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This could be something as simple as a software glitch on the part of the air traffic control system.
My neighbor is a controller, I'll ask him next time we are shooting the bull.
The only really good take-away here is that the news media continues to slide down the tubes with garbage speculation and a report early, correct later mantra.
The article noted that the U-2 has flown into Edwards more than once before, and that is true...which means this isn't the first time one has been in LA airspace. Even if it had been a surprise, it should not have led to a shutdown.
There is no indication from the story that the ATC systrem was "jammed" (yes, they do have electronic defensive systems)--it appears that for some reason it glitched at unusual altitude information fed into it.
Or an inexperienced controller misunderstood what he was seeing and made an unnecessary correction.
They have improved the platform over the years. Todays U2 is @ 40% larger then the one flown by Gary Powers, however I'm not sure if they have the payload to carry enough equipment that I think would be needed to do what was done. It is after all a surveillance aircraft it relied on speed and altitude to escape detection not radar jamming etc, When I was stationed at Moffett Field we would watch taking off on drug interdiction flights up the coast.....
I actually didn't think they still flew the U2 or at least the "spy" version since the 90's. I thought I remembered reading that Nasa still had one or two and flew them.
I actually didn't think they still flew the U2 or at least the "spy" version since the 90's. I thought I remembered reading that Nasa still had one or two and flew them.
The U-2 is one of a very small group of planes in the world that have been in continuous service to their original air force for over half a century. The U-2 has been in continuous--I mean a mission least two or three times a week-- somewhere in the world--since the late 50s. It's in active use by the US in South Korea and Afghanistan right now, and perhaps other places as well. One of the advantages of the U-2 is that the products can be shared with countries and people that we don't trust enough to "share our very best."
It would be cheaper to just use a drone instead of configuring an aircraft to act like a drone plus flt crew, grnd crew, fuel, etc, etc. More likely that those in charge would have just used a drone for any tests.
Very true. But can you imagine the uproar if the government admitted this was a drone instead of a U2? It's a lot easier for the public to accept the thought of a U2 flying overhead, but a drone? That would only have raised more questions and concerns
At least they didn't say it was a weather balloon so that's progress in government disclosure I reckon. lol
Very true. But can you imagine the uproar if the government admitted this was a drone instead of a U2? It's a lot easier for the public to accept the thought of a U2 flying overhead, but a drone? That would only have raised more questions and concerns
At least they didn't say it was a weather balloon so that's progress in government disclosure I reckon. lol
Drones are replacing fighter aircraft these days. It's just as valid to train a drone in a given area as it is to train a manned aircraft.
But there wouldn't be any valid reason to do so, any more than there is reason to drop a nuke on LA to test whether that would be effective. Electronic warfare is easily simulated and tested at Nellis with zero publicity fallout--nothing to explain.
And what would be the military point of neutralizing air traffic control of a civilian airfield?
The U-2 is one of a very small group of planes in the world that have been in continuous service to their original air force for over half a century. The U-2 has been in continuous--I mean a mission least two or three times a week-- somewhere in the world--since the late 50s. It's in active use by the US in South Korea and Afghanistan right now, and perhaps other places as well. One of the advantages of the U-2 is that the products can be shared with countries and people that we don't trust enough to "share our very best."
Very interesting. Seems like with modern anti-aircraft radar and weapons the U2 be shelved overnight. The SR-71 could just out run any of the weapons that were launched at it. Although it is WAY more expensive to operate and that is supposedly been retired.
Drones are replacing fighter aircraft these days. It's just as valid to train a drone in a given area as it is to train a manned aircraft.
But there wouldn't be any valid reason to do so, any more than there is reason to drop a nuke on LA to test whether that would be effective. Electronic warfare is easily simulated and tested at Nellis with zero publicity fallout--nothing to explain.
And what would be the military point of neutralizing air traffic control of a civilian airfield?
It might've been a drone for all we know? Other than the self admission that it was a U2 did anyone get a visual confirmation? Radio contact from pilots?
Maybe this was an unintended consequence of high altitude drone surveillance that now needs to be addressed before being deployed over populated U.S. cities again?
Obviously there was no flight plan filed with the local CAA or else traffic control would've known what was there prior to the so called computer glitch.
Were the U2 pilots on a clandestine mission? Or maybe they were just up there cruising over sunny L.A. in their numbers matching all original 1957 Dragon Lady with no where to go, looking for chicks and $1 fish tacos.
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