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From: bfb1@tank.uchicago.edu (B. F. Braumoeller)
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: Re: U-2 shootdown--not a shootdown? (was Re: B-70)
Message-ID: <10750@cbnews.ATT.COM>
Date: 30 Oct 89 02:51:38 GMT
References: <10719@cbnews.ATT.COM>
Sender: military@cbnews.ATT.COM
Organization: University of Chicago
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From: bfb1@tank.uchicago.edu (B. F. Braumoeller)

In article 2749, a question concerning the speed of the U-2 came
up.  According to a two-part article published in Airpower/Wings
magazine, the speed would range only from 408 knots to 412 knots.
If the pilot flew faster than that, he would encounter high-speed
turbulence as a result of approaching mach 1.  This kind of turbelence
could actually break up the aircraft since it was manufactured to
be as light as possible.  This resulted in a fairly fragile aircraft.
If the pilot flew slower than 408, he would most likely stall.  Almost
invariably this produced a flameout and a significant loss in altitude.
Hopefully the pilot could get a restart around 35000 ft, though this 
was not always the case.  

If this data is incorrect, please let me know.  

PS I am temporarily using a friend's account, if anyone was wondering about
   my address.

                                   --Matt Kreutzmann