[Shop-talk] Off topic, airplane stuff

[Michael Porter]

Mark J Bradakis wrote:
> I imagine some of you might enjoy this.
>
> http://www.wimp.com/breathtakingfootage/
>
>

Quite a view. I'm surprised the trainer version is as stable as it is at 
altitude.


Reminds of now five decades ago, when U-2s were being flown out of RAF 
Mildenhall in England.  In 1958, one of the pilots had an emergency and 
couldn't make it the last sixty miles or so and had to land at Greenham 
Common. Mildenhall sent down a crew to fix the plane and bring along 
take-off equipment. The runways had been extended well before that time 
to SAC standards, about 13,000 ft.  When ready to go, the pilot lined up 
about 30% of the way down the runway, started his takeoff roll and 
lifted off about 1500 ft later and immediately disappeared into the 
cloud cover.


The tower didn't hear anything from him for four or five minutes and 
began to wonder if he'd still had a problem.  Then he radioed, "I'm at 
140 [14,000 ft], just now over the end of the runway."


Show-off.  :)


Cheers.

-- 


Michael Porter
Roswell, NM


Never let anyone drive you crazy when you know it's within walking distance....