Lockheed U-2 Aircraft

[ubersonic]

Here's another aircraft that never fails to amaze me, in terms of its height and speed capabilities - the 1964-on MiG-25.

A true hot rod of the skies

Something that surprised me at first was that it's replacement the MiG-31 is slower and more fuel efficient lol (improved weapons and avionics still make it an even more potent threat to cruise missiles and SR-71's).

 

[Keyboards'Fear]

I don't know how many of you have tried Experience Japan on the Oculus Rift, or anything else like that, but it's incredible what can we done.

My point, they NEED to do this with flying in all these aircraft!

I watched this vid yesterday flying in the MiG-29 which is a brilliant video I highly recommend watching.

Imagine experiencing the full video with the Rift and free movement to look around the cockpit, and using that same music they used which I felt made it even more amazing.

Good news is I mentioned it on their site and they said "Will be done beginning in next year" with little winky smile face.

I truly do hope they make many of these experiences

 

[RoboCod]

One of the saddest things about the improvement in orbital tech, and the end of the cold was is that we no longer need the likes of the u2 to get the images, and there is no longer the push of that sort of tech at the same rate there was

It's sad to think that we've basically given up on anything other than LEO for manned missions, and we've effectively dropped back about 30-50 years on some aspects of aircraft flight.

There is/was something awe inspiring about the likes of the strategic reconnaissance and other state of the art aircraft designed around that era, the U2, SR1, Vulcan, Concorde and Shuttle, now we don't seem to have anything that is so oddly beautiful and powerful looking as aircraft.

Sorry old chap but this is very debatable. It depends who you talk to because the dragon lady is still high in demand today and Global Hawk is simply ****. Given how cheap U2 is compared to others they'd be daft to axe it.

It may very well live on for many years yet, it depends who holds the purse strings and makes the final call

 

[RoboCod]

I had my football shirt flown on this aircraft just last week. I received the shirt back, along with photos of it with the pilot and certificate. I'll upload pics when I can.

Amazingly, the aircraft was struck by lightening and I heard the pilot was unconcious momentarily. What an amazing machine.

 

[Cosimo]

Being prepared for take off:

Some history:

 

[DRZ]

We had an internal thing at the 60-year mark. Some truly fascinating stuff and a lot of it has made it onto YouTube I see

It is also quite extraordinary to see the progress from things like the SR-71 to the F-22 and F-35 today and the application of some of the technology to areas very far away from aerospace/military applications

 

[lafemmefatale]

I had my football shirt flown on this aircraft just last week. I received the shirt back, along with photos of it with the pilot and certificate. I'll upload pics when I can.

Amazingly, the aircraft was struck by lightening and I heard the pilot was unconcious momentarily. What an amazing machine.

That's pretty amazing. Look forward to the pictures.

 

[RoboCod]

Here we go!

 

[lafemmefatale]

Quite clearly photoshopped.

 

[RoboCod]

Haha

 

[RoboCod]

I think I'd have shopped a better team than Derby if I had

Can you tell from the pixels I photoshopped this one too? A little annoying that they didn't amend the certificate to state "SHIRT" instead of "FLAG"... but I can't complain really can I!? They did put the fact it was hit by lightning in there.

 

[lafemmefatale]

Seriously though, that's impressive.

 

[RoboCod]

"In God we trust... All others we monitor"....

MURICA!

 

[lafemmefatale]

Turn your satellites upside down, boys, we need to keep an eye on that big man upstairs too ya know.

 

[Cosimo]

Taken at Beale Air Force Base:

 

[Deathjester]

When I was in the CCF at school there was one of these operating out of the base we were on camp for.
While I was there I got to ride in the case car calling out the wing levels!

 

[Domo]

For a little over £12k you can hitch a ride to over 70,000 ft on a MiG 29.
http://www.migflug.com/index.php?id=168&L=1

 

[theMilitant]

The MiG 29 video in post 102 is quite gripping to watch. Very nice.

 

[Cosimo]

A aircraft pilot from the 99th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron explains the role of chase cars:

 

[esoteric]

Fun Fact - The U-2 Spyplane was spotted during it's first ever mission into enemy territory but missile technology didn't have the range to shoot it down.