege it is to be able to fly the U2 - how few people get to do that!
And how majestic...
6:24 top right. Look how the module is held on to the bracket. That’s the definition of
mil-spec. Not great but not bad either. Good enough to get the job done.
Enemy spy-plane imbound!
Paistin Lasta lol
Spy-plane ready for deployment.
6:35 checkmate flat earthers!
"b-but...it's because of the lens!" says increasingly nervous man for 99th time this year
Lmfao
Its the lens.
@@UltraNyan 🤦♀️
its circular dumbasses
6:35 they're literally out of this world.
I like all the little rituals they have when the pilot gets in the plane with the crew
You know it’s the (Ch)air force when they literally bring sofas everywhere
Haha yes I love that truth tho
You gotta admit they are pretty cool though
We had to take a lot of parts from other planes to make one U2 fly when I was stationed at RAF Alconbury in the early 90's with the 95th Recon.
My first duty station was there, those planes were loud.
I legit just found out that my grandpa helped build these planes
I just found out that you're a god dam liar
What did he help to do?
@@pcsingh7226 STFU plz
I just found out my dad is anti gay
fbi open up
The "terminator" line is awesome. It should be widely accepted that the pilots of this aircraft is an astronaut.
I agree
I love the first scene. Obviously there is a rapid depressurization, the suit rapidly inflates, and the look on his face is PRICELESS.
This and the SR - 71 seem to be the "we got your number" planes
No SR - 71s ever got shot down though, they were built to out-run SAMs and not fly out of their range.
I'm not the biggest military guy but man - this was captivating and I totally (underlined) got why all personnel I saw in this might be hyped about doing that work. Excellent production / editing! BIG ups to all involved and to all working to keep their countries (mine included) secure. Peace
Just amazing. Military should give these pilots more sleep.
The Chairforce gets pampered as is it is, and with the training that these guys get, every fixed wing pilot in our military is an officer, so they're getting plenty of pay. They get only a set amount of hours before it's considered dangerous so he's well taken care of. I was considering being an Air Force pilot but opted instead to go with being an Aviation Technician with the Navy for various reasons, our pilots are very similar though. These guys have my respect though, one wrong move and they're moving at mach 7 from the stratosphere.
@Tagger Tag no luckily
I like that
8 hours is is the recommended sleep time for an average adult
7:41 the last thing the aliens see
Most surprising thing in this video is they are still shooting on film.
I'm no expert, but the state of the art technology they use gives a much more accurate image on film, better in terms of resolution, and maybe even noise, from that altitude/distance.
Makes me wonder if the U-2 is due for an upgrade in avionics and equipment. I know they have upgraded other old aircraft like the B-52.
I got to wear one of those suits - once. A great memory. A little snug getting into it, but once in it was great. Also got a ride in the chase car.
The end has me laughing hysterically, look like a bunch of aliens.. 🤣🤣
I’m glad I now know who is always there for me every time I call in a UAV in Call of Duty.
Lmao
uav literally means unmanned aerial vehicle
Tobias I commented that 1 year ago 🤣 that was my point lol
A different Kind of front line flying! Well done guys,glad you'r on our side. Best wishes from the UK to all our Brave friends.
0:07
"last night I had steak and eggs"
Yup, that's the Airforce for ya
I just realize there were two of those planes up there. Somebody had to somebody had to take those exterior shots.
Superman went up with a camera.
Levi the Silver Surfer with an iPhone
satellite
Not a satellite, you can see the wing tip of the chase plane @6:54
Well there was no aircraft with him at max alt. The chase plane only came in when he was much lower and about to land.
6:45 - this has to be the coolest camera eyepiece I've ever seen
It "was." They removed it about 12 years ago. They updated the cockpit electronics. It was used to check the "pogos" (sticks with wheels that fall off after the plane takes flight). The pilots would bring their own cameras and take pictures through the driftsight too.
Interesting, so how do they land without the gear on the wing tips, do they just let it slide?
@@leosypher9993 The backup pilot drives in a fast "chase car" and he instructs the pilot , regarding takeoff and landing. He lets the pilot know if there are any issues. Guests and friends of the airmen, contractors (civilians), etc. can get a ride in the chase car if they ask. To answer your question: the chase car tells the pilot how to correct the plane's position, so he can land using the two sets of wheels, mounted on the fuselage forward and aft. The pilot keeps it moving until the ground crew get to it with the removable "pogo sticks." They often have to balance the plane by climbing on one wing. With pogo installed, it taxis to the recovery site. These are very special pilots that deserve as much, or more, credit as the fighter pilots (the fighter pilots tend to get all the glory).
Great video! @ 7:30, I used to work on the OBC camera. Good to see Congress hasn't cancel the program. One thing is for sure: The Globalchicken (Globalhawk UAV) will never match the U-2's capabilities.
@2:00 He had better get some really good treats because that Halloween Costume is AWESOME!
If you are a pilot like them, just know that some stranger like me is so proud of you
Yeah, its so brave to be a spy, 70.000 feet away from enemy..
yeah, I would have to say this would be the most awesome pilot's job in the Chair Force.
I saw "U 2" and "The Edge" and thought this was about the band.
Love the Garmin GPS rubber banded to the Dash.
1:35 damn this looks so diy
this screams the 60s
Basically it is the 60s. The U2 was first built in the 50s and apart from the computers and navigational technology pretty much all the mechanical bits are 50s tech. With the advent of satellites any spy plane advancements are negligible. Classic case of *if it's not broke don't fix it*
No-one is talking about this breath-taking view...
intro: when farting in spacesuit
no commentary is a blessing nowaydays
7:20 that landing gear sound xD
This is a great platform and does great reconnaissance.
Cool looking flight suits the U2 Pilots wear . Thank You for posting . Very interesting vlog .
Remarkable pilot brains and team below his plane near space.
Awesome work by the pilots and all crew members involved. Fascinating aircraft. I like the garmin general aviation GPS along for the ride.
4:32 that fist bump
low key wondering what he was using to stabilize the camera, looks almost like a cinematic in the beginning lol
OceanicShock steadicam most likely
Didn't know this bird's still on active duty, awesome plane :)
7:40 you wake up and walk outside of your house and you see this. wyd?
CDLXXIX.479 I would say greetings! Welcome to earth.
Alot of goddamn fistbumps from pilots. Boo-yahh!
Join them
Damn, thats a lot of aliens
People like him become Astronauts
7:41 monster inc be like...
23-19 23-19!
@@suprento2236 Ohhh not the CDA!!
Holy shit. My cousin just retired from flying the U-2. I always respected him and what he did, but this eye opening. I've never seen this.
lol that ending looks like aliens invading earth
used to live in Beale AFB. Back in the 70s. My dad was a member of the sr71 crew.
Why does the U-2 need a car to follow it on takeoff?
FSX737Pilot X I believe it's to let the pilot know whether or not the wheels holding the wings level have been disconnected.
What do you mean disconnected? Do you mean retracted?
FSX737Pilot X As far as I know they are disconnected on takeoff and then reinstalled after landing. The main landing gear will retract obv.
They're to help guide the plane down to the ground. The plane only has 2 landing gear.
U-2 have a wheel on each wing that falls off after takeoff, leaving two wheels on the body, kind of like a bicycle. Landing a U-2 is super difficult because your literally landing a plane with tiny bicycle wheels. The left or right wing, depending on how you land, hits the runway. Super weird plane design where every landing can cause potential wing damage. But its for weight reduction or to keep the fuselage thin I would think.
That has got to be the best job in the world being a air force pilot.
WERE GOING ON A TRIP IN OUR FAVORITE ROKETSHIP ZOOMING THROUGH THE SKIES!!!!!!
Derpy SpongeBob holy shit your 5 years old
7:48 guy looking at you: Im watching your every move.
Ground control to Major Tom
youtert wow same exact thing came to mind.... cheers ol boy!!! Also gotta say 7:41 till the end definitely Twilight Zone scary or David Lynch feel, you look out from your bedroom window at night or open your front door & these Space Cowboys are there I know I'm definitely getting a heartattack.... Either that or like that quote from that movie about Nam the guy goes "you even say huh you'll be talking to your self, COZ I'LL BE GONE!!" & Basically that's exactly what I'd do.,. Only while I'm typing & imagining that whole scene I didn't imagine where I'm gonna head..... just away
I like how they look like first time steppin foot on earth at the last part.
Man, that's a lot to go through to sit in a Lay-Z-Boy. I'm doing it all wrong at my house.
Nice ROUND earth in view
2:24 "Serve me, minions." "Pressurize my pantaloons and prepare my ale."
They probably could have started playing some badass slow guitar music around 4:12 when he started fist bumping everyone and it would have fit perfectly XD
Logo Tho space Oddity by David Bowie would've been a good fit
So proud to be dentist in the US Air Force!
Swr88 thank you for your service! I’m tired of all these people calling it the chair-force when they are the ones on their phones all day while people like you are serving our country! Thank you!
Nah, most of us are service members too. It's a kind of sibling rivalry if you will, nobody actually hates one another lol. (Marines are a bit meaner though but they've got a heart somewhere underneath that empty head ;) )
Marines are by far the proudest bunch, if you're going to join the marines then count on being thrown into combat and harder to reach ranks like E-6 though.
why
You know you're a legend when a band names themselves after a plane.
for anyone having questions about whats happening look for the documentary James May on the Moon - BBC
It's like the pilot is an astronaut, amazing
Dem pilots look like there about to drop a fire mixtape
Fantastic video!
6:46 glad to know where our Google "satellite" images actually come form..
Love the Garmin GPS on the rear-view mirror! Technology!!
0:48 I'd need a leash on my jimmy too if I got to fly one of those!
The greatest aircraft ever built, SR-71 Blackbird, owes it's existence to this legend. Much respect
141/98 That pilot has hypertension (Stage 1). That seems a bit high for his build, plus I'm sure he works out a lot more than I do.
This is what i call futuristic
"Enjoy your pizza"
"Thanks U-2"
I wanna be pampered like this
Respect
All the preparation seemed to be done for more spectacular cabin like one of a B-117 (I had forgotten how skinny were those U-2) but it was a nice whole experience, thanks.
At the end where there’s a group of them that was like a zombie apocalypse
I read a ton of English history....at one point he looks like a knight being helped into his armour by his pages. OMG!
RIP Lt. Col. Steve "Shooter" Eadie
Legacy75100 was this Steve eadie in the video??!!?
no, Steve was in the same squadron. He pasted away Sept. 2016
How?
was there on CDDAR. sad day.
7:34 Here it is the 21st century - and the USAF is still using film.
If I was him I would try to take a trip to the moon while I'm up there, kinda looks like he's in space already when you see the curvature of earth etc. :P
lol it's 12 miles versus 240k miles.
Fish eye cameras...
The earth is flat dumbass
cmrn your extra chromosome is flat
Fuck off you and your fisheye camera, the lens only works for the Earth you dumb fuck?
The chase car Pilots have the coolest times! Yep, our U2 drivers are the best!
7:40 me and the gang when mom says pizza rolls are done
Just watching the video makes me claustrophobic
US, you rock..thank goodness you are the Super Power. Wonder what you have up your sleeve for any adversaries....
john wood What a stupid dumbarse comment u loser
ooooO, touched a raw nerve there..........:-)
Ouch!...and again...love it...:-)
Crazy Clown salty :)
Crazy Clown Haha sorry your bitch ass country can’t compare to the good ol’ usa
Proud of you guys... especially the one named Jack...