To the edge of space in a spyplane
James May from Top Gear U.K. takes an emotional ride to the edge of space in a U2 spyplane. Amazing.
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7. Benson1984 commented 15 years ago
That's truely amazing, thx a million for posting. 
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9. polishdemon commented 15 years ago
That'd be absolutely incredible...
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13. richardhalo commented 15 years ago
Let's hope the humanity will understand the importance of Earth and make up their minds already and start the Space Age. So much to see, so much to discover.
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15. s1nn0cence commented 15 years ago
best place everrr to smoke a joint at! /innocent
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17. Zoooidberg commented 15 years ago
Awesome!! (not the Majors glasses though!)
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19. JerryD commented 15 years ago
#15 'best place everr to smoke a joint at!' !?!? DUUUH!?
Who the fooook need a joint up there!? Dont believe there's anything that beats this! I would be beyond euphoric being up there. Totaly agree with #13 ... lets start the Space Age for real, not only sniffing around the edge of it but go for it to 100 % ...
... think of all the adventure that waits!!!!
Who the fooook need a joint up there!? Dont believe there's anything that beats this! I would be beyond euphoric being up there. Totaly agree with #13 ... lets start the Space Age for real, not only sniffing around the edge of it but go for it to 100 % ...
... think of all the adventure that waits!!!!
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22. nemmie commented 15 years ago
Truly amazing! But so scary, just look at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gy0QUwxY5mQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gy0QUwxY5mQ
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23. h4x0r commented 15 years ago
Is Bono on that U2 spyplane?
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24. Combo commented 15 years ago
Nice video. He reaches ~80,0000 feet then flies back down. There's a video on YouTube of a guy who flies to 102,800 feet then jumps out. Even nicer.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQ7N6V-YKJ8&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQ7N6V-YKJ8&feature=related
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25. JerryD commented 15 years ago
#22 ... ROFL! It's like watching a high flying swallow and then u goes on with something like an eagle. The vid u mention is about a D-21 drone piggybacking on a M-21, a forerunner to the more famous SR-71 Blackbird. Thou have to say its a very interesting piece of 'techno-history' ! ... Believe the only thing flying in the atmosphere that could beat this is a ride with the SR-71...
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28. LightAng3l commented 15 years ago
My fear of heights is gone ! I'm CURED !!!
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29. peterpan007 commented 15 years ago
that was beautiful
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30. timennor commented 15 years ago
#11 and #21: The U2 has only center line landing gear, with no permanently attached gear out at the end of those long, flexible wings. When the pilot taxis out for takeoff, the aircraft does have small wheels on short struts which are temporarily attached out at the wing tips. They're attached in such a way that they will both drop off (on the runway) upon takeoff.
I may be wrong, but I think that the rear view mirror is used by the pilot on his landing rollout, to confirm that the ground crew's truck is following closely, so that if any drooping of the wings might cause the wingtip(s) come close to touching the ground, the ground crew will be able to remedy the problem; they have the wing tip wheel/strut assemblies in their truck and will quickly install them to allow the aircraft to continue to taxi into its parking spot.
You're right, though, about the aircraft not being able to back up on its own. There are tugs with the proper equipment that will allow the ground crew to move the plane back into the hangar.
#17: The pilot/Major is possibly wearing glasses to correct a slight change in his eyesight from the 20/20 requirement that pilot trainees must have in order to be accepted into the USAF training program.
I was a graduate of the Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT) Class 69-D at Webb AFB in Big Spring, Texas in December 1969; one member of the class had his eyesight tested about halfway through the 53-week program, and was found to have a slight change in the 20/20 requirement that he had initially met. He was allowed to continue, and wore glasses while flying from then on.
I think he went off to fly fighters after graduation, so just because an AF pilot wears glasses, they don't qualify him as a wimp. The Major flying the U2 while wearing glasses seems to bear this out, wouldn't you say?
I may be wrong, but I think that the rear view mirror is used by the pilot on his landing rollout, to confirm that the ground crew's truck is following closely, so that if any drooping of the wings might cause the wingtip(s) come close to touching the ground, the ground crew will be able to remedy the problem; they have the wing tip wheel/strut assemblies in their truck and will quickly install them to allow the aircraft to continue to taxi into its parking spot.
You're right, though, about the aircraft not being able to back up on its own. There are tugs with the proper equipment that will allow the ground crew to move the plane back into the hangar.
#17: The pilot/Major is possibly wearing glasses to correct a slight change in his eyesight from the 20/20 requirement that pilot trainees must have in order to be accepted into the USAF training program.
I was a graduate of the Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT) Class 69-D at Webb AFB in Big Spring, Texas in December 1969; one member of the class had his eyesight tested about halfway through the 53-week program, and was found to have a slight change in the 20/20 requirement that he had initially met. He was allowed to continue, and wore glasses while flying from then on.
I think he went off to fly fighters after graduation, so just because an AF pilot wears glasses, they don't qualify him as a wimp. The Major flying the U2 while wearing glasses seems to bear this out, wouldn't you say?
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31. likon commented 14 years ago
wtf trully amazing the wiew ,but i wonder if u're spy Rusia i think u're wings were cut off sry about my thinkin but i belive it is the truth (and i'm not rusian)
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33. Jamboree commented 13 years ago
The Lockheed U-2, nicknamed "Dragon Lady", is a single-engine, very high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft operated by the United States Air Force and previously flown by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). It provides day and night, very high-altitude (70,000 feet / 21,000 meters), all-weather intelligence gathering.[1] The aircraft is also used for electronic sensor research and development, satellite calibration, and satellite data validation.
In the early 1950s, with Cold War tensions on the rise, the U.S. military desired better strategic reconnaissance to help determine Soviet capabilities and intentions. The existing reconnaissance aircraft, primarily bombers converted for reconnaissance duty, were vulnerable to anti-aircraft artillery, missiles, and fighters. It was thought an aircraft that could fly at 70,000 feet (21,000 m) would be beyond the reach of Soviet fighters, missiles, and even radar.[2] This would allow overflights (knowingly violating a country's airspace) to take aerial photographs.
Original U-2A at USAF Museum
Under the code name "Bald Eagle", the Air Force gave contracts[3] to Bell Aircraft, Martin Aircraft, and Fairchild Engine and Airplane to develop proposals for the new reconnaissance aircraft. Officials at Lockheed Aircraft Corporation heard about the project and asked aeronautical engineer Clarence "Kelly" Johnson to come up with a design. Johnson was a brilliant designer, responsible for the P-38 Lightning, and the P-80. He was also known for completing projects ahead of schedule, working in a separate division of the company jokingly called the Skunk Works.
In the early 1950s, with Cold War tensions on the rise, the U.S. military desired better strategic reconnaissance to help determine Soviet capabilities and intentions. The existing reconnaissance aircraft, primarily bombers converted for reconnaissance duty, were vulnerable to anti-aircraft artillery, missiles, and fighters. It was thought an aircraft that could fly at 70,000 feet (21,000 m) would be beyond the reach of Soviet fighters, missiles, and even radar.[2] This would allow overflights (knowingly violating a country's airspace) to take aerial photographs.
Original U-2A at USAF Museum
Under the code name "Bald Eagle", the Air Force gave contracts[3] to Bell Aircraft, Martin Aircraft, and Fairchild Engine and Airplane to develop proposals for the new reconnaissance aircraft. Officials at Lockheed Aircraft Corporation heard about the project and asked aeronautical engineer Clarence "Kelly" Johnson to come up with a design. Johnson was a brilliant designer, responsible for the P-38 Lightning, and the P-80. He was also known for completing projects ahead of schedule, working in a separate division of the company jokingly called the Skunk Works.
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34. loadrunner commented 12 years ago
34 millon dollar equipment and no device to scratch your nose. 
But the view makes every discomfort disappear
But the view makes every discomfort disappear
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35. GhostInShell commented 12 years ago
If i got one ride in that up there, i could die happy the next day
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About this video
Category: Awesome
Published: 15 years ago
Submitted by: Xionbox
Views: 33,535
Rating:
(174 votes)
Length: 10:00 minutes
Filesize: 43.5 megabytes
Dimensions: 400 × 225 px
+56 1. Cavabardus commented 15 years ago