# 140 mph car chasing a U-2 **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussion\ **Created:** [September 9, 2016, 4:29am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/140-mph-car-chasing-a-u-2/95474 "2016-09-09T04:29:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![irlandes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b5e925/32.png) [@irlandes](https://community.cartalk.com/u/irlandes)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2016, 4:29am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/140-mph-car-chasing-a-u-2/95474/1 "2016-09-09T04:29:12Z")
> **[Video! The U-2 Dragon Lady Is Landed With The Help Of 140-Mph Chase Cars!](http://www.warhistoryonline.com/military-vehicle-news/land-the-u-2-dragon-lady-copy.html)** > > As you watch this video, you can see that landing a U-2 isn't an easy task to accomplish, the Landing is Accomplished With The Help Of 140-mph Chase Car! T This is a military page with an article about the U-2. When it lands, they have another pilot in a car chasing it down the runway at 100 mph to tell him the distance of his wing tips above the runway. The page says its a 140 mph car. I have more questions than answers. First what kind of car is that? Second, how do they coordinate things so the plane can land over a speeding car, or can that car accelerate so fast it can catch up? That doesn’t sound likely to me. Any ideas? ---
**Author:** ![Bugmenot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@Bugmenot](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Bugmenot)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2016, 5:30am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/140-mph-car-chasing-a-u-2/95474/2 "2016-09-09T05:30:43Z")
[Here’s an article](http://jalopnik.com/5537629/the-140-mph-chase-cars-of-the-us-air-force) with more about the chase cars and some more videos. ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2016, 12:59pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/140-mph-car-chasing-a-u-2/95474/3 "2016-09-09T12:59:27Z")
It is a Pontiac G8. V8 RWD and fast. ![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/2X/c/cd3ea4767e1e5126cae8a2b383dcf72d29cd11f7.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![circuitsmith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/circuitsmith/32/40376_2.png) [@circuitsmith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/circuitsmith)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2016, 1:04pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/140-mph-car-chasing-a-u-2/95474/4 "2016-09-09T13:04:43Z")
Seems to me it would be safer to have a passenger in the car communicate with the pilot so the driver can use both hands on the wheel and concentrate on driving. ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2016, 2:24pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/140-mph-car-chasing-a-u-2/95474/5 "2016-09-09T14:24:54Z")
Circuit, I have a feeling that that’s how it’s normally done. Paradoxically to its mission to fight wars and destroy enemies, the AF takes safety very seriously. ---
**Author:** ![circuitsmith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/circuitsmith/32/40376_2.png) [@circuitsmith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/circuitsmith)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2016, 2:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/140-mph-car-chasing-a-u-2/95474/6 "2016-09-09T14:39:15Z")
Safety is paramount. Like Patton said - let the other poor bastard die for his country. ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2016, 2:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/140-mph-car-chasing-a-u-2/95474/7 "2016-09-09T14:44:53Z")
Yup. A perfect man for the job that needed to be done. ---
**Author:** ![TwinTurbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8baadc/32.png) [@TwinTurbo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TwinTurbo)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2016, 3:18pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/140-mph-car-chasing-a-u-2/95474/8 "2016-09-09T15:18:35Z")
> Second, how do they coordinate things so the plane can land over a speeding car, or can that car accelerate so fast it can catch up? That doesn’t sound likely to me. Any ideas? You can see in Bugmenot’s link, the car is more or less perpendicular to the runway and starts going as the plane approaches. He accelerates to match speed as he curves toward and merges in behind the plane. ---
**Author:** ![PvtPublic](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/pvtpublic/32/13089_2.png) [@PvtPublic](https://community.cartalk.com/u/PvtPublic)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2016, 3:48pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/140-mph-car-chasing-a-u-2/95474/9 "2016-09-09T15:48:20Z")
The car doesn’t need to catch up or even get real close. Just stay close enough to see the wing tips. The car is accelerating as the plane is decelerating. ---
**Author:** ![irlandes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b5e925/32.png) [@irlandes](https://community.cartalk.com/u/irlandes)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2016, 7:53pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/140-mph-car-chasing-a-u-2/95474/10 "2016-09-09T19:53:28Z")
Great article, bugmenot. In fact, fantastic. All my questions answered and then some. As far as having two people in the car, maybe they do. But, the driver is allegedly a trained pilot. I have written on the Distracted threads that when I was young, I could handle three tasks at the same time. Reading; talking; and watching TV. Now in my 70’s I can only handle around 1.5 tasks which means in heavy traffic I ask people not to talk to me at length. A trained military pilot normally handles coordinates X; Y; and Z. Plus velocity and bank and roll and navigation; and a lot of other tasks all day flying. And, talking on the radio. Those who can’t do that probably do not even get into flight school. That may well be more than three tasks at the same time. The pilot driving that car has X and Y, velocity; and talking on the radio no bank; no roll, no navigation issues. Though it’s just my personal opinion, i can’t imagine a trained pilot needing a car co-pilot. ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2016, 8:23pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/140-mph-car-chasing-a-u-2/95474/11 "2016-09-09T20:23:10Z")
Great video. I was unaware that we still had U2s in service. It’s good to see. ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2016, 12:50am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/140-mph-car-chasing-a-u-2/95474/12 "2016-09-10T00:50:37Z")
I’m kind of surprised, as well Improving satellite surveillance technology and high maintenance costs . . . from what I understand . . . is what led to the SR-71 no longer being in service I suppose the U-2 might be cheaper to operate and maintain . . . ?! ---
**Author:** ![Barkydog](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/barkydog/32/2470_2.png) [@Barkydog](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Barkydog)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2016, 12:54am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/140-mph-car-chasing-a-u-2/95474/13 "2016-09-10T00:54:28Z")
Remember at Sac base f15 flying over at 450 mph, pulling a 180 putting on full afterburners and landing on the runway, what do we need a car for? ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2016, 12:55am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/140-mph-car-chasing-a-u-2/95474/14 "2016-09-10T00:55:58Z")
Much. But the SR-71 is the most beautiful piece of machinery I’ve ever seen in my life, or likely ever will. To watch one of those birds take off is downright thrilling. Just seeing one parked on the flightline sends chills down my spine. But, we should get back to cars. ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2016, 1:10am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/140-mph-car-chasing-a-u-2/95474/15 "2016-09-10T01:10:51Z")
For anybody in southern California . . . There’s an SR-71 at March air reserve base, as a “museum piece” At least there was one, a few years back You have to spend a few bucks, if you want to sit in the cockpit and have a picture taken ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2016, 1:19am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/140-mph-car-chasing-a-u-2/95474/16 "2016-09-10T01:19:53Z")
Jeeze. To think I was just in that area in August and was unaware of this. But you can bet I’ll keep it in the back of my mind for the next trip. And now, back to cars. ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2016, 1:24am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/140-mph-car-chasing-a-u-2/95474/17 "2016-09-10T01:24:51Z")
They also have a nice “Planes of fame” airshow ---
**Author:** ![keith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/keith/32/5518_2.png) [@keith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/keith)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2016, 1:58am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/140-mph-car-chasing-a-u-2/95474/18 "2016-09-10T01:58:57Z")
If you are really interested, read Operation Overflight written by Francis Gary Powers. > **[Amazon.com: Operation Overflight: A Memoir of the U-2 Incident (9781574884227): Francis Gary Powers, Curt Gentry: Books](https://www.amazon.com/Operation-Overflight-Memoir-U-2-Incident/dp/1574884220/ref=la_B001HCY95W_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1473472282&sr=1-1)** > > The true story that inspired the feature film Bridge of Spies In this new edition of his classic 1970 memoir about the notorious U-2 incident, pilot Francis Gary Powers reveals the full story of what ... One interesting tidbit, the plane that Powers was flying was U-215. It had crashed at NAS Atsugi, Japan earlier. In the control tower at the time was a young Marine Air Traffic Controller named Lee Harvey Oswald. ---
**Author:** ![ok4450](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ok4450](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ok4450)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2016, 3:47am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/140-mph-car-chasing-a-u-2/95474/19 "2016-09-10T03:47:28Z")
There’s an SR-71 on display at Hill AFB. What’s amazing is the plane’s large size and the cockpit would make a person of small stature feel claustrophobic. I was tempted to sit in it but figured I would embarass myself by getting stuck and not being able to get out. To keep it car related, they had the starting cart on display also. Two Buick 401 Nailhead V-8s nose to tail. I think the later variants may have used a pair of big block Chevys. ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2016, 11:49pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/140-mph-car-chasing-a-u-2/95474/20 "2016-09-10T23:49:37Z")
Actually, I’m more interested in climbing into the plane itself. I’m already intimately familiar with Gary Powers’ story. I’d also LOVE the opportunity to climb into a BUFF again, just for the memories, but have been unable in many years to find an opportunity. I know Grand Forks has one on display as a “gate guard” along with a KC-135, but haven’t had reason to go there for many years. I wouldn’t go that far just to that alone. [Next page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/140-mph-car-chasing-a-u-2/95474.md?page=2)