U2 at Utapao, Thailand

1.   This attached photo is compliments of Jack Braine, one of many terrific USAF C-130 crew chiefs out of CCK Taiwan who spent many tours at Vietnam and Thailand airbases keeping the Herky’s humming and looking good. Here Jack captured a Lockheed U2 high altitude recon aircraft taxiing with small outboard wing training wheels (pogos) at Utapao Airbase, Thailand – 1971. The U2 single engine jet design incorporated very long glider-like wings giving it a huge weight-to-lift ratio allowing climbs to 70,000 feet so as to avoid ground air defenses. The aircraft could takeoff in a very short distance at 70 mph … the combo of oversized wings and powerful jet engine allowed it to climb near vertical once airborne. The U2 had only two centerline landing gear to save weight … the out-rigged pogos would fall off the plane after takeoff. Upon landing (and without the pogos) when speed decreased, one of the long wings would drop to the ground protected by a small skid on the wing tips. The design also made the U2 extremely difficult to fly, and had a stall speed only 5-10 mph below its maximum speed at high altitude. Landing was very difficult as the wings had to be fully stalled to touch down given ground effect. During landing souped up, high speed chase vehicles (El Camino for one) driven by another U2 pilot would help guide the aircraft to a safe touchdown calling out height above ground over the radio.