U-2: All About America's Secret Spy Plane • FULL DOCUMENTARY | Forces TV
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- Опубликовано: 5 окт 2024
- Check out our long read on the U-2 👉stories.forces...
We have been given a rare glimpse inside the United States' Beale Air Force Base - home to America's secret U-2 spy planes since the 1970s. First developed for the CIA in the 1950s, the Cold War-era aircraft is still in service 60 years later. We meet the men and women who keep the U-2 flying, and the pilots who fly to the edge of space for a living.
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#U2 #Aircraft #Documentary
My son Ed Walby was a U-2 pilot, We are very proud of him and his career in th Air Force ❤️💜💙
We are to!!! Go Ed!
I want a tube of caffeinated apple pie. It's the most American thing I've ever heard of.
hamilton harper this is an under rated comment
desmund lighten not really...
Yeah they don't give pilots amphetamine 'pep pills' anymore. At least as far as I know.
@@Cepheid_ not since they dropped a hot one on some Canadians
Not more american than the 9-11 drink
A pint of budweiser with a shot of tenessee honey
Kinda like an irish carbomb
In the 50's, I was stationed at a U.S Air Force, radar site as a radar controller, primarily directing Air Defense fighters to their targets, the F-86D's back then. Like all radar sites we also provided identification and navigational aid for aircraft in our area. In addition to search radar, we also used radar that could measure altitude. During that time, the U2 was doing secret cross country flights. We were ordered to report their altitude as 50,000 ft., regardless of how high we tracked them. Just to verify U2 stats,, they flew over 70,000 ft.altitude. (No longer Classified)
(nO lOnGeR cLaSsIfIeD) 😂😭🤣🤣 cool story bro 🤣🤣 go back to sleep you're dreaming clown 🤡 😂
Happy to be a regular civilian with his feet on solid ground. Mad respect to the pilots who can execute such operations.
It’s fake bruh u really think that lame-o actor is a pilot 🤣🤣🤣🤣
@@josephgerace1966 people like you make me sad for the future of humanity
@@josephgerace1966Your head needs to be checked “Bruh”
My cousin just retired as a U-2 pilot, this documentary gave me more insight as to what he was doing. What a job.
Ask him how long it could hover without refueling
Neat to find out about relatives on RUclips, eh?
@@stephanobro20154 Rock me baby!
Cool
@@stephanobro20154 12 hours.
I grew up with my grandmother living across from Carmine Vito and I never even knew his story until right before he died. I still use the Pan Am parachute bag he gave me as a tent bag... Carmine Vito, for those who don't know, was the only U-2 pilot to fly over Moscow, at least as far as I know.
Grandfather or Grandmother?
"there's more guys wearing super bowl rings than those wearing [slaps his shoulder] U2 Solo Patches,," Ritefully so and ohh soo Awesum!
Remembering an early 70's trip to Saigon, and the Tarmac coated with U2's and Blackbirds! Took Pop Mechanics(?) and the RUSSIAN spy satellites to provide me with the PROOF/CLEARANCE RELIEF(?) To speak it out loud!
WHAT AN AMAZING PAIR OF SECRETS! The photos they took were AWESOME!
Guys, this documentary is the very best I've seen yet on the U2. Awesome. I really enjoyed the part where the pressure suits were demonstrated. Loved it all, bravo 👏👏👏
This is one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen.
I heard a story about a U-2 pilot that called to his base that he needed a straight in approach to land since he had run out of fuel. The tower asked if he needed a rescue or recovery started and he replied "no", just have a spot open because he couldn't try a missed approach. About 2 hours later he glided in and landed.
Amazing group of trained people flying the U2 , safe travels to all and God Bless you and your families for your service
I spent 28 years of my life serving in the U.S. Air Force and had the privilege of being stationed at Beale AFB 2008-2010 where the U2 flew almost every day (despite the information in this film that it did not between 2005-2014).
Thanks for your service. I served 26 years and was assigned to Beale to support the U2 mission for one year. I was there at a time they were announcing the retirement of the U2 program. We knew the end wasn’t happening yet. It was an awesome experience.
Thank You for Your missions... I was also serving in Yugoslav / Serbian army during few wars... It was interesting skirmish, don't You agree..? ;) ... We can repeat it, some time soon, because it's getting boring, and we are getting older... Let's dance again... Hmmm...?
A beautiful base. I grew up in the military and was active for 8 years. That was the first time I've ever seen cattle of base. It was cool hanging out with the aerospace physiologists and seeing everything in person. I took a lot of things for granted. That was not one of them.
That's great man and you're a true patriot to your country .
@@ivicamilosavljevic4706Wtf lol
Respect for anyone flying in such demanding conditions.
I'm civilian, and I didn't know either. As for how secret it is, they only tell us general things. WE still don't know how high it flies, its range, where it's based, or anything serious.
!
@@philipmann5317 I'm Russian, I know. We hit one. The maximum speed is 850 km / h, the maximum height is 22,000 meters. The MiG-21 max speed of 2,200 km/h , the ceiling of 19 000. Su-9 max speed 2200, a ceiling of 20 000. Yes, U2 was hard to get. But now our planes are flying faster and higher. Catch up with us.
@@crimeanhawk123 "catch up with us"? I don't think you will ever be able to catch up with the SR71 numbers, soooo...
@@philipmann5317 We actually do know where they are based. Beal AFB in Nor California is one place . You can watch them from the I-5 Freeway.
I lived on an Air Force base as a child. Every so often around 1am *something* took off that rattled all our windows. Dad's best guess *wink* was that it was a U-2. Kinda cool to have been rattled awake by covert ops as a child.
If you go to RAF Fairford you can see them landing on English soil. Fairford is home to the USAF heavy bombers and U2 fleet
whack
Awesome! I'll have to take a drive. How often do normally fly?
I remember when James May got to fly in this beauty. I've never seen him so moved by an object like that.
@Simon Dec thank you!
I am glad to said English SOIL , so respect our soil , its ENGLISH .
I,m watching this on Veterans Day and I am so impressed with the respect that the pilots show to the ground support crew. I,m very proud to be a veteran of the USAF and a Vietnam vet also.
God Bless America and all our Military members.
innocent children and murderer of people heroes. I wonder how you look at your children's faces after killing thousands of innocents with the bombs you dropped and returning home like a hero. I'm sure you slept very well...
@@newcan1701 I would suggest to you that you learn your history and then get back to me. Mao Killed over 45 million of his own people, Stalin killed 20 million of his own people, Pot killed 2 million of his own people, so how many of them were women and children?
@@racerd9669 I am an educated person who knows history very well. And to hell with the dictators you told me about. their massacres do not give anyone the right to do the same. Babies and children are the most innocent people in the world. Regardless of language, religion, race or belief, a child is innocent. No one can determine where they want to be born when they are born. A lucky child born in America, who died in Iraq, Syria, who was injured, whose arm and leg were cut off, who will experience lifelong trauma, is the only crime of being born in that region. Today, most of the war technology that takes thousands of lives in wars is American technology. You can think of how a person who is incapable of bringing bread home would be a threat to America 12000 km away. and all your strategies are based on this fiction. That's why there are endless wars, tears and suffering in the world. Thousands of American soldiers also die. for what? for the insatiable egos of politicians. God bless not only America but all mankind. May no child be left unattended, no tears, no pain. This is how the world will be lived.
BRILLIANT CHAP HERE!
Hats off to all, and I mean all the amazing professionals who contribute to a successful mission. Salute to you Airmen and Technicians involved.
And rest of us, that tried occasionally to shot You down...!? Nothing...? ;)
Kelly Johnson was a legend.
minglis81 Taylor
You should read “More than My Share of It All”. It’s his autobiography. Great stuff.
Absolutely!
You are a legend.
@@hayjacob666 "Skunk Works" is worth reading too, more about the engineering aspect but Kelly is integral to the story.
A legend and a visionary!
"In God We Trust, All Others We Monitor".
And get beat over and over and over! 20 years and still cant beat hill tribes armed with rifle RPGs in Afghanistan. What would they do if faced by a mighty force like China? Tiny N. Korea could, if need be wash the US forces real bad... if they lost they leave vast destruction on the enemy -USA no way US or its lackeys dare attack them!!!
@@richardkingston5238 Lol calm down commie, we served you awhile ago. :)
Because youre a bunch of sticky nose hypocrites!
All that money and technology yet you've had your asses handed to you for years by a bunch of farmers lmao
Do as we say, not as we do - Just the scourge of the world.
@@YouPousti not on the US side... but the United States military could’ve defeated the North relatively easily if they were authorized to use unrestricted tactical warfare
This is the single best produced U2 specific video that I have had the pleasure to watch. Nicely done with a great deal of information I had not seen or heard before. Highly recommend this documentary.
My son flies these....he loves the program...wants to be there for the duration of his term in the AF.
Magyarul írom ! A U2 a világ legjobbja !!!
Most beautifully simple aircraft design in aviation history.
It was interesting to learn that modern digital cameras still can't touch the resolution of the original camera system in use since the 50's. Remarkable aircraft!
@@systemsouth you can't destroy the film unless you destroy the plane but you can wipe the data without. Fine grain film will beat digital photography at that distance every time. Look at the enlargement s of scenery on the web. Copies of old film are near perfect. Digital starts to blur after relatively small enlargement.
There’s nothing like the V 503CW Hasselblad analog old fashioned film. There is a place for analog.
Old School Rules
14:20 I like how they treat everyone on team so well
I gotta get some of that caffeinated apple pie
My first time see a U-2 was on Osan AB, the Dragon Lady is unbelievably LOUD, and beautiful!
9:29, Damn is that the best pilot uniform or what?
Amazing support team..... very proud of all you do for these elect few pilots.... !!! You pilots are rock stars!!
Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra: "I have stunning 100x Space Zoom that can zoom far away!"
U-2 Spyplane: "Hold my wet film."
Well the U2 was obsolete when the Blackbird came around.
Having lived next door to Beale AFB for many years, it nevertheless astounds me when one silently fly’s low overhead then just as suddenly the penetrating vibrations of the craft’s engine stun one!
Respect to every pilot flying this bird.
Meanwhile Jeff Bezos calls himself an "astronaut"
My commute home goes right past Beale AFB. I see the U2s landing and taking off nearly every time I pass there in the afternoon.
I've been told it's mostly the trainer U2 planes, rather than ones taking off for actual missions.
The planes are active duty planes that are often deployed save for the double buble ones however it is almost all training missions flown out of beale.
Good ol Bobby Brown taught me how to fly in pilot training a couple years back. He is an amazing dude.
Every little flight you take .....
"If your friend were jumping off a cliff, would you do it too ? " My mom always asks me. lol
The scar on my leg says yes
some sayings go across countries and languages.. my parents always said the exact same thing in turkish
NO!!!! Bcuz there still a family waiting for me ( SORRY FRIEND)😢😭
I used to get "if so and so... jumped..bridge..would you?" And I'd say "Is it more than 80ft above the water cause if it is then the answer is NO but if it's less than 80ft then absolutely." As I've jumped from 85ft and that is my max
@@Truecrimecommunity f we tffff we
it's amazing that 1950s technology in photography still cannot be beaten by today's digital technology.
Excuse me?
@@DaveSCameron - You are excused... :) ... It can be beaten, but again, with few billion dollars stollen from American tax payers. And why, when You already have something working same thing pretty nice...
True, but digital photography is still relatively in it's infancy, give it time and it'll out perform any kind of chemical film, it's just a matter of additional development of the technology.
That's not ideal. Most chill dude ever
Caffeinated apple pie? I need that in my life! :-)
And we are told CAFFIENE is bad for us ,By the Governments and the medical general of america ?
caffeine isn’t inherently bad for you. Nobody in America says black coffee is bad for you. Caffeine isn’t just soda.
The U2Is my favorite aircraft
No tires but a microwave, alrighty
Moron smh
The tires are 100 kg at least
Well, the technological advantage is that it uses old tech. It's all analogue, so it can't be Jamed or have data corrupted by any frequency signal.
Other nations be like “write that down! WRITE THAT DOWN!”
Saw one once. It landed at Kimpo AB, Korea 1964, landed and was hastily put in a hanger. Probably had some kind of emergency. Never saw it again.
FAST EYES!
Awesome, Like the A-10, it does the job! And it stills keeps on going!!!!!!! Thanks for the awesome vid!
Love the fact the still use the old 50s Kodak film n print rollers, digital ain't all its cracked up to be that zoom option would be good for us model builders having to zoom in on such detailed parts to get it right!
I extend my deepest respect and admiration for the people involved in the program. Especially the pilots and their ground crews! I appreciate your sacrifices, your discipline and your dedication! I salute you! Thank you for defending our Freedom!
*It was first launched in 1955...imagine what exist in 2020*
@@six159nagito yea...or bcs they arent at war with a super power that they need to spy on but yea...
TR3B
I would have loved to fly this. I wanted to be a pilot when I was young I brought every aircraft magazine I could get my hands on. Unfortunately I lost my sight in one eye by an unfortunate accident and at those time's both eye's were needed. I understand that this plane would be quite difficult to land based on its high altitude design requires a different build of plane but I'm sure that the driver's/pilot's would see something no one else would see and that makes the job very cool.
Have you become a pilot since then?
You can become civilian pilot, for your own airplane, it's never too late...!!! Keep the fight..! - Considering The Lady, it's not hard to land... She has high glide ratio, so she can glide for miles, on its own. And, because there are only front and back wheels, with not laterals, during landing, balance is important, and also to keep weight divided as much as possible, at a same time to front and the back, because is extremely fragile aircraft (needed so, to be light enough for those altitudes...)
I wonder why so many crashed upon return to Beale AFB. It was fairly common to see crash sites with signs saying something like 'KEEP OUT' 'Lethal Force Authorized' and Security personnel on guard. The crash sites I saw there usually wasn't much of the plane left, I imagine most of the plane parts were scattered over miles.
I'm a military enthusiast and I had no idea this was still In service
Where the heck have you been? No military enthusiast can't NOT KNOW that this aircraft exists...
@@mtpinky007 he said he didn't know it was still in service not he didn't know it exists. And to be fair it's an understandable assumption that an aircraft designed in the '50s for spying on soviet Russia could be decommissioned by now. Plenty of other aircraft haven't made it anywhere near that long.
@@fluffyfirehydrant except for a lot of aircraft still in service today lol. F-16s, B-52 ect. But I agree, how be in the military and not know this plane still flys? Guess it can happen but damn, stop living under a rock
This same exact one flew today over my county ☺️
7:42 that bounce tho
awesome documentary on a legendary aircraft!
I'm surprised the Air Force didn't serve them lobsters in a tube. Pilots are the golden boys.
There's a reason why they are the golden boys.
The U2 is a perfect example of getting it right the first time.
....and getting it shot down twice
Well the current U2 is not the same as the original built in the 1950s. Those were retired in the 1970s. The current plane was designed and built in the 1980s as a new platform that addressed issue with the first generation.
@@cmanlovespancakes so it's like getting it right the second time
@@dataman6744 Kelly Johnson knew it was gonna get shot down in 1957, hence the A-12/SR-71, which was never shot down. I'm certain that if the A-12/SR overflew Russia, which it didn't in order to not start WWII, it would have outrun the SA-2 and the SA-5 at least until the 70's. And of course the MIG interceptors were at the time were useless in this mission because they couldn't even intercept the the SR by Murmansk and the Kamchatca peninsula.
Kelly Johnson had a knack for that!
The taking off of this plane is just beautiful.
I'm surprised at the paint coming off. Beautiful airplane, I was 11 yrs when Gary Powers was shot down. I was looking for the bomb shelter. We didn't have one I would use the basement and cower at the base of the nearest wall, the dirt around the foundation would help reduce radiation. I had about 10 - 12 hidey holes planned.
And..!? Did You survived at the end..? What happened..? - I didn't search for particular shelter during sprays of depleted uranium on my unit on Kosovo, because it was mostly on the dummy targets, but it was not far away... I am only wonder, what we all will do now, in the next arriving nuclear skirmish, that is really close... I think, there is no need for basements, it will be useless.. ;)
Thank you very much for your in depth documentary about the Lockeed U2/TR-1 high altitude spy plane 👍
Love the garmin 296 stuck on there with a rubber band lmao!
Support team is all diversity hires, it was the best they could come up with.
CaymanHillDesigns...Ya gotta hand it to a guy named Stephen Perry, a wonderful Brit. The inventor of the rubber band...Back in 1845.
Rubber Bands were the best thing since sliced bread. Until the plastic zip ties came to being.
@@tedhernandez2394 still can't beat a good rubber band. You can reuse them hundreds of times unlike the zip tie's once or twice.
Happy Veterans Day! Thanks for the flashbacks!!!
That was a great emotional moment to watch when the pilot salutes the entire ground crew goodbye before stepping into the cockpit.
Such a great display of aircraft manufacturing. For such an aircraft that could fly at the highest levels of horizon and do its job....hats off
wish i was one of these pilots just seeing the earth from that view would be awesome
I think one of the guys from "Mythbusters" went up in one (I think it was Adam). How would it be???
They fly so high they can see the curvature of the earth and the sky above is a deep indigo.
I’m happy to say i grew up in South Florida and for Sallys takeoff we were watching it live accross from the Launch Pad it was a proud moment for America and at the beach we watched from there were. Tourists from all over the globe watching and Cheering with us
"I talk to golfers" - Airforce pilot
me: this shopping trolley handles badly
U2 pilot: this plane handles badly at low altitudes
me: wanna swap? lol
At least the U2 only steers with the front wheels. Unlike the 4 wheel independently steering wheels of an English shopping cart. For the life of me I cannot understand why the Brits insist on their loony design of shopping carts and their airport carts are even worse if that's at all possible.
U2 super magnific aeroplane 👌👍💎💎💎💎💎💎💎💎💎💎🤩🤩
If I were the president of USA I definitely would have invested the money on the SR-71. I just love that bird...
Mahee Jamant
They have the SR72,
James May did a video on the U2 too. That video was pretty good. Rather emotional video
WOW! THIS IS AMAZING!!!
The U2 and analog film still the best.
"We dont just take S K R U B S" Damn ok then
Skrubs was originally a military term for inexperienced people
@@RainbowManification Skrubs was actually originally used, starting in the 1500s, as slang for ann "insignificant or contemptible person". It was used to denigrate prostitutes and even Black people for a time. In the late 1800s, scrub was being used by athletes to deride inferior opponents. The term derives from a form of shrub, like a small, insignificant plant.
RAF WW2 Eleanor Roosevelt visited U.K. East Anglia, and saw the fantastic cameras fitted to PR Spitfires and the amazing results they gave.
0:39 when you have 3 stars and steal a plane in gta
lmaoo
I didn't realize these were still being used, but I watched the entire video and they explained nicely why it is towards the end.
Awesome ! For those who lost their lives in the cause of freedom my sincere condolences
Some planes are a breeze to fly, then there was the U2. Fragile, forced to fly in a tight envelope speed-wise, it was incredibly stressful and trying on a pilot forced to conduct incredibly long flights with no relief. My hats off to them...
Long live the U2 ! May God bless the pilot’s and command -support staff .
Altitude records for this plane?
I've seen 70,000 feet published as "typical mission" altitude. But have they ever revealed it's true capability in this area?
Rumors of 90,000 feet and higher used to circulate.
That's deemed classified, above our pay grade.
Some 33.000 meters are easily achievable .. it is nice that is glider, so can loiter for a long time in small areas of interest...not as SR-71, fly 3 hours, take photos of that area, "click,click,click..." - too late, we passed away...go home for 3 hours... Boring
Kelly Johnson doesn't get the recognition he deserves for all the work he did for this nation. He gets credit, but not nearly enough imo. The guy was a genius.
I used to scan large film for the government and have over 20 years of high level experience in both traditional film photography and digital. You'd be amazed at the sharpness of the image that you get from a large piece of film like that with super high end lenses.
Dones and UAV' s can be hacked.
The pilot can't be.
Brilliant video
The U2 is my favorite aircraft
And, a half decent band.
steve
Steve Skouson I like their music. Not a fan of Bono, however.
I would love to drive the 'chase car'.
14:18 onwards FREEDOM OVERLOAD! :D very different to us humble brits... I have to admit I am slightly jealous ;p
All the people and pilots are realy nice soportive down to earth people I've seen in this program from documentaries I saw
Lol, the rubber bands in the cockpit at 11:22
Whatever gets the job done!! Resourcefulness!
They built U2s in the building I work in. Long time local residents still refer to it as "the secret building".
11:57 OMG, that's Seonkyoung's husband, Mr. Longest!!! His wife is running a cooking channel here on RUclips and she is a wonderful cook and a teacher alike.
Very interesting! Great watch!
Wow. What an amazing video about a most incredible aircraft and program. All the more incredible because of its age, and the fact that the people who rely on the imagery ("wet film" cameras that have superior resolution to digital, if you can believe that) won't let the program die or be replaced by drones. Simply amazing, and well done.
That really takes guts. Modern surface to air systems can easily take one out.
Yes but no one would risk it
WOW, MODERN, in 58?
18:00 . Film beats digital. YAY for us old folks!
Crazy think this is right down the road from me and i get to see them every day.
7:00 pretty awesome pilots do
Tried the beef once. It's like very thick gravy with bits in!
I really want to fly this plane and I’m still a kid so I might make it...
You won't... Because you said you "might". You left yourself a shred of doubt.
@@magicmaker15 lmao why so philosophical
I wish you the best of luck
Thank you
I remember these based at RAF Alconbury, amazing planes and very loud. Being local i used to love watching them take--off with a massive RARRRR!!!!!
Stationed there 85 - 88 lived in Sawtry, loved every minute of it!
My father was stationed with the U-2 at Alconbury (87-89). I loved it there but the memories are fading. I still remember the F-5 outside the gate though.
@@Rmanaseri The F-5 is still out front the old main gate you will be pleased to know.
The rumurs say that this plane also flew from "Bodo" airport in Norway, anyone out there who have more info, on this ?
u2's max cieling is 80000 feet.. the edge of space is 327360 FEET.. so this guys video is complete bs...
@@harleyme3163 you are technically correct about the accepted boundary of space when dealing with spacecraft. It is a bit of poetic license to call around 100,000’ the edge of space. Authors do it all the time with SR-71 stories, because at that altitude the sky is turning black and air breathing jets are at their limit. So in that sense, it is the edge of space to the average guy on the street.
Recently I had read (in russian) the memoirs by cpt. Evgeniy "Eugene" Ivanov (RIP) - former GRU officer that served in Norway between 12/1953-1959 as one of assistants to soviet Naval Attaché (typical job of mil. Intl officer). Later, in his 2nd foreign assignment 1960-63 , this talented man was send to London ,also to the same position, and got the fame as one of the key figures in Profumo affair. The book was edited with additions by renowned author Gennady Sokolov.
Besides the existence of U-2 was known to KGB/GRU almost from the beginning, that what he wrote:
KGB recruited some norwegian technician Nielsen, who worked at Bodo AB and gave info about U-2 flies to russians.
USAF & CIA had part of "1010" detachment in Bodo AB between 1956-60. Actually, it was extreme dumb and naive to run covert missions from AF base that lays in civil town borders.
In one of his visits to Bodo, in '56, cap.-ltn Ivanov gave exceptional payment to hotel admin and got 4th floor room with windows watching on airfield. From the room he started filming AFB activity and Sabers flies on movie camera with telescopic lens. ))Suddenly he sow a fresh one long winged and definitely recognizable Big Black Plane being rolled out a hangar at the middle of a day! Such a dumb yanks! So neglect attitude for the field security !!! ;D Ivanov changed lens to big & powerful and filmed that U2. Later at the day, he pictured naval base, and after supper came to local pub- he knew, brits &yanks have a habit after workday go there and boozed up, discuss their job.. Our swift sailor, sat for a while in pub and saw the AF colonel goes to bartender and forgets some secret papers on the table…:-D Such a lucky day!
@@allwright5632 Thanks for a very good answer.
ALL WRight interesting stuff, thanks for sharing
That "Show Trial" of Francis Gary Powers was just that. The Russians pooped their pants. The Americans rocked back then and they still do now. Bless the USAF "ANGELS"!!