NASA U-2/ER-2 at CEF (Pix) 7/2

[SengaB]

Greetings, I went to CEF today to get a shot of NASA's U-2/ER-2. Built in 1952. It flew for the Air Force as 52-1576 now for NASA as N809NA. It arrived Monday evening from EDW. Today it flew CEF to CEF for about 3 hours. It was a very memorable experience to see this aircraft in action. I must say that it was screaming pretty loudly as it flew by. As it departed out the pilot was getting his instructions to climb through 40,000ft for 60,000ft! Not something you hear everyday- especially within 10 mins!

Also several C-5s were doing touch and goes at CEF. Performing several types of landings, highspeed flybys steep turns and landing configurations. On the first C-5 shot this aircraft made an emergency landing on runway 23 wich resulted in the U-2 circling for a bit and then landing onrunway 33 and almost causing me to miss the U-2 arrival and I was expecting a runway 23 approach.

After getting back home I dumped the card onto the PC and headed down to JFK to shoot the Air Comet A340-300 that I missed last week.
Thanks Tom, Bill for the assistance with getting the U-2!











The Kam Air 767-200 was in the exact position it was yesterday when I was at CEF.


Senga

[njgtr82]

Wow, awesome catch Senga and great shots. Thats a very tuff plane to get.

Bill

[Mateo]

As usual, Senga wins.

[nikon50bigma]

How often does that Nasa U2 pass by there?
Great catches!

[Derf]

As usual, Senga wins.

But Senga Always wins!!!! Was this a suprise to you?
HOLY CRAP SENGA..... You are going to have to duct tape your camera to a shuttle wing to top that! BRAVO :borat:

[T-Bird76]

Wow amazing Senga! Dam I need a job like your's where I have a schedule to shoot like that! Nice stuff.

[NIKV69]

Great stuff Senga. It was also good to finally get to shoot with you yesterday. Sorry for having to leave and not stay. Had a dinner thing that was pretty important.

[adam613]

You are going to have to duct tape your camera to a shuttle wing to top that!

Don't give him any ideas! :shock:

Great catch, as usual...

[SengaB]

THANKS :)
I am glad it worked out. Another fantastic aircraft for my collection!
It was Nasty Hot out there too with lots of painful sun. But it payed off in the end.
Senga

[Tom_Turner]

That KAM Air has a decent livery - Wonder if it'll ever pay JFK a visit.

Great work on the U-2 - now theres something we don't see everyday... :D

Tom

[SengaB]

THANKS Tom :)
We will see. Maybe when things settle down over there then we might.

Yes that U-2 is a hard one to get. Most of those unusual NASA aircraft fly only from EDW-EDW. If you are lucky it will hit a few other airports in CA. and EFD too once in a while.

Senga

[Chris102]

Great shots Senga! You don't see many of the NASA U-2. :borat:

[SengaB]

Thanks Chris, Thats true. Next year I will go to JSOH Airshow and get the Air Force one.
Senga

[Matt Molnar]

Is the U-2 deploying its reverser before landing?

[moose135]

Is the U-2 deploying its reverser before landing?

It doesn't have a reverser - those are speed brakes you see deployed on the sides of the aft fuselage. It's not uncommon on some military jets - the added drag requires a higher power setting to maintain approach speed, so if you need go around, you don't have as long a spool-up time for the engine(s).