"RallyWrench" (rndlitebmw)
11/22/2016 at 02:02 • Filed to: None
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"RallyWrench" (rndlitebmw)
11/22/2016 at 02:02 • Filed to: None | 4
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A U2 on climb out from my rinkydink local field, no shit. Sounded different than the usual business and regional jets, so I ran out front. Couldn’t quite believe it. No idea why it was here, maybe en route to Beale. Sometimes a small Navy AWACs flies out of here, and an old C130 quite often (apparently with British registration, I’ve heard), but nothing like this.
Krieger (@FSKrieger22)
> RallyWrench
11/22/2016 at 02:17 |
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I would guess that it’s a NASA Dragon Lady, but the color scheme certainly doesn’t seem to match.
I probably will have to dig up the U-2's minimum takeoff length again...
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RallyWrench
> Krieger (@FSKrieger22)
11/22/2016 at 02:25 |
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It was black as can be, I found that surprising because the NASA versions are white as far as I’ve heard and I wouldn’t otherwise expect one anywhere near here. This was at McChesney Field (SBP), the main runway is about 6,000ft. Vandenberg is nearby, but it looked to be heading out to sea or north, the wrong way for that.
shop-teacher
> RallyWrench
11/22/2016 at 07:24 |
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Super cool!
I miss the naval air base we used to have around here. I grew up directly under the landing/takeoff path, and got to see all kinds of cool stuff going in and out of there. Although never a U2.
Sadly, Glenview Naval Airbase was closed by the Clinton Administration. Now it’s a mall and a bunch of condos .... just what we need.
Jobjoris
> RallyWrench
11/22/2016 at 07:29 |
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WORST PICTURE EVER! Even it wings look tiny here ;-)
Or tension between east and west is piling up. And the Ruskies sent over a Beriev S-13!
They still use these???
BIGBLOCK472 - wide and bizarre
> RallyWrench
11/22/2016 at 07:32 |
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Wow that’s awesome.
f86sabre
> RallyWrench
11/22/2016 at 08:16 |
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My guess would be they were practicing emergencies. Short field landing prep.
You can tell a Finn but you can't tell him much
> Krieger (@FSKrieger22)
11/22/2016 at 09:18 |
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The takeoff run is short enough that they were able to launch off an aircraft carrier without catapult assistance. I don’t believe this was done operationally, but they did perform carrier trials in the 1960's.
Flyboy is FAA certified insane
> RallyWrench
11/22/2016 at 09:40 |
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You absolutely sure that’s a U2? Wings are too short in the photo. And if it’s your rinkdink Field I don’t think these have the support equipment for one.
Looks like a Aero L-39 there are plenty of civilian registered ones that you could’ve seen.
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RallyWrench
> Flyboy is FAA certified insane
11/22/2016 at 10:52 |
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Positive, the wings were as long as the fuselage, and it was black as can be. Got a really good look at it at first and kind of stood there in awe before thinking I should try a photo.
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RallyWrench
> f86sabre
11/22/2016 at 10:54 |
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I sometimes wonder if that’s what the Navy aircraft do here. The main runway is 6000 feet.
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RallyWrench
> BIGBLOCK472 - wide and bizarre
11/22/2016 at 10:55 |
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Dropped my jaw.
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Flyboy is FAA certified insane
> RallyWrench
11/22/2016 at 10:58 |
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Oh, yea that was a U2 then haha.
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RallyWrench
> Jobjoris
11/22/2016 at 11:59 |
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The wings were impressive, as wide as it is long! The picture does it no justice. I know NASA has a couple, but those are white, they may still have some standard ones in service for training.
CaptDale - is secretly British
> RallyWrench
11/22/2016 at 12:25 |
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Shit I didn’t notice it!!!!
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RallyWrench
> CaptDale - is secretly British
11/22/2016 at 12:39 |
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It was on Friday, definitely a different sound than the usual traffic!
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CaptDale - is secretly British
> RallyWrench
11/22/2016 at 12:47 |
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Oh ok. Friday was so busy here and overwhelming I think a C-17 Globemaster could have crashed there and I wouldn’t have noticed.
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Jobjoris
> RallyWrench
11/22/2016 at 12:56 |
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Training? For a plane that has become obsolete? Or some special high altitude training? Such great mysteries about these, and it’s been in service for what, 50 years?
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RallyWrench
> Jobjoris
11/22/2016 at 13:04 |
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Super secret spy stuff, no doubt. Maybe high altitude, maybe cameras, who knows. In service since the mid 50's, I think. No idea why it was here in Podunk, CA.