LOCKHEED U2
I spent two years as a Mission-Essential Field Service Rep supporting a sensor on the Lockheed U2 with the 5th Reconnaissance Squadron in Osan, Korea. There were no training missions – all fights were real-word and as serious as a heart attack.
The U2 has a bicycle landing gear with “Pogo” wheels on the wings that are dropped after takeoff. It is considered to be the most difficult aircraft to fly in the USAF inventory. Each takeoff and landing is accompanied by a Camaro Z28 chase car called “The Mobile” It’s driven by another pilot who talks to the pilot via radio since his vision is restricted by his space suit helmet. You can hear some of the preflight by clicking the slider above…
This is the view from the Mobile who is driving right behind the U2 during a takeoff or landing to support the pilot. His peripheral vision is restricted and he will be very tired after a long mission in that space suit…
There are no practice missions with the U2 at Osan. All missions are real world and do not stop for bad weather. U2 flights take priority over every other activity on the base. The base was completely closed down during this blizzard but the U2 still flew.
As I mentioned, there are no training flights at Osan AFB. Every mission is approved by the national command authority. The U2 takes priority over any other airport activities. The only difference between peace and war is the tempo of missions.
The U2 departs through stormy skies on a night mission. We not only installed our electro-optical equipped nose on the aircraft, but we also processed the imagery as it came down from the aircraft during the mission from deep inside an underground bunker.
At U2 cruising altitude a loss of cabin pressure would be fatal. The pilots must breath pure oxygen for one hour prior to a flight to purge nitrogen from their blood and tissue. This will prevent the bends if the cabin does depressurize.
Osan Air Base is fourty five miles south of the DMZ and about three minutes flight time away from North Korean ballistic missiles. The Patriot batteries are designed to shoot down incoming missiles.
Us a mission-essential field service representative (FSR) for Raytheon, I was expected to remain once all non-essential personnel had been evacuated from the peninsula. I received the same NBC (Nuclear, Biological, chemical) warfare and weapons training as the military. I was also issued the same protective equipment.
The tail section of the aircraft has been removed to allow access to the engine and tail pipe.
The U2 noses are detachable and each contains a different sensor. Our nose contained an electro-optical imaging sensor. It was installed on the U2 as needed, depending on the mission. In the background you can see the equipment cart used to teat it after installation on the aircraft prior to a mission.
The current SYERS-2C Electro-Optical/Infrared Sensor (Courtesy Lockeed Martin Skunk Works)
“Spy Vs Spy” nose art from Mad Magazine…
The U2 is consider to be the most difficult aircraft to fly in the U.S. Air Force inventory. These pilots are the cream of the crop. After a long mission they are taken to the physiological support group where they are helped out of their space suit. From there they go directly to a debrief which is attended by maintenance personnel from each group. If our sensor flew on the mission one of us would attend the debrief.
Marty Knudson was one of the first seven Air Force pilots selected to fly the U2 for the CIA from 1955 to 1970. Later, he became Director of Flight Operations at Ames Research from 1984 until 1990. Among his many achievements, Marty not only flew the U2 for the CIA, but he Air Force, and for NASA for a total of 21 years. He also flew the NASA Kuiper Airborne Observatory during the time I was on the project. Marty was a real hero and a great guy.
This is a likeness of Oscar The Cat, the squadron mascot. Notice that Oscar is impeccably dressed with a formal black tie. Also notice the determined set to his jaw and his steely-eyed gaze. Oscar is ready for action any time!
