Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!ucbvax!hplabs!hpda!hpcuhb!hpcilzb!phil
From: phil@hpcilzb.HP.COM (Phil Ritchey)
Newsgroups: sci.space.shuttle
Subject: Re: Re: Re: AFSCs was SR71 to be retired October 1st, rumors regarding SR-71
Message-ID: <2070004@hpcilzb.HP.COM>
Date: 23 Mar 89 18:08:37 GMT
References: <976@nbife.NBI.COM>
Organization: HP Design Tech Center - Santa Clara, CA
Lines: 14

While we are on a related subject, I have a question about the U2.
I have heard from several sources, that the older U2 spy planes
used to eject the two wing wheels on take-off.  The prefered
method to land, was to put these wheels back on, although
it could land without them.  The way this was done, was
for a couple of guys in a jeep to chase the plane down the
runway and reattach the wing wheels, while it made a very low altitude, 
very low speed pass.  The story I heard, was the the newer ones,
had retractable wing wheels.  We have a U2 go very low over our
plant almost every day, on it's landing approach to Mofett field.
It has two wheels down, one in the nose, and one on the tail, but
no visable wing wheels.  Anyone know the true story?

Phil