Blix says Iraq refusing U2 spy flights

HA'ARETZ ^ | January 20th, 2003

[FBD]

I don't know the story behind this B-1 getting fired at, but it's sure a scary pic.:

[1stFreedom]

I have a few theories on the pic of the B1 being shot at.

1. It's fake
2. It was taken by the wingman (they fly in pairs)
3. It was a test of the B1 under combat conditions
4. It's the real McCoy.

I remember seeing a video of American aircraft being fired upon in Afganistan. This missle passed right between two aircraft. I believe that the ECM we have on board the planes negates most of SAM's out there, at least the older stuff.

I hope that our ECM technology has gotten to the point of drastically minimizing the effectiveness of current missile technology.

I know that in the [mistake] of attacking Yogoslavia (or what ever it's called now) NATO lost 37 or so aircraft. So, even with ECM planes can get knocked out of the sky.

I just hope our technology is to the point that it's a rare ocassion when a plane is lost.

[IYAS9YAS]

No the U-2 was replaced with an updated version of itself called the TR-1. The SR-71 was designed for a completely different mission from what it had while it was still in use. The TR-1 is basically a big glider with a powerful engine. Last time I watched one take off, I could only see it for about 30 seconds until it was out of sight...heard it for another five minutes, though. The TR-1 is still in use by the military, the SR-71 has been officially retired from military use.

[stand watie]

IRAQ is REFUSING????

what drivel. must have been a slow news day!

FRee dixie,sw

[FBD]

Yugoslavia gave Iraqi military a good read on our bombing techniques, using decoys, etc.

Read this article posted at FR

[Sideshow Bob]

Top UN weapons inspector Hans Blix said on Monday Iraq had refused to allow reconnaissance flights by U2

I didn't know Bono had a pilot's license.

[Tommyjo]

"I know that in the [mistake] of attacking Yogoslavia (or what ever it's called now) NATO lost 37 or so aircraft. So, even with ECM planes can get knocked out of the sky."

I presume you mean unmanned aerial vehicles? The only manned aircraft losses to enemy action during 1999 (Operation Allied Force)were USAF F-117A, serial 82-0806 and USAF F-16CG, serial 88-0550. Both pilots were rescued within Serbia by Combat Search and Rescue teams.

[Tommyjo]

"The TR-1 is still in use by the military,"

All TR-1's built were redesignated U-2R's in 1991. These U-2R's have been re-engined and are now designated U-2S/U-2ST in the USAF. For specific pages on the U-2 and the history of the TR-1 variant go to the following link:

http://www.blackbirds.net/

[Dead Dog]

At risk of being a master of the obvious...I'm guessing they plan to stop them the same way Cuba did.

This means, either they are counting on us not risking a pilot, or they feel the data collected by a U2 would have worse repercussions then killing a US Airman.

This is a material breach the proves a further material breach. They can only pull this off because the UN and EU are running interference for them. I guess that is further proof the UN is harboring terrorists, and that Europe thinks it's interests are best served if we lose this war.

I'll quit preaching to the choir now.

[IYAS9YAS]

Thanks for the update. My job was reliant on this aircraft but I didn't get close to it. I did not know they had redisignated them.

I have pictures of them in flight at low altitude. Where I was stationed, they would test fly on occasion and they'd cut the motor and glide the last few miles in. Jumped out of my boots the first time the shadow went over me before realizing whose plane it was (close to the enemy).

These guys did wear spacesuit styled flight gear.

Almost got a ride in the support car (5.0 Mustang at the time, just replaced some 396 powered el caminos) for a take-off and landing one day. Missed a grand opportunity.

[ASA Vet]

[Centurion2000]

Do we have a plane called the U2? I thought Gary Powers got shot down in one of those 40 years ago.

That's What the UN is flying now ..... you think we'd trust them with a Blackbird ?? ;)

[Centurion2000]

I wonder what the Russians thought when they first saw a picture of it!

We lost.

[ARCADIA]

a cruising speed of Mach 5.5, top end at Mach 7. Service ceiling of 150,000 feet.

Forget the bombs, just throttle up, and drop the attitude down to a thousand.

[CapandBall]

We used an El Camino to chase them, U-2Rs arnt too good at taxing after landing, with their wingtips dragging and all...

The important part of this birds mission is EW: sigint, comint and elint, and that can tell you a whole lot more about what is what than photos can. Those wing pods dont carry fuel, and those little fins on her belly arnt cameras.

Oh yeah, they can be shot down, and Iraq has the SA-2s to do it.

[Republican Wildcat]

Sounds like the actions of a country trying to prove it is clean and innocent, eh?

[IYAS9YAS]

I do know they can be shot down. I also know they can break apart (a couple of years ago over Korea). I was a Korean linguist in the A.F.

It sounds like you worked the mechanics (a job I would have been much better suited for as I hated most of the time sitting on my butt with headphones on) of the operation.

Did get to fly on the Herky Birds out of Tucson, best dang aircraft I ever did ride on.

[IYAS9YAS]

Oh, I also witnessed what had to be the "hold my beer an' watch this" of the week award. They were having problems with the wing wheels releasing upon take-off. So, their solution??? Wait for it, it's really funny....

Two poor airmen, one at each wing wheel, holding on to them. The pilot gets the ok...then basically stands on it and the two poor dudes grab the wheels and duck and roll away from the aircraft. I think they figured out the problem in a hurry after that.

If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn't have beleived it to hear about it.

[CapandBall]

YOBOSAYO!, I was at Osan about this time in '96, you must have been Skivvy-9, right... Ka-Co-Ick I believe that bldg was called? Part of the 9th SRW... the BlackCats.

I was JAFCO (just a f**king contractor), and worked ground as well as airborne. That might have been my S/W you used on the ground station if you were a linguist.

[CapandBall]

I believe it about the wing-wheels. I worked on that platform around the world. I think the El Camino chaser was at Beale.

You guys (linguists) were the the most fun to go bar hopping with in Songtang, the Juicy Girls were always so suprised when a round-eye could understand what they said, especially when they had been talking to each other for 10 minutes, thinking they were having a private converation.