Simviation Forum - Speaking of xwinds: taming the big monowheel

Mar 4^th, 2009 at 8:41pm

beaky Offline
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Some choice footage from the "interview" flights of prospective U-2 pilots. Grin

WARNING: some (barely-intelligible) cussing in the music soundtrack. Undecided

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eamnTyfkUBY

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Reply #1 - Mar 5^th, 2009 at 1:12pm

flyboy 28 Offline
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Wow, never thought I'd see a U-2 do a groundloop. Cheesy

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Reply #2 - Mar 5^th, 2009 at 1:20pm

Hagar Offline
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That looks bloody dangerous. As someone commented, I'm surprised they have any left.

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Reply #3 - Mar 5^th, 2009 at 2:52pm

Roughrider Offline
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Thats a cool video!!!!!! You think they could design something a little better.

&&Canon Rebel XTi (400D)&&Canon EFS 17-85mm&&Canon EF 70-300mm&&Canon EF 100-400L

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Reply #4 - Mar 5^th, 2009 at 5:59pm

Steve M Offline
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The landing gear? But the music with the vid fits perfectly! Wink

Flying with twins is a lot of fun..

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Reply #5 - Mar 6^th, 2009 at 11:38am

beaky Offline
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Roughrider wrote on Mar 5^th, 2009 at 2:52pm:

Thats a cool video!!!!!! You think they could design something a little better.

It was really the only configuration that would work, given the mission requirements for the wing and fuselage. There's really nothing fundamentally wrong with it, you just have to keep it straight and not let either wingtip come down until you're almost done rolling. Grin

I think it's tricky for beginners because they have probably never flown anything quite like it...

...unless they have glider time!! Grin

Except for the doubled-up main wheel bogey, that configuration is just like most gliders, and the long wing makes it similar, too. The glider I fly has outrigger wheels on the wings and it normally comes to rest on the skid forward of the main wheel as it slows down, but it's still possible to ground-loop it. Many of the faster gliders are quite easy to ground-loop.

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Reply #6 - Mar 6^th, 2009 at 9:42pm

B-Valvs Ex Member

Wow. Strong planes to stand up to that. And those guys driving (almost) roght next to them... Shocked

Cool video.

Cool

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Reply #7 - Mar 8^th, 2009 at 12:00pm

ManuelL Offline
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beaky wrote on Mar 6^th, 2009 at 11:38am:

I think it's tricky for beginners because they have probably never flown anything quite like it...

...unless they have glider time!! Grin

Except for the doubled-up main wheel bogey, that configuration is just like most gliders, and the long wing makes it similar, too. .

As far as I remember, the problem with the U2 is that the pilot sees almost nothing during the final phase of the approach because the nose is so long. That is why they have someone with a car going behind the plane telling the pilot, where to go and when to recover.

Edit: forget what I wrote, from the film it seems the pilots see the runway just fine Huh

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Reply #8 - Mar 8^th, 2009 at 12:30pm

Hagar Offline
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beaky wrote on Mar 6^th, 2009 at 11:38am:

I think it's tricky for beginners because they have probably never flown anything quite like it...

...unless they have glider time!! Grin

Except for the doubled-up main wheel bogey, that configuration is just like most gliders, and the long wing makes it similar, too.

Comes back to what I've always said. All pilots should have to take a gliding course before being let loose on powered aircraft.

It seems very odd to me that with all that wing area & flaps like barn doors the U-2 appears to have nothing in the way of lift spoiling devices.

Quote:

The glider I fly has outrigger wheels on the wings and it normally comes to rest on the skid forward of the main wheel as it slows down, but it's still possible to ground-loop it. Many of the faster gliders are quite easy to ground-loop.

I've spent a lot of time around gliders & I've never seen one ground loop. This might be because they're usually operating from grass fields & landing directly into wind.

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Reply #9 - Mar 9^th, 2009 at 10:30pm

beaky Offline
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ManuelL wrote on Mar 8^th, 2009 at 12:00pm:

beaky wrote on Mar 6^th, 2009 at 11:38am:

I think it's tricky for beginners because they have probably never flown anything quite like it...

...unless they have glider time!! Grin

Except for the doubled-up main wheel bogey, that configuration is just like most gliders, and the long wing makes it similar, too. .

As far as I remember, the problem with the U2 is that the pilot sees almost nothing during the final phase of the approach because the nose is so long. That is why they have someone with a car going behind the plane telling the pilot, where to go and when to recover.

Edit: forget what I wrote, from the film it seems the pilots see the runway just fine Huh

Yes, they can see fine. .. straight ahead. Grin

The chase drivers are there, I think, because the vis to the sides, especially when you are wearing a bulky spacesuit, complete with helmet, is not so hot. I'd imagine the pilot's field of view is extremely limited. Hard for them to use their peripheral vision for height cues during those last few feet, and harder to tell if one wing is a tad lower than the other at that critical moment.

If one wingtip touches first while the plane has any speed to speak of, it will probably try to ground loop. Sure looks that way, at any rate.
I'm tellin' ya, the Air Force could save millions giving these hopefuls some glider dual first. Grin

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Reply #10 - Mar 10^th, 2009 at 9:08pm

flyboy 28 Offline
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beaky wrote on Mar 9^th, 2009 at 10:30pm:

I'm tellin' ya, the Air Force could save millions giving these hopefuls some glider dual first. Grin

Kupper AFB sounds about right.

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