Space

cannabineer

Ursus marijanus
That thing looks like it has some serious lift.
And low drag.
It weighs six tons at takeoff (almost half that is fuel) and is designed to spend at least 18h loitering at 200 mph and more than 60 thousand feet. This is close to the “coffin corner” in which the U-2 lives. As you go higher, indicated airspeed (which is dependent on altitude) drops, but actual airspeed does not. There is a V(ne), “never exceed” airspeed, that is dependent on actual airspeed. If you exceed that speed, things start to come off the airframe. This generally worsens all flight characteristics.
Stall speed is a function of indicated airspeed. So at the top attainable altitude, stall speed crowds V(ne). Should the two converge, you stop flying. Early jet pilots figured this out in shapes that had poor stall/spin recovery habits. Thus the “coffin corner” on an airspeed/altitude graph of the “flight envelope”, the set of airspeeds, altitudes and other parameters within which flight is possible.

The U-2 at operational altitude has maybe five knots between Low Fucked and High Fucked. It takes a special sort of pilot to stay there for hours and hours.
Add to that the unique difficulties in bringing it safely down on the round rubber bits. U-2 drivers must master these two areas of great skill if they want flight status.
 

DarkWeb

Well-Known Member
And low drag.
It weighs six tons at takeoff (almost half that is fuel) and is designed to spend at least 18h loitering at 200 mph and more than 60 thousand feet. This is close to the “coffin corner” in which the U-2 lives. As you go higher, indicated airspeed (which is dependent on altitude) drops, but actual airspeed does not. There is a V(ne), “never exceed” airspeed, that is dependent on actual airspeed. If you exceed that speed, things start to come off the airframe. This generally worsens all flight characteristics.
Stall speed is a function of indicated airspeed. So at the top attainable altitude, stall speed crowds V(ne). Should the two converge, you stop flying. Early jet pilots figured this out in shapes that had poor stall/spin recovery habits. Thus the “coffin corner” on an airspeed/altitude graph of the “flight envelope”, the set of airspeeds, altitudes and other parameters within which flight is possible.

The U-2 at operational altitude has maybe five knots between Low Fucked and High Fucked. It takes a special sort of pilot to stay there for hours and hours.
Add to that the unique difficulties in bringing it safely down on the round rubber bits. U-2 drivers must master these two areas of great skill if they want flight status.
That is one exceptional pilot. Truly a master of their domain.
 

raratt

Well-Known Member
And low drag.
It weighs six tons at takeoff (almost half that is fuel) and is designed to spend at least 18h loitering at 200 mph and more than 60 thousand feet. This is close to the “coffin corner” in which the U-2 lives. As you go higher, indicated airspeed (which is dependent on altitude) drops, but actual airspeed does not. There is a V(ne), “never exceed” airspeed, that is dependent on actual airspeed. If you exceed that speed, things start to come off the airframe. This generally worsens all flight characteristics.
Stall speed is a function of indicated airspeed. So at the top attainable altitude, stall speed crowds V(ne). Should the two converge, you stop flying. Early jet pilots figured this out in shapes that had poor stall/spin recovery habits. Thus the “coffin corner” on an airspeed/altitude graph of the “flight envelope”, the set of airspeeds, altitudes and other parameters within which flight is possible.

The U-2 at operational altitude has maybe five knots between Low Fucked and High Fucked. It takes a special sort of pilot to stay there for hours and hours.
Add to that the unique difficulties in bringing it safely down on the round rubber bits. U-2 drivers must master these two areas of great skill if they want flight status.
The wing endplates are more than just a place to mount stuff.
 

BudmanTX

Well-Known Member

cannabineer

Ursus marijanus
now that's a cool plane love the design and props to the pilots too....wonder what's on the belly ....hmmm...

so i did a google.....here is what i found

record setting 63k feet in 2000..... :shock:.....
They flew her again today, same small gray pod underslung. I watched them start engines and taxi, but did not hang around for the takeoff.

There were two Firebirds in gray livery on the flight line. I watched one start, then do a takeoff, two touch&gos, and then land. It lands quite smartly for so much wing. This aircraft has a unique propulsion sound: a major sixth.

Cosmic Girl took us all (all five spectators!) by surprise. By the time I heard/saw her pass, she was rotating and climbing.

When I got home, I was treated to the sight of our local B-52 in a good hard 60-degree bank for a left turn.



DF2E22ED-BAE7-46AE-BD68-BDE73A9253AD.jpeg

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9CA66EAF-09DB-4F73-8159-AAABC5224A59.jpeg

B04F2537-EB6B-4AB4-8FDD-C0BB67AA258D.jpeg
 

Attachments

BudmanTX

Well-Known Member
They flew her again today, same small gray pod underslung. I watched them start engines and taxi, but did not hang around for the takeoff.

There were two Firebirds in gray livery on the flight line. I watched one start, then do a takeoff, two touch&gos, and then land. It lands quite smartly for so much wing. This aircraft has a unique propulsion sound: a major sixth.

Cosmic Girl took us all (all five spectators!) by surprise. By the time I heard/saw her pass, she was rotating and climbing.

When I got home, I was treated to the sight of our local B-52 in a good hard 60-degree bank for a left turn.



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man u get all the fun planes in beep beep land......that experimental one looks cool, love the intake position.....all i get down this direction is Talons, Jayhawks, and Beechcraft at the training base
 

M.O.

Well-Known Member
Breath of the morning
I keep forgetting
the smell of warm summer air
I live in a town where you can’t smell a thing
You watch your feet for cracks in the pavement

High up above, aliens hover
Making home movies
for the folks back home
of all these weird creatures who lock up their spirts
drill holes in themselves
…and live for their secrets

They’re all
Uptight, uptight

I wish they’d swoop down on a country lane
late at night while I’m driving
They’d take me on board their beautiful ship
Show me the worlds I’d
love to see it

I’d tell all my friends but they’d never believe me
They’d think that I’d finally lost it completely

I’d show’m the stars
and the meaning of life

They’d shove me away

but I’d be alright
alright

I’m just
uptight, uptight

-T. York et. al. (Haha)

“Subterranean Homesick Alien”

Couldn’t say it that well in my own words so hope you don’t mind.
 

M.O.

Well-Known Member
Been looking forward to James Webb so long it’s going to be amazing. At least 20 years patiently waiting since I read about it.

I honestly think we should still be developing robots for space exploration more than thinking about sending humans so far out but I understand why they want to.

Still also betting on them finding Planet X though the news on that is always a bit disappointing. They keep adjusting their models and know something is out there so it’s only a matter of time before we figure out what’s up.


I always tell people about:

https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html

If you don’t know about it. Good rabbit hole of amazing stuff built by the guys up at Michigan Tech.
 

cannabineer

Ursus marijanus
Been looking forward to James Webb so long it’s going to be amazing. At least 20 years patiently waiting since I read about it.

I honestly think we should still be developing robots for space exploration more than thinking about sending humans so far out but I understand why they want to.

Still also betting on them finding Planet X though the news on that is always a bit disappointing. They keep adjusting their models and know something is out there so it’s only a matter of time before we figure out what’s up.


I always tell people about:

https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html

If you don’t know about it. Good rabbit hole of amazing stuff built by the guys up at Michigan Tech.
I agree about the robotics. What we really need is a better propulsion mode. Stop funding SLS, private industry is “all in” with chemical rockets.
 
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