BeechTalk - BT - What Do U-2 Pilots Eat?

Username Protected · **Posted:** 21 Aug 2015, 09:25

http://aviationweek.com/blog/what-do-sp ... 05e3b8a661

I am curious about the Spicy Zapplesauce.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 21 Aug 2015, 10:14

Username Protected wrote:

http://aviationweek.com/blog/what-do-spy-plane-pilots-eat?NL=AW-05&Issue=AW-05_20150821_AW-05_7&sfvc4enews=42&cl=article_3&utm_rid=CPEN1000001204810&utm_campaign=3561&utm_medium=email&elq2=696e1969ba874eb8973e9305e3b8a661

I am curious about the Spicy Zapplesauce.

When I took the altitude chamber ride at Beale they gave us a tour of the U2 pilots' facilities. The specialized food they eat is not limited to the food on board, which as described is liquid. They also prepare some days in advance of a long flight by eating what was described as a "low residue" diet. Yum.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 21 Aug 2015, 14:41

The tube food is basically like Gerber's baby food. Same consistency. I never ate during my flights. I did at first, applesauce, but found the sugar intake made me sleepy about an hour or so later. So I just stopped eating.

Heating tube food had its own hazards. The tube was placed down into the heater where it was electrically heated for 5 minutes. However, sometimes the timer broke and did not turn off the heater. When this happened, the tube food continued to heat until the water was turned to steam and there commenced an explosion of food. You now had slimy food all over your suit and the inside of the cockpit and invariably got it on your gloves which only made matters worse.

Before flight we had a high protein, low residue breakfast, usually steak and eggs. This was important as there is no provision to accommodate solid waste while in flight. In our Heritage Room (otherwise known as the bar) we have hanging, framed lists of when each pilot first soloed, those with over 1,000 hours in the Deuce, those with Flame Out Landings (called the Silent Birdmen). We also have one nobody wants to get on, The Strato Sh....rs Club. There are times when nature calls, no matter how much one might have done to avoid the situation. When that happens, you can't just come down and land. First of all, usually where we fly, coming down to land might not be the best thing to do. Also, it takes around an hour to get down, so the problem has already manifested itself. The list of those on it is not long, but it isn't short either. One driver is on there twice.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 21 Aug 2015, 16:25

Thanks for relaying your first hand experience Stephen! I figured what was described as "low residue" couldn't be good (it was left to my imagination), but steak and eggs doesn't sound that bad...

A very interesting machine to operate.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 21 Aug 2015, 17:33

Username Protected wrote:

One driver is on there twice.

The deuce deuce in the Deuce award.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 21 Aug 2015, 17:47

Username Protected wrote:

The tube food is basically like Gerber's baby food. Same consistency. I never ate during my flights. I did at first, applesauce, but found the sugar intake made me sleepy about an hour or so later. So I just stopped eating.

Heating tube food had its own hazards. The tube was placed down into the heater where it was electrically heated for 5 minutes. However, sometimes the timer broke and did not turn off the heater. When this happened, the tube food continued to heat until the water was turned to steam and there commenced an explosion of food. You now had slimy food all over your suit and the inside of the cockpit and invariably got it on your gloves which only made matters worse.

Before flight we had a high protein, low residue breakfast, usually steak and eggs. This was important as there is no provision to accommodate solid waste while in flight. In our Heritage Room (otherwise known as the bar) we have hanging, framed lists of when each pilot first soloed, those with over 1,000 hours in the Deuce, those with Flame Out Landings (called the Silent Birdmen). We also have one nobody wants to get on, The Strato Sh....rs Club. There are times when nature calls, no matter how much one might have done to avoid the situation. When that happens, you can't just come down and land. First of all, usually where we fly, coming down to land might not be the best thing to do. Also, it takes around an hour to get down, so the problem has already manifested itself. The list of those on it is not long, but it isn't short either. One driver is on there twice.

That military flying sounds pretty glamorous.

Thanks to you and your mates for your service. :thumbup:

Username Protected · **Posted:** 21 Aug 2015, 21:07

Username Protected wrote:

The tube food is basically like Gerber's baby food. Same consistency. I never ate during my flights. I did at first, applesauce, but found the sugar intake made me sleepy about an hour or so later. So I just stopped eating.

Heating tube food had its own hazards. The tube was placed down into the heater where it was electrically heated for 5 minutes. However, sometimes the timer broke and did not turn off the heater. When this happened, the tube food continued to heat until the water was turned to steam and there commenced an explosion of food. You now had slimy food all over your suit and the inside of the cockpit and invariably got it on your gloves which only made matters worse.

Before flight we had a high protein, low residue breakfast, usually steak and eggs. This was important as there is no provision to accommodate solid waste while in flight. In our Heritage Room (otherwise known as the bar) we have hanging, framed lists of when each pilot first soloed, those with over 1,000 hours in the Deuce, those with Flame Out Landings (called the Silent Birdmen). We also have one nobody wants to get on, The Strato Sh....rs Club. There are times when nature calls, no matter how much one might have done to avoid the situation. When that happens, you can't just come down and land. First of all, usually where we fly, coming down to land might not be the best thing to do. Also, it takes around an hour to get down, so the problem has already manifested itself. The list of those on it is not long, but it isn't short either. One driver is on there twice.

That military flying sounds pretty glamorous.

Thanks to you and your mates for your service. :thumbup:

Username Protected · **Posted:** 21 Aug 2015, 21:08

Username Protected wrote:

Thanks for relaying your first hand experience Stephen! I figured what was described as "low residue" couldn't be good (it was left to my imagination), but steak and eggs doesn't sound that bad...

A very interesting machine to operate.

It was better than having to work.