WarRI1 From United States of America, joined Sep 2007, 6559 posts, RR: 8 Reply 1, posted (4 years 7 months 3 weeks 6 days 23 hours ago) and read 5795 times:
That is a new one to me. It must be a special mission and yet they had the wheel wings under the wings after landing. Do they carry them on the aircraft? I do not think a U2 would have anywhere near the structual strength to make an arrested landing, or catapult take off. Does anyone know? Is it a one way trip, after landing, they store the aircraft and unload after returning to base?
It is better to die on your feet, than live on your knees.
KC135TopBoom From United States of America, joined Jan 2005, 11742 posts, RR: 51 Reply 2, posted (4 years 7 months 3 weeks 6 days 19 hours ago) and read 5741 times:
In 1963 the CIA U-2s operated from two USN CVs, the USS America, CV-66, and USS Ranger, CV-61.
ZANL188 From United States of America, joined Oct 2006, 3258 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (4 years 7 months 3 weeks 6 days 10 hours ago) and read 5650 times:
Quoting WarRI1 (Reply 1): I do not think a U2 would have anywhere near the structual strength to make an arrested landing, or catapult take off. Does anyone know? Is it a one way trip, after landing, they store the aircraft and unload after returning to base?
Given those huge wings, a clear deck, and the ship pointed into the wind I bet the U-2 did not need the catapult or arresting....
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WarRI1 From United States of America, joined Sep 2007, 6559 posts, RR: 8 Reply 4, posted (4 years 7 months 3 weeks 6 days ago) and read 5476 times:
[quote=ZANL188,reply=3]Given those huge wings, a clear deck, and the ship pointed into the wind I bet the U-2 did not need the catapult or arresting....
If Gen. Doolittle could do it in 1942 with the B25, you are probably correct. Doolittle only had a one way trip. This still must be tricky with the U2, a liitle windy at times for those huge wings. If you miss the approach, you cannot land under full power like the fighters with hooks. What is you arresting gear, a large net?
It is better to die on your feet, than live on your knees.
Are you sure? The CIA book in my hands (declassified and heavily redacted) claims that it was a C model that got modded initially.
The original attempt was also made without any modifications - it successfully took off, but bounced on landing attempt, so Johnson had to make the changes stated in the previous post. The tests were done on the Kitty Hawk. The page following is completed redacted, so I presume it discussed operations from the carriers.
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BBaldwin09 From Australia, joined Oct 2008, 13 posts, RR: 0 Reply 7, posted (4 years 7 months 3 weeks 5 days 19 hours ago) and read 5410 times:
Quoting 9VSIO (Reply 6): Are you sure? The CIA book in my hands (declassified and heavily redacted) claims that it was a C model that got modded initially.
You are absolutly right. The initial testing was done with a U-2C that was crane lifted onto the deck of the USS Kitty Hawk at San Diego, California.
However, after the initial testing with the U-2C was deemed a success "Lockheed and the Navy modified three U-2A airframes with stronger landing gear, an arresting hook, and wing spoilers to decrease the lift during landing. These new aircraft became known as the U-2G".
These are the three airframes I am referring to as being the U-2G model.
WarRI1 From United States of America, joined Sep 2007, 6559 posts, RR: 8 Reply 8, posted (4 years 7 months 3 weeks 4 days 23 hours ago) and read 5235 times:
Quoting 9VSIO (Reply 6): The original attempt was also made without any modifications - it successfully took off, but bounced on landing attempt, so Johnson had to make the changes stated in the previous post. The tests were done on the Kitty Hawk. The page following is completed redacted, so I presume it discussed operations from the carriers.
Interesting, I had never heard of that type of operation, thanks for the information to both of you.
It is better to die on your feet, than live on your knees.
DeltaGuy From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 12, posted (4 years 7 months 3 weeks 4 days 1 hour ago) and read 4916 times:
I hope that when the USS Ranger becomes a museum, that maybe they can find a U2 to put on the flight deck to illustrate this little-known mission from her past.
With sistership America sitting at the bottom of the Atlantic, this would be good nod to her too.
UnattendedBag From United States of America, joined Oct 2003, 2243 posts, RR: 1 Reply 13, posted (4 years 7 months 3 weeks 3 days 21 hours ago) and read 4878 times:
Quoting Connies4ever (Reply 11): IIRC, there was also a demo of a Herc landing on a carrier. I have seen a vid of it, but I can't remember the link. Pretty cool.
Follow the link in reply #9, check the bottom of the page for a c-130 link, click the link and there should be a link at the bottom of that c-130 article...
Connies4ever From Canada, joined Feb 2006, 3894 posts, RR: 13 Reply 14, posted (4 years 7 months 3 weeks 3 days 15 hours ago) and read 4823 times:
Quoting UnattendedBag (Reply 13): Follow the link in reply #9, check the bottom of the page for a c-130 link, click the link and there should be a link at the bottom of that c-130 article...
Awesome ! Thanks for the link. The Herc was and is a remarkable a/c.
Broke From United States of America, joined Apr 2002, 1322 posts, RR: 4 Reply 15, posted (4 years 7 months 3 weeks 3 days 13 hours ago) and read 4787 times:
The National Museum of the U.S. Air Force has an exhibit dedicated to the U-2. Among the artifacts on display is the tail hook from the U-2 that flew off and onto a carrier.
The display is under the museum's U-2 (its hanging from the ceiling) in the Kettering Cold War Gallery.
Vikkyvik From United States of America, joined Jul 2003, 8319 posts, RR: 28 Reply 16, posted (4 years 7 months 3 weeks 2 days 1 hour ago) and read 4621 times:
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Quoting Connies4ever (Reply 11): IIRC, there was also a demo of a Herc landing on a carrier. I have seen a vid of it, but I can't remember the link. Pretty cool.
That one was neither catupulted nor arrested, though, correct?
I seem to remember that they just pointed the ship into a 40-knot wind, and let the Herc do the rest.
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