Camaros help U-2 spy planes land, replacing Pontiac G8

[Syclone478]

Who'da thunk it?

Of note, other than Ford Mustang GTs in the 1980s, it looks like the Air Force has chosen high performance GM vehicles for the job.

New Camaros tear down runway to help U-2 spy planes land

The Air Force is in the midst of swapping out the fleet of high-speed sport cars that chase down its sinister-looking black spy planes at breakneck speeds.

For more than 50 years, the chase cars have been critical to the high-flying U-2’s mission.

The jets have such long wingspans -- 105 feet -- that it's difficult for pilots to take off or land without people on the ground telling them about wing angles and clearance. So a pilot in the chase car radios to the pilot in the cockpit and lets him or her know how things look.

[...]

The sports cars have to be in top shape to hurtle forward from a standstill to chase down the ominous U-2. Now the Air Force has opted for the new 400 horsepower V-8 Chevrolet Camaro SS to replace its fleet of Pontiac GTOs and Pontiac G8 GTs.

[...]

The Air Force said all the vehicles are mechanically stock. They are outfitted with radios to allow communication with aircraft.

[...]

To become a U-2 pilot, you must also take a course that teaches you how to maintain high-performance cars at top speeds, the Air Force said.

[...]

The Air Force has a fleet of 33 U-2s and about 20 chase cars located across the globe.

[...]

In the 1950s and '60s, U-2s were slow, so the Air Force could use old work trucks. But the military used El Caminos in the 1970s and 1980s. Starting in the 1990s, GTOs, G8s and Camaros took over as chase cars. The newest Camaros are being swapped in today.

For further story details, follow this link... Los Angeles Times: U-2 chase cars
For historic U-2 chase car photos, follow this link... Los Angeles Times: photos of U-2 chase cars

[BlackGTP]

Now that would make an awesome commercial!

[chinamonty]

Holden will be impressed!

[PHAT-JAY]

thats actually been posted like a few times, the used GTO's, Camaros, and few G8s if I remember correctly from the time it was posted last. Good stuff though.

[chinamonty]

Chev - so deep we help them fly high!

[mmciau]

They can be seen in this clip with James May in the U2.

[smithb]

I was deployed with them during OIF/OEF and got to ride in the chase car. It was pretty cool. Back in 04 they still had the old body style Camaros. I asked them if they were going to switch to Mustangs since the Camaros were discontinued, but he just said he didn't know. I'm not sure why they have always gone with GM, but I am glad they have.

[bone]

400 hp. I guess some pilots don't know how to drive a standard shift.

[demonspeed]

400 hp. I guess some pilots don't know how to drive a standard shift.

I'd presume they have more important things to be concentrating on and/or using that right hand for

[V8GMT360 Guy]

They can be seen in this clip with James May in the U2.

That's exactly the clip I thought of when I saw the article title. I remembered Cpt. Slow commenting about their choice of the GTO/Monaro as a chase car.

[Al465]

Now that would make an awesome commercial!

n'

Good idea, but I don't think GM's ad dept is smart enough to pick up on this.

[Cajun G8]

Where does one purchase the cars being replaced (ie G8)?

[Smaart Aas Saabr]

why replace them so often? The cars probably have 10 000 miles on them after 5 years...

[Henry442]

Where does one purchase the cars being replaced (ie G8)?

Exactly what I was thinking. Could probably get a good deal on a GTO

[MisterMe]

Memories. The U-2 is also flown by NASA. The NASA version is known as the ER-2. The NASA version is also painted white rather than the military black. The NASA planes are flown by Lockheed contract pilots. These are older veteran pilots who have the skills to land the planes by themselves. The Air Force pilots are younger and less experienced. They require a spotter in the chase vehicle to talk the pilot down that last few inches. The article only hints at the purpose of the chase vehicle. It is to carry the spotter.

One other thing. Whether flown by the Air Force or NASA, the U-2/ER-2 has bicycle gear. This is to say that its built-in landing gear are just two inline wheels. The bicycle gear work fine while the plane is moving. If it stops, the plane will tip to one side and rest on one of its wing tips. For slow motion, maintenance, or refueling, the U-2/ER-2 has removable outrigger gear attached near each wing tip. These are released and dropped on the runway before takeoff. After landing, a ground crewman must catch a wingtip in hand and then attach the outrigger gear.