Large U-2 SPYPLANE project
 

Here's a couple of pictures of my scratch built 1/6 scale turbine U-2A project that has been going on for 3 years now.
First flight in '05

Technical details:

Wingspan- 13.34' (17.77ft^)
Length- 8'
Height-2.1'
Powerplant-Ram 1000PR, Tam's largest tailpipe at 46"
Fuel- 136oz (2-56oz kevlar fuel tanks in the wing roots+header and UAT)
JR10X with JR digital servos
Pneumatic speedbrakes and brakes(dual 3" nosewheels)
Estimated flying weight 35-40#
Conventional construction-white foam/balsa/f/g

Jack

RE: Large U-2 SPYPLANE project
 

Sweet! Do you also have the RC Camaro (I think that's what they're using now) to drive right behind it when it lands? :D

RE: Large U-2 SPYPLANE project
 

I really like the U-2. It's been around a long time and still going strong! Can't wait to see a video of it flying.

RE: Large U-2 SPYPLANE project
 

Jack thats Awesome[8D] great job when in 05 do you think the maiden will be
Semper Fi
Joe

RE: Large U-2 SPYPLANE project
 

So how many little kids can you strap on the wings for takeoff? 2? its a MONSTER!! I LIKE!!!

pLEASE GIVE US a VIDEO WHEN YOU MAIDEN!!!!

-rAzOr

RE: Large U-2 SPYPLANE project
 

Yep.. Z-28 Camaro, although I've heard they've requested new Corvettes to replace the 'aging' Z-28's.

RE: Large U-2 SPYPLANE project
 

ref: Camaro

I need to work on the R/C Tug first to move it around on the ramp.

Pogos:

The pogos will retract using the small Spring-air units. I know, not scale. But, they were kept fixed for training flights in the pattern so with all gear down it will be scale.

Jack

RE: Large U-2 SPYPLANE project
 

Jack,

I had a chance to see the U-2 while you had it on display at the Wright Patterson DOGS meet back on Labor Day weekend. It is truly a piece of work. I wanted to get some pics, but by the time I made it back up the flight line Saturday afternoon, you had already packed it in.

Wish you much luck & success on your maiden.

RE: Large U-2 SPYPLANE project
 

The ULTIMATE glider! :D

Looks great!!!! Good luck on the maiden!

RE: Large U-2 SPYPLANE project
 

Very neat project. Did you know there was another 1/6 scale U-2 out there? It hangs, along with a 1/6 SR-71 and drone, in the main atrium at the CIA building outside Washington. Of course, yours will actually fly, but I thought you would like the picture.

RE: Large U-2 SPYPLANE project
 

When I was at Beale in '94 getting high altitude chamber training they were using Mustang SVO's. It was pretty cool to watch. I hung out in the tower for hours.

RE: Large U-2 SPYPLANE project
 

Congrats! I wonder how this plane should look with a gleaming aluminium finish with lots of rivets!
[8D]

Regards, Enrique

RE: Large U-2 SPYPLANE project
 

That is an awesome plane!! Great job.Certainly nice to see a nice change from the usual .Should be very easy to fly-very gliderish!! Good luck on the maiden :D


Steve

RE: Large U-2 SPYPLANE project
 

Hey, what is the small one to the left of the SR-71 in your picture????????

RE: Large U-2 SPYPLANE project
 

Hi all,
Thanks for the nice comments on the project. Video will be rolling on the maiden flight.

I'm shooting for this spring for the first flight. Perhaps it will come unexpectedly like it did in 1955 when Tony LeVier (Lockheed's chief test pilot) became airborne at 70 knots while doing high speed taxi tests.

I'm still not decided on the final paint scheme. Black or the very dark blue (which it really was), reached about 160^ in the sun on my test panel. The early aluminum finish caused some UFO reports from airliners when they saw the sun reflected off of it thousands of feet above.

Jack

RE: Large U-2 SPYPLANE project
 

Terry,

The SR-71 can carry an unmanned drone on its back between the vertical stabilizers. It would carry it up, get near bad-guy land, then release it. It would do it's job, fly home, then be recovered. I believe they had several successful flights until one launch when there was some sort of incident, so they stopped using the system. Very neat though.

RE: Large U-2 SPYPLANE project
 

Tim!!


How are you man?? It is Steve from Fentress.Where you been?Long time -no see :D[8D]

RE: Large U-2 SPYPLANE project
 

A very nice looking aircraft and I was thinking about your project as a nice alternative to the jet fighters that grace the fields and events of today. keep us posted and if you put a kit together I would definitely be interested...


P. Richards aka Swat Team

RE: Large U-2 SPYPLANE project
 

I've often thought a turbine U-2 would be a really cool project. Just have some functional spoilers and a low residual thrust turbine...it'll float a LOONG way. I had an 8' span PSS U-2 glider a few years back, looked very cool way up high on those days when I could 'sky out' with it, but it did not have spoilers and it was a BE-AATCH to land, especially when ballasted up in heavy winds.

The SR-71's drone was the "D-2", a hypersonic scramjet powered UAV that was never very succesfull. An M-21 (a specially modified A-12/SR-71 "mothership" ) was lost during launch tests so it was later launched off modified B-52's with very limited success. Mostly used over China in the mid-60's where almost all of them were lost, a few made succesful missions but were lost during the recovery process. Lots of interesting info on the D-2/M-21 "Tagboard" program in Jay Miller's history of the Skunk Works. A very cool read, highly recommended!

Barry

RE: Large U-2 SPYPLANE project
 

Can someone clue me in on the chase car deal? Camaro, Mustang??

RE: Large U-2 SPYPLANE project
 

I've got an Air Force buddy of mine that I used to instruct with in military trainers who is now a "Deuce" pilot (U-2). He invited me up to Beale for a squadron party prior to us heading to the Reno air races in 2002. I got a life-support tour and 6 runs in the back seat of a Mustang GT running about ten feet away from the Camaro Z28 doing " mobile" chase at 120+ mph with a Deuce coming over our heads at 50 feet doing touch and goes. The Mustang was on its last legs and was about to be retired, so the Z28 currently reigns supreme for "mobile" chase. Sorry all you Ford guys! What a ride! Terry

RE: Large U-2 SPYPLANE project
 

Been busy at work; weekends aren't really mine anymore. Should slow down after the presidential inauguration though. What is your latest project (for those who don't know Steve, he's owned almost every type of DF out there...you never know what he is going to show up with)?

RE: Large U-2 SPYPLANE project
 

If your worried about black there's always the NASA birds. I work U-2 staff here at Ramstein and am going to build one as well. Tell us more about the project when you get a chance.

Mike

RE: Large U-2 SPYPLANE project
 

Tim


We been wondering where you been,Joey & Mike have brought your name up numerous times [8D]I hear that Man!! I know all too well about being slammed with work & not having much free time to call you own.I own a business as you know & I have only been able to fly 4 times all year cause of pressing contracts with tight deadlines.Business increased 40 % this year for me on the plus- side.I hired 2 people to help me ease the workload & give me lots of needed free time again.05 will be great as I will be able to finally get back to what I love-jets & attend some events.

I actually only have one ducted fan left Tim.My jet lineup consists of turbines now.Much like every one else I am tired of the mess,unreliability ,etc of ducted fans .I have 4 turbine jets now.This coming weekend I will have a SM Gripen out there & will be getting some stick time on the buddy box.I can't wait .Joey is just about done with my YA F15.Get out there soon Tim & hang out .It would be nice to see ya again.Hows the little one?

I turned the BIG 36 today! Errr I feel like a old geezer now :eek:


Steve

RE: Large U-2 SPYPLANE project
 

Here's a couple more pictures earlier in the construction process. My scale pilot is getting impatient!

The plug-in wings utilize 2024-T-3 aircraft aluminum tubes. 2-4 foot long 1/4" thick spars carry the load thru the fuselage. The hinges for the flaps and ailerons are miniature piano hinges from Nelson Hobby fastened into 1/4" spruce caps.