The Lockheed U2: Spying Before Satellites

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Күн бұрын

Worth knowing about for the way it takes off and lands alone...
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@driftertank 3 жыл бұрын

So, the statement that the U2 flew "just above it's stall speed of 75mph" should be clarified to point out that it is 75mph INDICATED airspeed. The true (corrected for altitude) airspeed was closer to 400mph The U2 flew it's missions in the "Coffin Corner" of aircraft performance where IAS stall and Critical Mach almost meet. The air is so thin that the amount of air hitting the airframe is very small, so measured airspeed is very low. But as that thin air is accelerated over the wings and body to produce lift, it approaches the speed of sound and can cause shockwaves to form, which is the critical mach speed. Critical mach is dependent on true airspeed, while indicated airspeed and aircraft performance is determined by air density. That's how the stall speed and maximum speed get so close together at high altitude.

@Azivegu 3 жыл бұрын

@Ken Hudson When you invest decades in a subject, it can be hard to be proven wrong xD I''ve been a victim to such a folly before.

@InvestorAcademyPodca 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the clarification, I was wondering how the maximum rated speed was less than a Pacer.

@leddygee1896 3 жыл бұрын

Yeah, I was wondering about that...

@megaprojects9649 3 жыл бұрын

Great comment. Thank you. That clarification should have been in the video.

@driftertank 3 жыл бұрын

@@megaprojects9649 No problem. As an aside, the Wikipedia article on "coffin corner" actually shows the airspeed performance graph for the U2. en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coffin_corner_(aerodynamics) (if that link isn't okay, feel free to delete comment)

@PCr4zy 3 жыл бұрын

AirBus A380; Antonov AN-225 "Mriya" and dissapearance of her sister body definitely deserve an episode each ... ^^

@ginger_nosoul 3 жыл бұрын

@Mark Grudt doesnt mean it wasnt a mega project

@WebWolf89 3 жыл бұрын

@Mark Grudt I would call it without foreseeable future, but still far from dead.

@AstroDork 3 жыл бұрын

The Antonov 225 is probably a much more interesting story than that of the 380. To be fair you could easily make a quality fascinating episode about both but given this isn't an aviation channel (😁) I'd vote for Blackbird (because you just have to do that) and the 225

@EricDKaufman 3 жыл бұрын

@Mark Grudt Gut the thing, turn her into a cargo hauler.

@AstroDork 3 жыл бұрын

@Mark Grudt well if your metric is simply whether it's not in production so is the U2... And the SR... The DC3. The plane changed the world forever, also dead You get my point

@spacecatboy2962 3 жыл бұрын

if the U2 is still flying after 75 years, i guess that means it still hasnt found what its looking for

@megaprojects9649 3 жыл бұрын

BA DA BUM BUM TSHSHSHSHHHHHH

@spacecatboy2962 3 жыл бұрын

@@megaprojects9649 haha, a reply from simon, made my day

@augsdoggs 3 жыл бұрын

There’s no way of knowing what current use the CIA has for it. They move in mysterious ways. Allegedly.

@EthelredHardrede-nz8yv 3 жыл бұрын

@@augsdoggs NASA has or used to have one for high altitude research.

@grokster9ontheroads174 3 жыл бұрын

Unless my math is wrong,from 1955 to 2020 is 65 years,no?

@Voello 3 жыл бұрын

It's crazy to think that they're still in operation today, but when they were introduced it was closer to the Wright Brother's first flight in 1903 than to now.

@dougball328 11 ай бұрын

Just like the B-52. The last B-52 came of the assembly line in 1962.

@MartiniPinball 3 жыл бұрын

Forgot to point out one of the most important reasons it is still in use, mainly that analog photo film is extremely suitable for scaling and post-zooming whereas digital film cannot extend beyond a certain amount due to pixelation. Thus providing superior photo quality over any other surveillance source.

@Biker_Gremling 3 жыл бұрын

The thing about photographic film is that, when used much larger sizes than a conventional camera, it can have more resolution than digital. In addition, special film types can be created for different types of spectrums (super infrared, ultra violet, radiation etc).

@stevennagley3407 10 ай бұрын

Analog film is also nice cause you need to not worry about countries hacking into your photography like digital

@brosephstalin5321 3 жыл бұрын

The SR-71 is great and I wont be upset if its next, but I need to see some love for the A-10.

@templarw20 3 жыл бұрын

While I love those designs, I don't think they quite fit Megaprojects. The SR-71, maybe, but the A-10 only if it's endurance is sufficiently "mega" for Simon.

@megaprojects9649 3 жыл бұрын

Coming very soon. Recorded it yesterday! EDIT: Shit, I totally meant the A-12 Archangel, not the A-10 Warthog. Sorry :(

@SD-tj5dh 3 жыл бұрын

Real engineering did a great video on the a10 warthog.

@skizzik121 3 жыл бұрын

@@megaprojects9649 me and my ex made a video called The Warthog, its NSFW

@Sgt_SealCluber 3 жыл бұрын

Ah the A-10. The plane that started out life as a gun! 😁

@markschippel7974 3 жыл бұрын

When I was in the U.S. army and stationed in Panama in the early 1990's there was at least one U2 that came to the old Howard Air Force base. The first time I saw it was on takeoff. The noise was what got our attention. It sounded like a rocket taking off. Later we saw one landing. We were getting ready for a jump and were surprised to see a Mustang convertible with 4 crew in it heading for the runway. This was not a common occurrence for an active air base. As the U2 came into view the Mustang took off down the runway like he was trying to race it. After the U2 touched down it continued to taxi slowly in a straight line as a crew member attached the wing gear on one side and then jumped up on the wing to hold it down. Two other guys ran to the U2 with a large box. They removed one box and put the second one in it's place. Three crew members and the box all loaded into the mustang raced off the runway leaving the fourth crewman to ride the wing al the way to a hanger. The plane never stopped completely until it was in the hanger. We later talked to one of the pilots. He told us that they were doing drug interdiction work and had to be ready to take off in short notice, so the plane always had a canister of film loaded. The exposed film was replaced with the new film on the runway and raced to the lab so they could get it developed as quickly as possible. By the way, the reason for the chase car is because of the U2's long nose. The pilot can't see the runway.

@TheCimbrianBull 3 жыл бұрын

Wow, that's an awesome story. Thanks for sharing it with us! 😀

@calska140 3 жыл бұрын

That is crazy. Changing the film on the literal run and the crewman riding on the wing into the hangar. Bizarre but I don't doubt it

@alfretwell428 3 жыл бұрын

@@calska140 a common occurrence in older days you often see ww2 era film of crew men riding on the wings of aircraft often to point out pot holes in battle damaged runways.

@andrewgriffin4528 3 жыл бұрын

"Should we cover this?" Simon. If you cover it I'm gunna watch it.

@cheflia5555 3 жыл бұрын

A video on Skunk Works would be awesome. U2, SR-71, F117 Stealth Fighter, etc...lots of interesting history there

@gapratt4955 3 жыл бұрын

Exactly! What C "Kelly" Johnson created and Ben Rich continued is an amazing story of creating new technology.

@waynedavies5226 3 жыл бұрын

@@gapratt4955 More than my share of it all by Kelly Johnson and Skunkworks by Ben Rich, are 2 worthwhile reads.

@matthewcane0 3 жыл бұрын

I'd love an A380 video Simon!

@cheaterman49 3 жыл бұрын

"which is 33 million dollars under budget today" - no Simon. "which is unheard of today" would be more accurate. BADA-BUM-TSCHHHHHH

@kevinburt44 2 жыл бұрын

Excellent video, as always Simon. I have watched these amazing aircraft going in and out of RAF Fairford many times, always incredible to watch.

@Sacto1654 3 жыл бұрын

What's amazing was that Clarence "Kelly" Johnson helped build and design the U-2 in under a year. It did help that Lockheed was able to adapt many of the components from the F-104 _Starfighter_ into this plane, hence the reason why the project developed so quickly. But getting a special version of the Pratt & Whitney J57 engine to run at 70,000 proved to be a lot of work, to say the least.

@Treblaine 3 жыл бұрын

I'm learning more about the Starfighter recently, seems to be a hugely underappreciated aircraft it its time even though it saw loads of export sales.

@markschippel7974 3 жыл бұрын

And yet the U2 and the SR71 were designed without computer modeling. The glorious days of wind tunnels and slide rules.

@michaelathens953 3 жыл бұрын

The F-104 is an awesome aircraft, well in my 30s my inner 10-year-old grins every time I see a picture of one. The Wings Over the Rockies youtube channel has a really good episode on it.

@ShadowOppsRC 3 жыл бұрын

@@markschippel7974 and testing wing shapes with misles. That hiw they developed the wings on the starfighter.

@stevelindstedt8858 3 жыл бұрын

"Bridge Of Spies"...directed by Steven Spielberg....Excellent movie.

@megaprojects9649 3 жыл бұрын

That's the one. Yes, great film.

@bimblinghill 3 жыл бұрын

Great movie. Mark Rylance's performance is quite brilliant

@Treblaine 3 жыл бұрын

The U2 scene was a bit over the top but I loved the rest of the film.

@shadowpresident4203 3 жыл бұрын

I liked Bridge of Spies, but was a little disappointed it did not focus more on the famous "hollow nickel case" that helped to uncover the identity of Reino Hyahinen and broke open that whole chain of events ultimately leading to the events in the movie. Fifteen minutes (or more) of that plot thread would have been more interesting than just a few more scenes of him interacting with his lawyer in preparation for the spy swap. I supposed it also would have been far more complex and expensive to put those events on film. But come on guys, it's a big budget Hollywood picture that was Oscar baiting from before it was even given the production greenlight. I think you can afford to have more than just people essentially hanging out talking (albeit over dramatic and interesting stuff.) It would have been a very cinematic and interesting story that could have been told in an interesting way. It's not hard to picture scenes of a kid collecting money for his paper route from a customer, then dropping one of the coins and noticing it pop open and tiny bit of microfilm fall out. Then he takes it to school the next day, and tells a friend what he found at recess. She turns out to be the daughter of a local NYPD cop, and via him it finds its way onto the FBI's radar and turns into a major counterintelligence investigation. But it's their movie. Like most nerds I have multiple unsold screenplays, etc. (They're not particularly good.)

@Nick-ty3xd 3 жыл бұрын

A380. Yes. Seen all the different documentaries out there but the delivery style you bring and bonus facts are worth the revisit.

@drumbergunnerer3162 3 жыл бұрын

YES AirBus 380!! Very well done sir. Really enjoy your content and info .. Thank you for all you do.

@isabellacalavera8577 3 жыл бұрын

SR-71 next! Still the fastest spy-plane ever and holds the record for fastest transatlantic flight from New York to London in less than two hours! Also please do Burj Khalifa soon!

@Matt-dc8lp 3 жыл бұрын

Fastest MANNED spy plane.

@Markus-zb5zd 3 жыл бұрын

The SR-71 wasn't even the best... Air Force forced 2 pilots and more cameras on it...

@andrewklosowski5277 3 жыл бұрын

Yes!!

@coreytaylor447 3 жыл бұрын

the fastest that we, the public, know of at least

@Lozzie74 3 жыл бұрын

Include the A12

@lukeboyuk83 3 жыл бұрын

Definitely the SR71 deserves a video. The most beautiful plane and fastest ever jet plane. Never shot down. The fact that the US had to secretly source the titanium from the russians was quite ironic . Given that is was the sucessor to the U2 it would seem to fit the channel timeline nicely also

@nathaniel1207 3 жыл бұрын

Thing is, if the soviets hadn't sold them the ore the US likely could've bought it from the Australians. And it may have forced the development of proper 250000 tonne presses to save material and avoid Machining of titanium. Real engineering has made 2 great videos on the SR-71

@absalomdraconis 3 жыл бұрын

Also, I believe that the SR-71 was actually shot down once or twice, during a planned launch or landing outside the US.

@spiritofnex 3 жыл бұрын

@@absalomdraconis The SR-71 was never shot down. A few were destroyed by user error, malfunctions, pushing it past it's limits, or un-starts. 1 was destroyed by an M-21.

@lukeboyuk83 3 жыл бұрын

@Ruán Conán Seems you are correct. Mach 3.35 compared to mach 3.2 for the SR 71, from a quick search. I think this was down to it being a single seater and carrying less sensors and cameras , so saving added weight.

@karma-_-killa-_-102 3 жыл бұрын

@Ruán Conán was tha A12 Cygnus that was the fastest (original CIA variant) - the YF12 was the interceptor variant. Oxcart was the name for the whole project.

@zachglennon7789 3 жыл бұрын

Such a great series. Enjoyed this one for sure! And yes, please do the A380 episode.

@tonyjones7991 3 жыл бұрын

I’m really loving this channel, nice what you can do after VisualPolitik !

@PanzerYeena 3 жыл бұрын

Cmmon, Simon... You know what to do. SR-71

@DMG020 3 жыл бұрын

6:00 ?

@johNAVEry87 3 жыл бұрын

Hey hey Simon. As a healthcare worker in Texas I just want to say thanks to you and your team for all your videos/channels. They are a welcome, thought provoking break throughout the day. And an added bonus with Megaprojects is that it reminds me how awesome humans can be when we come together. Cheers!

@archstanton6102 3 жыл бұрын

Stay safe

@walterscogginsakathesilver6246 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you

@megaprojects9649 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you.

@mmatthews61687 3 жыл бұрын

As a non healthcare worker from somewhere else, I'm wondering why you felt the need to include such information. Looking for high fives and thank yous? Proud? Honestly not trying to be a dick, I'm just curious about your reasoning.

@johNAVEry87 3 жыл бұрын

Michael Matthews I understand where you are coming from. I am very proud of who I am and what I do but that is not the reason I included that I work in healthcare. The reason I included it was to emphasize that during a very hectic time in my life it is nice to have these videos to mentally escape. It would be in the same way if I had just suffered the loss of a loved one and needed to get away mentally. I thought it provided some context and where I am mentally.

@rainrainwebdesign 3 жыл бұрын

Great video on U2 - thanks - have watched a lot of doc stuff on it over the years but this is one of the best

@charlie15627 3 жыл бұрын

That Tom Hanks movie is really good “Bridge of Spies”

@Beshman12 3 жыл бұрын

I once wasn't at a military base for work, and didn't see the U2, it wasn't cool at all, I didn't see the BMW landing chaser alongside Worst day ever .>

@curtischilders3024 3 жыл бұрын

Dragon Lady is ugly. You didn’t miss much.

@DesertFernweh 3 жыл бұрын

Move to Palmdale, you'll see it all the time. But they use a GTO to chase it. At least the did when I lived there.

@gavsmith1980 3 жыл бұрын

Me neither, plus I once didn’t get a backseat ride in the Mitsubishi Evo they were using to chase the U2.

@clearingbaffles 3 жыл бұрын

I live between Beale AFB and the now closed Mather AFB the T-38’s and U-2’s are in the air all the time; the SR-71 was too back in it’s day and you have to be pretty close to Beale to see the Global Hawk as they are at altitude shortly after takeoff

@robwilliams3484 3 жыл бұрын

So glad I didn’t have to guard at one all night all by myself, that would have only been cool for about 30 minutes and boring as hell the rest of the night.

@jd4278 3 жыл бұрын

Cover battleship Yamato, the largest Naval decoration ever

@megaprojects9649 3 жыл бұрын

Got that in the works :)

@bigmike3376 3 жыл бұрын

Megaprojects I’m hyped

@ALT3REDB3AST 3 жыл бұрын

@@megaprojects9649 Make sure to mention the anime spinoff Battleship Yamato/Starblazers and renaming the ship the Argo cause Yamato and WW2 didn't sit too well with the US in the 70s.

@chrisrutherfurd9338 2 жыл бұрын

Cheers Simon. Your videos are great.

@bojankotur4613 3 жыл бұрын

So mega projects = mega ads. An ad every 3 minutes or so PLUS the one that Simon serves us. Nice work...

@michaelmurphy2786 3 жыл бұрын

"I could definitely cover it on one of my other channels" or he'll just make yet another channel to do it. Allegedly.

@megaprojects9649 3 жыл бұрын

Allegendly.

@mizzshortie907 3 жыл бұрын

@@megaprojects9649 epic comment

@stephenfrizza 3 жыл бұрын

I would love to see an episode on THE CASPIAN SEA MONSTER / EKRANOPLAN

@horrorclose9462 3 жыл бұрын

I've already suggested it. I don't think people like the vids on infrastructures. Or Simon is just being hurtful and ignoring us.

@freakingknoght-7450 3 жыл бұрын

The mighty CASPIAN SEA MONSTER would be a great idea for megaprojects

@mandalor45 3 жыл бұрын

googled it. it is a beast

@megaprojects9649 3 жыл бұрын

@@horrorclose9462 It's already been made. Will prob be coming out next week :). Maybe later this week!

@horrorclose9462 3 жыл бұрын

@@megaprojects9649 what about Michael Peterson??? We want more crazy/inspirational people biographies!! FREE CHARLIE!!

@jamesterry5409 3 жыл бұрын

I worked on the RQ4 system at Beale AFB, where the U2 was stationed, and I always enjoyed seeing the chase vehicles start at the very end of the runway and then speed up to give the pilot a spot while landing. I've also had the chance to ride on a chase vehicle. And also, a testament to how hard they were to handle near the ground, it wasn't uncommon to see one spin around in a light breeze after touchdown.

@stevennagley3407 10 ай бұрын

Did you ever experience service over seas and see the cars they used?

@theshadowoftruth7561 3 жыл бұрын

Worked on them at Beale AFB in 77 and 78! Loved watching them take off!

@LukaBizantprvi 3 жыл бұрын

Make a Kelly Johnson video on Biographics channel. By talking about him, you'd also pretty much cover Skunk Works as well. He is quite a remarkable guy.

@AstroDork 3 жыл бұрын

Yes yes yes... What, Simon has a biography channel?..... 😁👍

@TheCimbrianBull 3 жыл бұрын

Ah yes, Clarence "Kelly" Johnson, the father of the legendary F-104 Starfighter! 😀

@platunwalker8406 3 жыл бұрын

Do the antonov an-225

@megaprojects9649 3 жыл бұрын

Coming soon ;)

@billdirlam744 2 жыл бұрын

I saw a U2 take off from Van Nuys airport after a weekend static airshow event back in the early 1990s. On takeoff I thought the U2 would use up much of the municipal airport runway but instead it seemed to use less than 100 yards and quickly went vertical after dropping the extra wheels. It almost instantly disappeared in the overcast skies only to return a few minutes later for a much appreciated flyby of the airport. Truly an amazing aircraft from a bygone era.

@badassmotha1 3 жыл бұрын

I hope I'm not alone in this, but I think the orbital elevator would be a phenomenal topic!!! Keep the amazing content coming!!

@roycekimbrough3274 3 жыл бұрын

You should cover the US interstate highway system.

@AdamMGTF 3 жыл бұрын

As long as he doesn’t cover the M1. That would be boring

@AdamMGTF 3 жыл бұрын

Ken Hudson I’m English and even I know the answer to that. It was intended to ensure that military forces had a way to re-deploy quickly across the continental us. This was actually a big deal even before ww2. The armed forces recognised that the small Army would have a very difficult time responding to different parts of the country (for example in the event of a unexpected need to call up men and material say in the event of a surprise war). Hence the senior staff in the army spent a lot of time planning how they would put in place logistics on a national scale. It had done this since before ww1 of course. All the armed forces of the time had all kinds of plans which usually meant how rolling stock would move men and munitions around the road network. But obviously as the 40s passed it was obvious the motor vehicle had surpassed the train and as a result more highways were needed and naturally an ex general was the man to get it sorted. Really shocked that isn’t well known in the US?

@krald8421 3 жыл бұрын

@@AdamMGTF Same reason as the autobahn isn't it?

@watcherit1311 3 жыл бұрын

@@AdamMGTF Tanks are not friendly to roads and troops can be transfered much quicker via air. So equally well argument would be saying that electricity lines were also developed cause of army. Everything is cause of army.

@ChiefMiddleFinger 3 жыл бұрын

The US Interstate system is Federal Property and theoretically could be closed. Realistically, this would only inflame millions of people, but dumber things have happened. The gooberment can screw up a one car parade so why not everything else.

@Strothy2 3 жыл бұрын

I would love a deep dive into skunworks or any plane kelly had his genius fingers on ^^

@--enyo-- 3 жыл бұрын

Maybe a Geographics?

@StormWalden 3 жыл бұрын

Kelly Johnson would be a good subject for a Biographics video, yes? ;)

@megaprojects9649 3 жыл бұрын

I'm working on a way to do this. It's not really a megaproject, so just trying to think about the best way to put it out.

@markrenton1093 3 жыл бұрын

@@megaprojects9649 , there is a book called "SKUNK Works" written by the the director after Kelly Johnson.

@1225KPH 3 жыл бұрын

Read Kelly's autobiography or Ben Rich's (Kelly's successor) autobiography.

@jjohnsonTX 3 жыл бұрын

Great story, and a true aviation legend.

@truthsayers8725 3 жыл бұрын

i was at Beale AFB with the glamorous SR-71 and its more utilitarian little sister the U-2 and im very glad to see the Dragon Lady getting some love! i was a graphic artist and still photographer so i worked with pre and post mission products for the U-2 but i also got to ride chase-pace a couple of times shooting still photos. we had the Ford LX Mustangs with a 5.0L for that, having just transistioned out of the Chevy El Camino... Kelly Johnson was a genius with this plane, the F104, P-38 and SR-71 and to pass his knowledge on to Ben Rich who did Have Blue...

@paulmaddison6193 3 жыл бұрын

Seriously mate, at this point you could do a 30 minute video on a kids tree-house and I'd watch the heck out of it.

@susanmaggiora4800 3 жыл бұрын

Paul Maddison Actually, I’d love to se a video about a tree house. Or how bout an LotR elven tree CITY!

@wesabaker 3 жыл бұрын

Yeah! What he said!

@AstroDork 3 жыл бұрын

Hey dont be dissin kids tree houses 🤣🤣

@megaprojects9649 3 жыл бұрын

@heavypen 3 жыл бұрын

I'll never forget the Rhodes Family treehouses - yes, plural. Behind the house were several huge trees (old as the ages). Dad and uncles built four tree houses and a kind of platform that was connected by various rope bridges and a rigid walkway. I was lucky to be a friend of one of the Rhodes-boys, which is another tale.

@lilhack3r666 3 жыл бұрын

First 2012, then 2004, and now 2023.. o.o maths is hard

@NickysVibe 2 жыл бұрын

I have yet to come across a Megaprojects video that I didn't thoroughly enjoy. Thanks for your hard work and dedication, Simon and crew.

@steven2212 3 жыл бұрын

Glad you used the Tommy for comparison. Your next vid in this series needs to feature this amazing bird. Love your vid output, always entertaining. Thank you

@chuckschwoch5761 3 жыл бұрын

Under budget?!? Is this the only Megaprojects that did that?

@bostedtap8399 3 жыл бұрын

Fairly good chance 😂

@absalomdraconis 3 жыл бұрын

Skunkworks was practically magical at that point in time.

@owenpatterson9355 3 жыл бұрын

Yeah Kelly Johnson was a real enigma of a designer, I personally think he is maybe the greatest aerospace engineer in history

@Wppk765 3 жыл бұрын

I didn’t think it was legal for a mega project to do that?!

@Azivegu 3 жыл бұрын

In one of the later episodes (the Shinkasen video), it was mentioned that the Gotthard Tunnel was also under budget and that they were planning on making a video about that.

@501ststudios7 3 жыл бұрын

Fletcher-Class Destroyer. In 4 years from March of 1941 to February of 1945, the US built 175 of them and they served in various navies for decades. The last active one wasn’t retired from the Mexican Navy until 2001!

@michaelho4014 3 жыл бұрын

the fletcher is a culmination of steady “throw some ideas at the wall and what sticks whilst trying to maintain 2000 tons displacement” improvements throughout the 1930s - they went through 10 destroyer classes between the Farragut and the Fletcher - it’s more of the penultimate example of the fleet destroyer ship class pioneered by the Japanese Fubuki class and only succeeded the Fubuki as the standard against which all ww2 destroyers are judged against due to circumstance - take this as you will whether or not the fletcher counts as a mega project or not

@gersonboav1 3 жыл бұрын

I love cold war stuff ! Thank you Simon ! All your channels are absolutelly amazing!

@GodlikeIridium 3 жыл бұрын

Simon: "[...] first 2012, then 2004, now 2023 [...]" xD

@FlyingNimbus601 3 жыл бұрын

Do a video on the The Northrop B-2 Spirit aka the stealth bomber or b2 bomber please SIMON! LOVE YOUR VIDEOS!

@snorlax6691 3 жыл бұрын

Definitely would like to see the B-2 done!

@ShadowBlazer3000 3 жыл бұрын

Yes for sure the B-2 and F-117!

@oliverwivell1839 3 жыл бұрын

I would love to see the XB 70 covered, it was the USA's mach 3 supersonic bomber which never entered service. Super interesting plane and one of the largest bombers ever built

@TheCimbrianBull 3 жыл бұрын

Ah yes, Valkyries forever! 😀

@vitrong5765 3 жыл бұрын

"Sh

@tolson57 3 жыл бұрын

Simon, I am well aware of your proclivity for unusual units of measure so I was very pleased with your use of one of the greatest aircraft of all time, the F-14 Tomcat, for comparison. Salute!

@MT90Scott 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks good sir Simon (& team) for the insightful video - I didn't realize just how long she'd been flying! Here's to the concept of doing one thing really really well. One note that takes nothing away from such a successful 'MegaProject' would be acknowledging that the U-2 is the key piece of an intelligence platform that sprawls across the globe. Lots of good folk doing great work to support the talented Dragon Lady. ::s::

@SRW_ 3 жыл бұрын

Turn left in 100 metres Simon: there’s no left turn! Turn left Simon:But there’s no left turn!!! Recalculating: make a U-turn Simon: it’s a one way street!!

@megaprojects9649 3 жыл бұрын

* hits steering wheel *

@dynamicworlds1 3 жыл бұрын

Ah, the early 2000s, when google maps kept mistaking staircases for roads resulting in it giving dirrections to people telling them to _literally drive off cliffs._ To my knowledge, no-one actually listened to said dirrections, but that's a thing that happened.

@jonnunn4196 3 жыл бұрын

@@dynamicworlds1 A few nights ago in St Louis County, someone around 1:30 AM someone drove North and around the first barrier for the closed road and then drove thru the second barrier into the sinkhole (the reason the road was closed.) He said Google directions told him to continue taking this road North. (No word yet on if he'd been drinking or was merely sleep deprived)

@dynamicworlds1 3 жыл бұрын

@@jonnunn4196 or someone decided they were too entitled to listen to signs put up to save lives. Far from the first time that's happened, unfortunately.

@johnanderson4576 3 жыл бұрын

Hello Simon, DC- 3 would be awesome to cover.

@mmatthews61687 3 жыл бұрын

If you Google map satellite view Beale AFB in CA, you can see some U2s on the tarmac along with some RQ-9s and KC-135s. I believe it even captured a U2 taking off on the runway. Pretty cool to see!

@okstateben 2 жыл бұрын

Keep up the good content!

@hm05090x 3 жыл бұрын

“ONE of MY other channels” absolute mad lad

@megaprojects9649 3 жыл бұрын

;)

@theshadowoftruth7561 3 жыл бұрын

One story I heard when I was at Beal AFB . at U2 lost it's engine around the Mississippi River. The Pilot called the base asking for directions on what to do. They replied back " Call us back when you cross the Rockies."

@ceeplusthree 3 жыл бұрын

An exaggeration of its considerable engine-out glide range.

@lesflynn4455 3 жыл бұрын

I totally dig the story of the U-2 recce aircraft. It's an amazing aircraft in several ways. I went down a U-2 rabbit hole last weekend, and it was entertaining. Simon's video however, contained a few amazing facts I didn't discover on my rabbit hole trip. Firstly, the airspeed window in which a U-2 can operate safely at 70K feet is an eyebrow raising notion. I'm guessing the pilot's eyes should be glued to the airspeed indicator at altitude, but that's impossible as they have to do so many other things at once. The other things which amazed me is that the imagery gear in a U-2 still uses film technology. That was totally unexpected in 2020-21. Also, the area that the imagery tech can cover at 70K feet. 250km in all directions is an incredibly vast area. Knowing that fact makes me realise why the U-2 is still such a valuable reconnaissance asset in 2021. A beautiful bird. May they fly for many more years.

@DosGringosRanch 3 жыл бұрын

Love your video especially the military videos.

@biteme3989 3 жыл бұрын

Hope you do the sr71 as well

@jonathanbeyer9514 3 жыл бұрын

I'd love to see an A380 video! I've seen several behind the scenes kinds of documentaries, but would love to see all the bits in one of your more comprehensive detailed features! (Apparently the wingtip curves we see on planes now were initially developed for the A380 as a way to increase lift on wings that needed to be within airport limits in wingspans? Something about moving the wingtip vortex' away from the actual lifting surface)

@CondeNastCruiser 2 жыл бұрын

Excellent episode! Please make one about the Erickson Aircrane ;)

@ragnabob 3 жыл бұрын

Lovely as always! A380, AN-225, C-5 or even the 747, all superprojects and very interesting

@joshuapatrick682 3 жыл бұрын

Simon Whistler’s beard is the only mega project I want to know about!!!

@Gigipretty64 3 жыл бұрын

It’s very full in this video.

@ronr6450 3 жыл бұрын

Perhaps for one of your other channels...Clarence "Kelly" Johnson. The designer of the U2, and a brilliant areonautical engineer.

@davidmarquardt2445 3 жыл бұрын

Yes it seems almost everything Johnson touched came out gold. The Lockheed Electra, the P-38 Lightning, one of the fastest, highest flying fighters of WW2, which also had tremendous range. And of course the U-2 and the SR-71. As his boss at Lockheed said once "I swear that Kelly can see air".

@lukehinkle9614 3 жыл бұрын

I love the U2 and am thankful I get to see it fly at least once a week. It is super loud as well. Definitely know when this guy is taking off.

@alternaterealitiesphotogra3748 3 жыл бұрын

When I was in the Air Force in the mid-80's, I was stationed at RAF Alconbury, and got to see the U-2 up close and personal. Watching one of them land was indeed a crazy thing to see.

@TheCornermonkey 3 жыл бұрын

As a former submariner I'd love to see your take on the Ohio Class SSBNs, and as an aviation enthusiast, a video on the SR-71 Blackbird. I got to sit in the cockpit of one as a young teen. Fascinating machines.

@Luke..luke..luke.. 3 жыл бұрын

You see these taking off all the time out in Cyprus.

@brantdw1968 3 жыл бұрын

Good video Simon....

@swlak516 4 ай бұрын

Really liked this episode

@ignitionfrn2223 3 жыл бұрын

0:35 - Chapter 1 - Phantom of the skies 2:20 - Chapter 2 - Post WWII 4:50 - Chapter 3 - Manufacturing 7:00 - Chapter 4 - The aircraft 12:15 - Chapter 5 - Early operations 14:30 - Chapter 6 - Back to the soviet union 15:35 - Chapter 7 - 1960s 18:40 - Chapter 8 - Post 1960s 19:45 - Chapter 9 - Twilight years

@pamelahomeyer748 3 жыл бұрын

The U2 has sound systems that are amazing and just as important as the photographs systems

@kennycabral2444 3 жыл бұрын

Awesome video! Had no idea that the U2 was still being used today. Would be really cool to see a video on the Horton HO 229. That also was a plane that was decades ahead of its time.

@ZachTate 3 жыл бұрын

My vote is for anything aviation or military! Love the new channel!

@singemfrc 3 жыл бұрын

I feel lucky that I'm close to the home base of the U-2, so I get to see them in the air occasionally, and air shows in the area will include U-2 demos. This video kinda makes it seem like a slower aircraft, but you should really see in person just how fast that thing climbs when it takes off, especially when not carrying any extra heavy sensors. It's amazing just how fast it leaves the ground and is completely out of sight.

@ChuckH2901 3 жыл бұрын

Now that a lot of information has been declassified about the Soviet Space program, it would be awesome to learn more about their successes.

@tobytaylor1454 3 жыл бұрын

Good show lad👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻think the Airbus story is interesting I suggest give it a go👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

@jameswingrove7421 2 жыл бұрын

I’ve always had an interest in the SEPECAT Jaguar, and the various different guises of the Panavia Tornado. Would love it if you covered those.

@SpacePatrollerLaser 3 жыл бұрын

As of the 1190's and maybe even now, under a different letter-number designation, that plane was being used after the retirement of the more flashy SR-71 "Blackbird" which designation was to be for a family of Mach 3 planes, including a fighter, which was actually the first of the "Blackbird"s to be flown at the 1964 Paris Air Show The reason why Powers was shot down is that his engine "flameed out" and he lost altitude and fell within Surface-to-Air missiles

@AstroDork 3 жыл бұрын

Love the channel... I have 1 or 2 suggestions for episodes 😊 Antonov 225, Blackbird, Bell X1 the sound barrier (including the British research link), X15, Hoover dam, Suez or Panama canal, Eiffell Tower, Nurburgring (nordschleife), Brunel's SS Great Britain, HMS Queen Elizabeth or Nimitz class aircraft carriers, I guess we have to have the Space Shuttle in there, I'd love to have a couple of episodes on the pre Apollo Mercury and Gemini missions (better than the shuttle), Pioneer 10/11/Voyager 1/2/Cassini, Hubble space telescope, James Web Telescope (not actually completed yet but so exciting), any amazing dam or bridge, Venice or Thames barrier.... Pffft that'll do for now 👍

@robertfarr9186 3 жыл бұрын

Another amazing video is of James May ( top gear/ the grand tour / drive tribe) flying in one of these. From donning the flight suit, through full flight (including how they eat food in a space suit) and landing.

@LMacNeill 3 жыл бұрын

Watching the auto-generated closed-captions, it's amazing how many times he says "U2" but the caption says "KZfaq." LOL!

@oscarmuffin4322 3 жыл бұрын

It's important to note that the stall speed at altitude is the indicated air speed, not the ground speed.

@johnathonhughes8563 3 жыл бұрын

Do all the planes! Love this channel!

@doncastor4807 3 жыл бұрын

Used to be stationed at a base with a U2 that took daily flights to monitor Cuba. Was awesome to watch it land. 2 S.P. cars would drive out on flight line and get under its wings as it rolled down the runway so they would tip into the ground.

@herbertkeithmiller 3 жыл бұрын

4:06 no Lockheed just knew they were damn good and like every corporation wanted a piece of the business.

@jaywalkersunite 3 жыл бұрын

>made in the past, and still in service today Given my understanding of linear time, I'd love to hear the alternative.

@TheCimbrianBull 3 жыл бұрын

*causality intensifies*

@confuzedpenguin9974 3 жыл бұрын

I was going to say ohh that sounds like me lol

@paulybassman7311 3 жыл бұрын

@simonwhistler Saunders Roe SR.53 Avro 730 TSR2 Avro Arrow Loving this channel... I watch business blaze when i need to be talked unconscious😂

@chicagopablo2 3 жыл бұрын

Oh, and no one called him Clarence. He was, and always remembered at Lockheed, as Kelly Johnson. And he led the team that designed the Blackbird.

@soaringvulture 3 жыл бұрын

And he designed the P-38 and he designed the Constellation and he designed...

@ChefofWar33 2 жыл бұрын

@@soaringvulture Basically hes a genius that designed the entire US military.

@fantasticalium 3 жыл бұрын

oh yeahhhh U2 Dragonlady Unrelated: But what about the rivalry between the YF-22 Raptor and the YF-23 Blackwidow II

@craigw1379 3 жыл бұрын

Great channel.

@lovebigblacccock3006 2 жыл бұрын

I love MEGA PROJECTS, BIOGRAPHICS, & GEOGRAPHICS. For military planes can you do one on the B-36 Peacemaker. I believe that would be an awesome plane to do. Thank You for your hard work at making so awesome educational videos

@dubiousragdid8628 3 жыл бұрын

Is my math off or is 1955-2020 only 65 years, not 75 like Simon says 😏

@MrZip420 3 жыл бұрын

it sure is 😂

@presidentbanana4536 3 жыл бұрын

Your math is right

@micheal49 2 жыл бұрын

British maths

@atodaso1668 2 жыл бұрын

I think development started in 1945

@happymeal5182 3 жыл бұрын

I'm drunk , wish i can remember this tomorrow morning.

@Gorilla_cookie 23 сағат бұрын

My dad was Chief Master Sargent James Vernon Hefner. He was the one in charge of the building, repair, and maintenance of the U2 aircraft. You can see him in documentaries working on top of the aircraft in the videos. He worked under Kelly Johnson.