A friend told me 40 years ago that the U2 was almost impossible to get off the ground. It leaked fuel until it warmed up as it gained speed. Plus the wings needed support to keep them from dragging on the ground
If I recall correctly, one of the wings is longer than the other one. I am not an aeronautical engineer; someone so qualified might be able to explain why this was a good idea.
I remember being very aware of aircraft growing up--it seemed to be a topic people talked about. There are so many museums of aircraft, but not much general talk. Do you think the space program caused people to care less about the regular developments? The last one I remember a lot of talk about is the Stealth. Or maybe video games made reality less interesting.
It is weird, or perhaps appropriate, that grunts like Powers fall into the center of international and historical folderols the true nature of which remains unclear for decades if not centuries.
To the best of my knowledge
A friend told me 40 years ago that the U2 was almost impossible to get off the ground. It leaked fuel until it warmed up as it gained speed. Plus the wings needed support to keep them from dragging on the ground
Good to know. They retired it, right?
If I recall correctly, one of the wings is longer than the other one. I am not an aeronautical engineer; someone so qualified might be able to explain why this was a good idea.
I remember being very aware of aircraft growing up--it seemed to be a topic people talked about. There are so many museums of aircraft, but not much general talk. Do you think the space program caused people to care less about the regular developments? The last one I remember a lot of talk about is the Stealth. Or maybe video games made reality less interesting.
I'm not qualified. I understand basic aeronautical engineering, and I've never heard of this.
Apparently I'm delusional; I apologize. Don't believe everything you read that is written by anonymous internet commenters.
https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/products/u2-dragon-lady/u2-specifications.html
It's incredibly funny to me that Lockheed Martin is still listing the U-2 as a "product." Who and where are the buyers? How much does one cost?
You are a gift, not delusional
It is weird, or perhaps appropriate, that grunts like Powers fall into the center of international and historical folderols the true nature of which remains unclear for decades if not centuries.