This is amazing video that I've never seen before. I'm posting the quote from my friend who sent me the link, along with the link itself. The lyrics to the music are a bit salty... maybe turn the sound down if your kids watch it. Here's what he said:

Can't help thinking "if only Wilbur and Orville could see this!"

This is a great video illustrating how difficult a U-2 is to land. The music I am sure was chosen by pilots and reflects their “love” for the Dragon Lady. I believe all videos are from the 9 th SRW at Beale AFB and most involved aircraft are trainer versions. FYI the lighter colored ones with the short nose are the trainer version of a “C” model which is what Gary Powers was flying. The last “C” models were retired in the late 80’s setting 15 time to climb and cruise altitude records in two different weight classes. The one I remember was zero to 50K in 6.5 minutes and then topping out above 70K. The old record to 50K was held by a twin engine bizjet at 25 minutes and there were no previous records above 50K. OBTW these were done with no special preparation or modification to the 30 year old airplane or engine.

U-2s Are Hard to Land
[youtube]http://youtu.be/eamnTyfkUBY[/youtube]

Thanks for sharing. I always wondered how the landings were completed without the outboard landing gear. Looks like nothing more than a controlled crash/ground loop.

I wonder how a U-2 pilot at an airline interview answers the question "Have you ever had an accident or incident?"

Too distracted from reading "Stuff"?

A friend witnessed a U2 landing at the local airport. He said that after it touched down and came to a stop, a couple of people from the chase vehicles put their weight on one of the wingtips to help it taxi. He took pictures of it. I seem to remember that particular model having wheels on the tips.

Actually, after watching the video again, I see they're midway down the wing. I guess they don't actually extend while landing though.

Great video.

I think they all have the 'pogo' wheel on the wingtips. It's a stick with a tire at the end. The male end of it fits into a receptacle on the wing, and is held in place when gravity causes the wing to flex downward at rest. When the wing starts to develop lift, it flexes upward, and the pogo falls off.

The plane has a bicycle landing gear, so as it slows down on landing rollout, it settles onto one wingtip. They have metal strikeplates to protect the wingtips from the inevitable runway contact.