Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!ames!ig!bionet!agate!eos!steve
From: steve@eos.UUCP (Steve Philipson)
Newsgroups: sci.space.shuttle
Subject: Re: Re: Re: AFSCs was SR71 to be retired October 1st, rumors regarding SR-71
Message-ID: <2988@eos.UUCP>
Date: 24 Mar 89 23:26:56 GMT
References: <976@nbife.NBI.COM> <2070004@hpcilzb.HP.COM>
Reply-To: steve@eos.UUCP (Steve Philipson)
Organization: NASA Ames Research Center, Calif.
Lines: 47

In article <2070004@hpcilzb.HP.COM> phil@hpcilzb.HP.COM (Phil Ritchey) writes:
>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?


   Both the U2 and TR-1 (updated, larger version, known as ER-2 in civilian 
duty) feature two inline main gear (one just ahead of the wing spar, and 
one a few feet ahead of the tail) and two out-rigger wheels on struts.  The 
outriggers are colloquially referred to as "pogos".  They are not ejected 
per se, but rather are simply released.  To my knowledge, there are no 
aircraft in this series with retractable outriggers.

   The normal procedure here at Ames is to leave retaining pins in place 
as the aircraft taxi out to the runway.  The pins have long, red, "REMOVE 
BEFORE FLIGHT" flags attached to them, so they are very easy to see.  The 
ground crew remove the pins just before the beginning of the takeoff run, 
and the pogos separate from the aircraft shortly after it leaves the ground.

   Landings are made on the in-line main gear only.  Ground crew members
take up position at about the midpoint of the runway and wait for the
aircraft to roll up to them.  The pilot controls the rollout so that the 
aircraft slowly rolls up to the ground crew, whereupon the ground personnel
simply reach out and grab the wings, hold them off the ground and reattach
the pogos and pins for the taxi back in to the ramp.

   U-2/ER-2 operations are considered critical and hazardous.  Fire and 
ambulance crews take-up ready positions along the runway before each
landing, "just in case".  I've not heard of any accident here though.  
Landings are very interesting to watch, particularly when there is a 
significant crosswind.  This puts some rather nasty turbulence across 
the runway in the wake of the dirigible hangar.  The '2s have very
large lifting surfaces which make them very susceptible to gusts.  The
precision of the pilots under such adverse conditions is impressive.
-- 

						   Steve
					(the certified flying fanatic)
					    steve@aurora.arc.nasa.gov