Ultimate joy ride?

[dunlopdangler]

Fasten your seat belt for a fantastic ride.

 

This video is a once in a lifetime experience of a British civilian getting

 

a flight at over 70,000 ft. in a U-2 spy plane. Please note at the take-off

 

the assist wheels on the outer edges of the wings which drop off upon

 

take-off. The wings are so long that they need temporary support until

 

lift-off. What is not shown is at the landing the plane actually slows to a

 

small enough speed that two guys are actually able to grab the wing tips and

 

put those assist wheels back on.

 

The civilian getting the ride is the host of the car show Top Gear on BBC (James May)

 

shown through Europe at 9:00 pm last Sunday night in Belgium. The views are

 

spectacular as the U-2 flies at altitudes which constitute "SPACE." We will more than likely see this in the new season of Top Gear on the Nine network, enjoy the ride in the meantime...

 

 

 

Use your full screen and sound as this is a high-quality film clip, 10

 

minutes long.

 

 

 

http://www.wimp.com/breathtakingfootage/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest sirius]

Finally someone has used the word "absolutely" in a sentence that truly is applicable. I'm lost for words.

 

 

[pudestcon]

Great clip DD,

 

Thank you for bringing it to my computer screen:laugh:

 

 

[turboplanner]

There's some U Tube footage of these aircraft coming unstuck on landing - it appears very difficult to co-ordinate the aircraft with the wheels and ensure an uneventful landing.

 

 

[Admin]

Guys, if it is of any help it has been in the Video Library for the last few months:

 

http://www.recreationalflying.com/forum/vbtube_show.php?tubeid=351#watch

 

 

[dunlopdangler]

Sorry Ian, That was emailed to me after it was aired (again, I guess) last week so I thought I would share it with you guys as well...pays to check the video library here as I hadn't seen it prior.. ;)

 

 

[Admin]

DD, no my apologies as it was the first post I made after getting up so I must have been still asleep and worded it wrong - I just trying to say that it is in the Video Library as a link for others as well

 

 

[Guest ozzie]

don't ya just hate James May. :)

 

 

[flying dog]

Hey, they've only topped me by 5,000 feet.

 

I've been to 65,000 feet (FL 6500 - right?)

 

Yeah, the view is terrific.

 

 

[GraemeK]

FL650 I hope - unless you're with NASA :)

 

Great vid DD :thumb_up:

 

 

[flying dog]

Yeah, oops.

 

One day I hope to get the vid' to digital.

 

 

[dazza 38]

HI skydog,were you in a F111, you would be close to that height.

 

 

[flying dog]

(sky dog?)

 

Nah, I was in the queen of the skies.

 

The Concord!

 

Joy flight!