U2 Viewfinder at 70,000 Feet
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- čas přidán 24. 08. 2020
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The U-2 spy plane carries such an effective camera that pilots believe it can read a newspaper’s headlines from the air. Even 60 years after its first flight, the aircraft still carries a giant wet-film camera with nearly two-miles of film.
This picture shows the cockpit viewfinder in an ER-2 plane, operated by NASA. The airplane, a version of the U-2 used for scientific research, was capable of looking at a controlled fire burning near Flagstaff, Arizona, from nearly 70,000 feet. Such a powerful camera has not only come handy for military missions. It has also been useful for researching climate change and flying over hurricanes...
To those of you wondering why the U-2 still uses these giant large format roll film cameras: There is no digital technology that can hit the sweetspot of resolution + target area size that is anywhere nearly as cost effective and efficient as this solution. In a 12 hour flight, this way, a single U2 can map the entirety of a country ( about 200.000 sqm) in sufficient resolution to be militarily useful. While digital imaging systems are capable of this as well, to do so, the sheer volume of data produced would be totally overwhelming and thus impractical. The films used in these imaging systems can be scanned at relatively low resolutions relatively fast and if anything of interest pops out you can scan the whole resolution. This way you maintain a data efficient, cost efficient and field proven imaging system for large area aerial reconnaissance. Just because its film doesn´t mean its useless technology. If you have any more questions regarding that matter, just ask in the comments and i´ll do my best to give a good answer.
Is the final full resolution higher with film?
@@itsreallyjustmehere611 I´m not sure what you mean with final resolution. The films used here have a very high resolution that can either be scanned at its full resolution or at lower resolutions which speeds up the process. The resolution of the negative stays the same, just the scan is variable. The film most likely used here is Kodak AERECON High Altitude Film 3409 which has a resolution of 630 line pairs per mm which is extremely high. It is difficult to translate this into megapixels, but the highest resolving color negative film on the market for general photography, Ektar 100 can do 100 line pairs per mm, which on a 6x7cm negative can be scanned to upwards of 120 megapixels. So if you have an even larger image area as in this case with a film that resolves six times that of Ektar 100... a lot of resolution.
How about redundancy? Are multiple film rolls used to cover the same area in the a single flight path for backup?
Will these films later be subjected to machine learning & AI for better analysis?
@@eustache_dauger no, there is no need for redundancy. The system is pretty much what you would call mature technology. It's easy to use and if used correctly almost idiot proof. A big plus us the archival property of the film: you can pretty much store it for 200 to 300 years without any issue. If you need a copy you can make duplicates afterwards. But in camera, there is absolutely no need for redundancy.
@@eustache_dauger regarding the machine learning part: The negatives can be scanned and then pretty much can be used like any other digital image. What exactly they do with it though I don't know. The advantage though is that the film itself has enourmous resolution at no data cost. So, if I'd use machine learning I'd feed an AI with low volume low res overview scans and then have it determine the areas to be scanned at full resolution.
That blows my mind the U2 and theB52 bomber were built and used from early 1950s and upgraded and used to this day in 2020.
Also that the U2 was designed and first flown closer to the Wright brothers first flight than to today.
My dad worked at Rockwell and McDonald Douglas
And help build the b1 bomber parts
Can you imagine what we have now that we don’t know about?
The current U-2S was originally built in 1967-1968 as the U-2R and from 1980-1989 as the TR-1. All were upgraded with the GE powerplant in the mid 90s as the U-2S. The U-2S is significantly larger than the ones built in the 50s and modified through the 60s (originally U-2As and U-2Cs). Developed from those early models, but not nearly the same airframes. I get the point and it is impressive though. Even the fuels have changed through the years. Originally it was LF-1, which people joked that it meant "lighter fluid." During those early years there was a nationwide shortage of bug repellant as much of what was needed for the sprays were required for the U-2's fuel to keep it thermally stable. When I was working the U-2 program in the 90s, we were using JPTS. Since then, I believe that's changed as well to a variation of JP-8 that is more thermally stable, but much cheaper than JPTS. The U-2 has a phenomenal service history.
Control Center: “How’s it going up there? Are you getting the pictures?”
U2: “I still haven’t found what I’m looking for...”
Damm Bro
Best comment of the day... and possibly the week. Have a good one!
Thx for the great laugh.
I heard the lyric as I was watching and thought: I wonder if anybody else...
lol
The U-2 has only one enemy
*Jamsheed the RPG God-Boss*
god tier reference.
??
@@Wunderwaffles-nz1bh Go watch Jamsheed the RPG God video, then come back here.
HOLLYWOOD CINEMA! HOLLYWOOD CINEMA!
Good thing he is on our side
The U-2 has one of the more interesting callsign, The Dragon Lady
It's real Callsign is XRAY, for nasa Er-2 it's just NASA809.
Uwu
NATO reporting name
The furries are shaking right now.
I had a probation officer nicknamed that.
She had an old school banner across the wall that said it with a green dragon on each end.
The fact that this platform is still actively used 60 years later is amazing. It also makes you wonder what military technology exists today that the public doesn’t know about, given most of the platform’s tech is 6+ decades old.
NASA has a couple of older high altitude research aircraft, re-engined Martin Canberra aircraft with extended wings and modified for high altitude, they're amazingly cool too see.
Not a lot. Military technology has largely stalled. All of the major advances in the 21st century has been information gathering, synthesis and distribution.
For example he, the F-35 is a mediocre aircraft. Its major innovations come from it being a node in an information network or the special helmet that feeds information to the pilot.
FortuitusVideo f35 is top tier👀
It's not the same airframe as it was in the 50's Totally redesigned but keeps the same designation for some reason.
FortuitusVideo I quite don’t understand what you mean when you say that F-35 is mediocre. It has high stealth technology and it is multi role aircraft, so I think its good airplane
I wouldn’t say it can fly “through” any weather conditions. Just above the weather conditions
Actually, it can fly in all conditions AND go above storms. Some of the materials that cover airplanes don’t like being wet.
Outdoor Frenzy I had read that it operates on a very narrow flight envelope, where thrust and lift leave very little margin for error. I assume that’s at high altitude only then?
Global Autobahn I would believe so. It has more than enough flight capabilities in the thicker parts of earth’s atmosphere.
Outdoor Frenzy Now I caught you AGAIN in a different comment just bullshitting. You have no idea what you are talking about, so why do you even open your mouth? Are you *that* keen on looking like the idiot you are?
No, the U-2, like most aircraft, *cannot* fly in “any” weather condition. And it has nothing whatsoever to do with “some materials that cover airplanes don’t like being wet”. Try to send one through a CB cloud (that is cumulonimbus, or thunderstorm cloud) and see what happens. Odds are that it will come down pretty quickly, only without its wings.
Please, please, please! If you don’t actually *know* what you are talking about - and you clearly don’t - just shut the fuck up.
If you THINK you know, then you don’t know. If you have read it in a magazine, you don’t know. If you heard it in a CZcams video, you don’t know. If you read it online, you don’t know.
Okay? Thanks.
@@bennylofgren3208 You my sir
Is a fucking hero bro you shut his ass down haha
The narrator sounds like he's being chased.
Totally! He was in a rush to poop
Cocaine
And like he's got a potato in his mouth
Somethings off with the way he talks.
He sounds like he's being played back at 3x normal speed, but without increasing the pitch. It's a really weird voice.
The u-2 is ridiculously loud. I was at the air show and it was so friggin loud you could feel it in your chest. It's an unreal experience that I won't forget
The engines on these things are super loud but hella cool to hear, can listen to em all day an NOT GET BORED. LOL.
@@robsnizzle7 they don't have thrusters -- they aren't space vehicles -- they use a single, non-afterburning jet engine. The lack of an afterburner means the engine must be even more powerful to push the U2 to the edge of space, and the consequence of this is increased noise. Thrusters ... Lol.
Why does this guy talk like he’s standing in a cold shower
Alex James he sounds like hes being chased
trying to sound dramatic. Main reason I'm not subscribed. I abhore the fake dramatization in every sentence. But I guess a lot of people love it
Sounds normal at 0.75
Maybe that's just how he sounds? Let the man be lol
Play at 0.75x speed and we will be able to listen better
Tech from one extreme to another. Anyone else spot the yaw indicator on the nose of the aircraft. Rudimentary but highly effective.
1:30? If it works...
@@leecutler1527
Hi lee. 4.45 will give you a better clue. It's most likely a length of wool.
Yep, got ya. Cheers for the pointer. What's the jobbie at 1:30?
Lee I have no idea what that thingymabob is. Looked like it has a mirror attached to it.
@@MrFalconp1 coolio, rear view mirror... got ya
Narrator speaks like he's trying to convince himself he's found a national secret, and is about to be executed for sharing it.
Then it seems he has discovered quite a number of secrets
Panic prone narrator but interesting. In 1956 while I was in SAC U2's landed on our base. Very secretive we had no idea what they were.
Personnel were supposed to face away from the flight line or be in building while they landed and were towed to a blacked out hanger.
I had a very high security clearance so I was called upon to replace the Altimeter on one plane. The guard stood on the wing as I did my work. They supplied the altimeter since ours were not the same. Years later I discovered what the plane was after Gary Powers was shot down.
Jim Fling great info but I wish he would slow way down....
Why was the guard on the wing? Was it to like catch a soviet spy if had stolen anything from the U-2?
@@MexicanBeann I don't understand your question. The guys at each wing after landing are putting the outrigger wheels so it can be towed. If you are referring to unit wings, The AF had some NASA has some and the CIA has some.
@@jimfling2128 Hes referring to "The guard stood on the wing as I did my work. " Was it a security guard?
@@tonyb2337 Yes the U2 team had their own security not our air police
My dad(USMC-RET RIP) did unarmed(except a sidearm) air recon in Vietnam..flying above tree tops taking pics of the VC for the boys on the ground and also was a door gunner from time to time..mainly did radio technology on planes.
This guys voice is cool asf. It makes the whole video sound educational but still interesting
you need hearing aids
When they say 8 inches, they really mean 5.
@Not Q It was a dick joke.
@Not Q whoosn't
@Not Q Not what I needed, or asked for, but ok
@Not Q I, to be completely honest with you, was joking when I commented "whooshn't". I didnt ask for anything either.
Anyway, with the formalities aside, have a nice day.
@Not Q While they may now have missiles capable to hit the SR71 it is still a very difficult thing just from a purely physical standpoint of getting a projectile to intercept something going mach 3+ at 80,000 feet in the air. It was also purpose-built to be stealthy so locking on to it with sufficient time to be able to fire is a challenge by the time you get it together it might already be out of your airspace. Things going at those speeds face mind-boggling conditions so having a missile that would have to travel at hypersonic speeds while not melting and being able to have enough fuel while maintaining a lock or radar guiding is a complex problem to solve. Also, the amount of energy and resources you would have to put into developing something like that doesn't quite compute given that the majority of the time it's an aircraft that doesn't carry weapons so spend so much to try and shoot it down? Really the SR-71 was fairly impractical just a part of a global dick measuring contest I mean come on look at it. like But I'm sure they can take it out in today's day and age given that missile defense and anti-missile systems face a much more difficult physics problem. That's why the whole hypersonic nuke thing is a scary thing.
They should fly this plane around the world and update the satelitte data in MSFS2020.
We have satellites more effective for this
Maybe MS should actually announced it's a working beta version??
but it wont make all places have 3d buildings
Soplex Games I am sure Russia, China, North Korea and a few hundred other sovereign nations would be absolutely thrilled to have American reconnaissance aircraft violating their sovereign airspaces...
@@bennylofgren3208 of course they are, but they can't do anything about it. They just put out a useless press conference nobody listens to.
Faster talking would be appreciated.
Also less inflection and more clutter please.
I think the speed´s perfect
War is Science without Humanity.
I agree. 👌
Thanks Osama
@@osamabinladen824 your son misses you
I've always thought that its a shame that killing each other is such a great technology driver (and a way of making HUGE amounts of money!)
@@alfredodominguez2799 Osama's son was killed some years ago.
That aeroplane is far greater than the sum of it's parts. Such an old design but still so useful and still amazing.
1:50 Yes but was this an off-hand exaggerated comment by a pilot that had pride in the equipment he operated which is now used as gospel after it's been quoted enough times
or has it *actually* been proven
would love to know too
Actually, it’s been proven.
Outdoor Frenzy Now you’re just talking out of your ass. Please don’t do that.
@@outdoorfrenzy Source?
@@knispelwedges427 I cannot reveal my source. Sorry.
"major conflicts involving the us"
everyone: "you mean every conflict since WW2?"
This very smart and serious-sounding fellow actually wrote and uttered the phrase “70,000 FEET OF DISTANCE.”
I got to see one of these departing after being on static display at an airshow. With all that lift from the wings, and presumably being very light from carrying much less than its normal fuel load, it was airborne after a fairly short roll, and climbed like a homesick angel. I’d be curious to know at what altitude it cruised back home to its airfield. Probably makes sense to keep on climbing, and get above the commercial air traffic.
Great metaphore
ivan vogel Thank you, but I can’t take credit for it. Several aviation writers I’ve read have used it. Maybe even Yeager, discussing his time with one of the many experimental aircraft he flew.
@@Activated_Complex Where I'm at, they use maybe 1/32 of the actual runway before climbing as you put, "like a homesick angel."
I live about 30 miles north of Beale AFB. We hear the U2 all the time on landing approaches. Always fun to run out of the house to look up to spot them.
You always amaze me with you're videos dark footage.
Or YOUR videos?
I LOVE this narrator he's got such a enjoyable tone that I can watch his videos for ever, now days its just robot voice after robot voice
Thanks to the poster for continuing to provide great content during these times when we most need a distraction.
You know what’s crazy I saw one of these on Flightradar24 and I was able to see it at 60,000ft with my binoculars but it was tiny
Same! One flew over where I live in southern Ontario but I couldn't see it with my bare eyes.
An important sensor that you didn't cover is the Synthetic Apeature Radar for imaging the ground. It's not as good as a camera but it works at night and cloud cover. It has a longer stand off range than a camera. This makes the U2 collections safer and independent of weather conditions, always guaranteeing a look.
Ludwig, thanks for taking so much of your time to answer all these questions! I had a few but then realized you’d already answered them.
This is my favourite aircraft, it's a graceful, beautifully crafted bird. Yet, it soars higher than most fighter jets.
That has to be one of the most advanced film cameras in the world
Maybe, 50 years ago
Nope they are not you can buy them at Walmart
The average smartphone is better these days, lol.
@@evolicious Nope. Although your extreme confidence without apparently understanding anything about aperture, optics or how a lens works is kind of great. You... You do realize that the only way to have 8K video that was usable up until maybe 5 years ago was wide format film?
Anyhow stick your camera with three or two tiny sensors Or in the case of the weird suggestion that Walmart sells film cameras of this quality... 35mm film, 70,000feet up, with barely a lens, no real optics aside from the most basic anti-blur or mild zoom, and I promise you it wouldn't even be up to 1950s military technology.
gotta love it when they are deployed at Fairford though, Best alarm clock ever
Details for the Two U2s Deployed at Fairford as of this moment:
68-10337 U2S 9thRW *with span pod*
80-1083 U2S 9thRW
I've worked in close proximity with a U-2, When they land they had two BMW's race up the runway and guide the pilot on leveling out the wings when landing before they deploy the landing gear. its a sight to see.
Everyone in the comments complaining about how quickly the narrator speaks. it's just fine for me to keep up with, and adds to the video.
Listen to him at 0.75 and you won't go back.
Guaranteed.
"I CAN SEE THA PUB FROM HERE!!!" 😆
Trouble is, so can the wife
Busted... After only one pint!!! Perhaps tomorrow?
@Not Q Heineken, and from a glass bottle only
@Not Q Eh, I'll stick with Heineken from a glass bottle, also Warsteiner from a glass bottle is one of my favorites.
@Not Q This man knows. Grolsch > Heineken
Flat earthers: ThErEs nO CuRvE
They are looking at it and cant see it. 🌍 🌎 🌏
Glad I found this. It's answered a question I had ever since Gary Powers was shot down.
Your channel is consistently awesome, thank you!
I’m astounded that an aircraft this old is still so useful!
Just because it’s old doesn’t mean it’s obsolete or broken. It’s a testament to the strength of the design, still finding great use over half a century later.
Everytime he said U-2
My mind : CZcams
My old man did a lot of work for the space race/military industrial complex when I was a kid. I was "Helping" him work on our car when I noticed 5 cents in the driveway, as I picked up my little score, dad says off handedly "we have camera's (in space) that can read the date on that nickel." That was in 1972....
You can be in a U2 looking down over NYC and be reading someone’s newspaper like “hmmm Will Smith slapped Chris Rock”
Imagine how beautiful it must be at 65,000ft...
Omg he speak too fast. Unfotunatly, on 0.75x playspeed it's too slow.
You can set custom playback speed. I use 0.85x
Don't think so, i found it better at 1.35x speed
Speaks too fast and needs to cut out the breathing/mouth noises in between sentences
He's not speaking fast?
@@CaliPnL he literally doesn't.
Enjoyed working on the Dragon Lady. Every project had me stretch my capabilities and discover something new.
Where can I purchase one? I'd like to get into the spy business..
I wasnt in sales, no idea. Hang out at Beale?
Spectacularly well made.
As brilliant as the U2 is at it's job, I always think about Concorde which flew up to 128 people in everyday attire, sipping Champagne at 60,000ft going at Mach 2.2. Now that *was* progress, when progress was a thing. I miss Concorde 😔
The image screen looks like something out of Steam Punk style.
I live near an AFB where they have U2s going in and out on a regular basis, most of them trainer models. It's always cool to see them from a different perspective than my front porch.
U -2 & B -52 evergreen piece of Engineering.
Settings>Playback Speed>0.75
Ah....that's better
Bloody flying Swiss army knife!.....Never carried a bomb in its life, something to think about........
Yeah. But it made sure that the bombs got where they should.
@@paullangford8179 "Its not the size, its how you use 'em".......
Thank you for creepy feeling audio and music
Just a WOW airplane. Every time I watch a video on the U2 I say to myself... Wow.
wow
Wow
Has anyone seen the U2 video with James May in it from Top Gear? Can't stand him but I'm so jealous at what he experienced, I'm sure if I had millions I'd do it!
You can't stand James May? He's the least abrasive of those three goons. I kinda like the gentle informative demeanor he has. I guess we're all different. Oh, and yes, I saw the show where he went up in the U2. I thought it was pretty cool, and so did James.
Very weird how youtube's recommending this video a day after I watched the cod cold war live stream
Best soundtrack yet
That film looks insane. It almost looks like a large format on a roll.
6 inch wide film apparently.
The old dog for the hard road.
I had NO idea they are still flying
Dino Nucci It’s sometimes hard to build a better mousetrap!
WoW such a great band with Bono as leader :)
The U-2 was peak US military aviation.
"Earth is flat" is something no U2 pilot will ever say.
the earth is flat you fool. it explains why the moon is upside in the southern hemisphere. sorry not hemisphere , something else. anyway you get the drift.
did you cant notice the fish eye lens?
@@gregahseira8058 you ever been to Australia Gregah? I have. the moon is upside down. you don't have to travel there yourself to see it, you could maybe just take my word for it.
Looks like my dingbat trap is working, got a couple bagged already. Once I get enough, we are off to the observatory.
If successful at learning, they should be okay for release back into the general public soon...
@@liamhackett513 The earth is flat
Source: Just trust me
Bruh
A large telescope from the ground can easily see details on planes very high up too.
Yes, but try flying a Keck telescope.
Not saying anything towards video..but in the air all the vibration, turbulence ..really adds to complications of a good photo. And I'm sure a ton of other factors. Just jealous of the view at 70k the have of earth without a camera lol
Thats a beautiful plane.
Its such an incredible plane
What's the background music in this video? sounds pretty soothing.
Reminded me of Sigur Ros! But I do not think it is them.
She flies in the Coffin Corner. A little faster she breaks the sound barrier. A little slower she stalls. Either way it’s a bad day. Great Piloting!!
Ehh, not really fly faster and break the sound barrier. The material of the plane was made to be JUST strong enough for weight reasons, so it's more like any faster and she would be broken apart from being overstressed.
@@AlphaGametauri No. Truly. At that alititude sound is slower.
CD: No, not the sound barrier, the plane is not that fast. What happens if it accelerates is that it reaches critical Mach number and experiences 'Mach tuck". The center of lift moves rearward on the wing causing the plane to nose over, the controls cannot counteract, it continues to accelerate and the negative G forces rapidly cause the plane to breakup. "This is bad". Each plane/wingform has its' unique critical Mach number.
Great background music. Very BoC.
Its crazy how my great grandfather help build this air plane and its still used to this day
What was the music here? Reminded me of Sigur Ros.
It's Rick Astley- Never Gonna Give You Up
It's Darude - Sandstorm
shame they were not flying that high over epsteins island
altitude : 0 :(
its amazing how an almost 70 year old plane is still in use.
I believe the Americans also purchased so English Electric Canberras. They held the world altitude record of 70,310 feet in 1957. The Americans asked the British to fly some spy missions over the southern part of the Soviet Union. The Canberra was equipped with a camera that could film the houses of parliament for the Isle of White off the south cost of England. The phot is legendary and show astonishing detail. U2 was also a brilliant plane.
Martin purchased the contract rights to the plane. NASA has two or three still, heavily modified with low bypass turbofans much larger than the original engines, and the wings extended. They look amazing. Still a great and useful aircraft.
Why does this dude sound like he’s being held at gunpoint
Because you are slow and that is okay.
DestinationLyra lmao
:Flatearthers left the chat:
Kelly Johnson really knew how to build a great plane.
What a great plane! What a great camera! 1950's American technology that still works great!
Cause they built things to LAST BACK THEN. NOT LIKE TODAY.
My man is talking faster and faster, slow down!!
Yet there’s security cameras that have a resolution of 240p
Well yes how is that weird
Great video!
Wet film camera love it. That could be used to describe a whole genre.
2 Big mistakes in the Dark Skies episode : A Secret American Air Force in China - Flying Tigers - Curtiss-Wright P-40 Warhawks
The P-40s could not match the maneuverability of the Japanese Army air arm's Nakajima Ki-27s and Ki-43s as well as the Famous Zero and the p 40 was a propeller driven aircraft not a jet !!!
Like many US aircraft the P-40 did hit and run attacks. They played to their strengths not the enemies
Correct
Can you slow your audio speed? Its nice getting in the info quickly but hard on the ears and hard to stay focused
It would help reduce errors as well. Such as calling the P-40 a jet
Awesome always!
LMFAO @ THE ENDING SONG THAT SHIT IS HILARIOUS. All hopeful and "to help military and allow them to work on tactics" LOLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
This narrator... Slow down homie. You Aren't making it more interesting.. you are stumbling over your words. He reminds me of the "Arby's employee guy"
It's ironic that the SR-71 replaced the U-2, but the U-2 still flies to this day
Built in the 50s and we still can't keep up with it. We'll done Mr Johnson R. I. P. Sir.
Regretfully one has been shot down with AA-missiles.
Come for the conspiracies, stay for the informative videos.
Love this channel. Great narration and stories.
I only noticed how fast this guy was talking when I read the comments
I appreciate your use of Deskscapes footage.
this is what should be on history/discovery channel late-night, just loop it and add stuff
Great!
Film demonstrates that technology while good isn’t always best. The biggest advantage of film over digital sensors is when it comes to magnification as while digital images have pixels that under magnification pixilate while film offers a smooth continual magnification capability without pixilation. As long as you have good glass you can make out incredible details on film. This just goes to show some things were built much more intently, effectively, and with much higher longevity than things today; the U2 and B52 are demonstrations of this as both are serving decades beyond original plans.
I worked on the other side of that hangar! The NASA U2 always came out to marine corps base Hawaii. Hangar 104 and 105! Got a lot of picture of the crew and patches.. Out of all people NASA has the most down to earth people
The U-2 uses Side Looking Radar and sometimes the Electro Optical (EO) nose more than the camera. When I was with the Black Cats at Osan AB Korea, in 13 months, the EO nose was used a few times a month and I don't remember the camera being used. Maybe a few times. All other flights were radar. In fact, our Photo Techs were assigned to the Tool Crib to hand out and keep track of tools because they had very little to do. However, I did go to one location where the camera was used exclusively, but that was the exception.
And the pilot does not look through the camera lens. The pilot can't see what the camera sees while flying. Same with radar and EO. However, the pilots can listen to their favorite tunes via the maintenance headphone jack.
Wow, that's a nice Quality of life feature
I was stationed at Osan 1977-78. Not much else to say, except what this video omitted was the sheer beauty of this craft.