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Used to be Singpilot...
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Sioux Falls, SD is what the reg says on the bus.
Posts: 1,867
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Saw an airbourne U-2/ER-2 today
Had just completed upwind turn at SAC Metro, departed on a left downwind (northbound). Was not climbing like the usual scalded cat, so may have been on a reposition flight to Mather/Beale.
Have not seen one of these flying for several years. |
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04-24-2009, 06:46 PM
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Cars & Coffee Killer
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: State of Failure
Posts: 32,246
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From what I gather, they got put back in use after the Blackbird was retired.
Sorta ironic....
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Some Porsches long ago...then a wankle... 5 liters of VVT fury now -Chris "There is freedom in risk, just as there is oppression in security." |
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04-24-2009, 07:06 PM
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Dog-faced pony soldier
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I used to see them flying semi-regularly on the FL space coast when I lived down there in the early/mid 1990s. They're very quiet and can fly quite slowly at low altitude (almost eerily slowly) probably due to the very-high aspect-ratio wings.
Very cool planes. Among my top 5 all-time favorites.
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A car, a 911, a motorbike and a few surfboards Black Cars Matter |
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04-24-2009, 09:03 PM
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Banned
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: South of Heaven
Posts: 21,159
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They wer never retired.
They were called TR-1s for a while, then got switched back to the designation U-2R i think. They're still around AFAIK. |
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04-24-2009, 09:12 PM
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Used to be Singpilot...
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Sioux Falls, SD is what the reg says on the bus.
Posts: 1,867
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Yep, this was not the ER-2, no wing tanks. All black finish.
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04-25-2009, 05:49 PM
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Registered
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Houston (The Vintage), Texas
Posts: 4,523
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I have always wondered why the SR-71 was retired and the U-2 wasn't. IIRC, wasn't a U-2 shot down? It seems to me that the U-2 is in many ways inferior.
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-Tom '73 911T MFI - in process of being restored '73 911T MFI - bare bones '87 924S - Keep's the Porsche DNA in my system while the 911 is down. aka "Wolf boy" |
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04-25-2009, 05:52 PM
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Un Chien Andalusia
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Quote:
$$$$$$
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2002 996 Carrera - Seal Grey (Daily Driver / Track Car) 1964 Morris Mini - Former Finnish Rally Car 1987 911 Carrera Coupe - Carmine Red - SOLD :-( 1998 986 Boxster - Black - SOLD 1984 944 - Red - SOLD |
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04-25-2009, 06:12 PM
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Registered
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Houston (The Vintage), Texas
Posts: 4,523
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That's what I was thinking also. The operating cost of the blackbird seemed HUGE.
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-Tom '73 911T MFI - in process of being restored '73 911T MFI - bare bones '87 924S - Keep's the Porsche DNA in my system while the 911 is down. aka "Wolf boy" |
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04-25-2009, 06:16 PM
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Registered
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Quote:
The "U" series - Utility The "WU" series - Weather The "TR" series - Tactical Recon - new model based on the U-2R series The "ER" series - Earth resource (NASA) The U-2S was the redesignated TR-1A and the TU-2S was the redesinated TR-1B (two seat trainer) The CIA does not fly them anymore, but the USAF does.
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Make sure to check out my balls in the Pelican Parts Catalog! 917 inspired shift knobs. '84 Targa - Arena Red - AX #104 '07 Toyota Camry Hybrid - Yes, I'm that guy... '01 Toyota Corolla - Urban Camouflage - SOLD |
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04-25-2009, 07:20 PM
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Banned
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: South of Heaven
Posts: 21,159
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Quote:
Each SR-71 was hand built, and was in fact a unique one off masterpiece. Each needed it's own unique spare parts and logistics tail. |
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04-25-2009, 08:44 PM
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Control Group
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Quote:
SR 71 is a hell of a sled though
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She was the kindest person I ever met |
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04-26-2009, 02:57 PM
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1984 Porsche Targa 3.2L
2004 Mazda Miata
