slightly OT - NASA ER-2

[Skywise]

I had made passing mention recently about spotting a U2 aircraft
cruising around southern California. Well, this past week I
managed to get some good photographs of it and have put up a
webpage about it. Turned out to be a NASA ER-2.

http://www.skywise711.com/misc/ER2/ER2.html

Brian
--
http://www.skywise711.com - Lasers, Seismology, Astronomy, Skepticism
Seismic FAQ: http://www.skywise711.com/SeismicFAQ/SeismicFAQ.html
Quake "predictions": http://www.skywise711.com/quakes/EQDB/index.html
Sed quis custodiet ipsos Custodes?

[.Blueskies.]

"Skywise" > wrote in message ...
>I had made passing mention recently about spotting a U2 aircraft
> cruising around southern California. Well, this past week I
> managed to get some good photographs of it and have put up a
> webpage about it. Turned out to be a NASA ER-2.
>
> http://www.skywise711.com/misc/ER2/ER2.html
>
> Brian
> --

Nice shots! I wonder how the shots they took of you turned out? ;-)

[john smith]

Well done, Brian!
That's quite a trick you performed, several times.

[Skywise]

".Blueskies." > wrote in news:A6B0g.16388
:

>
> "Skywise" > wrote in message
...
>>I had made passing mention recently about spotting a U2 aircraft
>> cruising around southern California. Well, this past week I
>> managed to get some good photographs of it and have put up a
>> webpage about it. Turned out to be a NASA ER-2.
>>
>> http://www.skywise711.com/misc/ER2/ER2.html
>>
>> Brian
>> --
>
> Nice shots! I wonder how the shots they took of you turned out? ;-)

Yeah, me too!! I do wonder what it's mission was....studying the LA
smog? Updating Google Earth? Looking for people looking at airplanes
with their telescope? ehhehehe :) Maybe I should hold up a sign that
says, "hi mom!" :)

Next, I'm going to callibrate the optical system so I can determine
a range, and therefore an approximate altitude. I have a hunch it
wasn't flying very high, as at zenith I could still make out it's shape
clearly naked eye. But then, I might be considered a trained, well,
experienced observer. I'm used to staring into telescopes straining
to pick out the faint fuzzy thing at the verge of seeing.

Hmmm...I just had a funny idea. Since I have a website, I could make
up a really complicated email address that isn't likely to be guessed,
and then put a sign on the roof saying, "If you can read this, email
".

Brian
--
http://www.skywise711.com - Lasers, Seismology, Astronomy, Skepticism
Seismic FAQ: http://www.skywise711.com/SeismicFAQ/SeismicFAQ.html
Quake "predictions": http://www.skywise711.com/quakes/EQDB/index.html
Sed quis custodiet ipsos Custodes?

[Tony Goetz]

Skywise wrote...
> I had made passing mention recently about spotting a U2 aircraft
> cruising around southern California. Well, this past week I
> managed to get some good photographs of it and have put up a
> webpage about it. Turned out to be a NASA ER-2.
>
> http://www.skywise711.com/misc/ER2/ER2.html
>
> Brian


Hey Brian, has it been relatively consistent in the time of day it appears?
I live in Westminster and go to school in Pomona and would love to catch a
glimpse of it (as would the other aerospac guys at school, I'm sure).

And to restate what everyone else has said - those are great shots! Thanks
for sharing them!


-Tony

[BTIZ]

interesting to know which plane the last 3 pictures are of?
definitely not the same as the first that could be the U-2
much different wing profile
BT

"Skywise" > wrote in message
...
>I had made passing mention recently about spotting a U2 aircraft
> cruising around southern California. Well, this past week I
> managed to get some good photographs of it and have put up a
> webpage about it. Turned out to be a NASA ER-2.
>
> http://www.skywise711.com/misc/ER2/ER2.html
>
> Brian
> --
> http://www.skywise711.com - Lasers, Seismology, Astronomy, Skepticism
> Seismic FAQ: http://www.skywise711.com/SeismicFAQ/SeismicFAQ.html
> Quake "predictions": http://www.skywise711.com/quakes/EQDB/index.html
> Sed quis custodiet ipsos Custodes?

[Skywise]

Skywise > wrote in news:1245rres2r38292
@corp.supernews.com:

<Snipola>
> Next, I'm going to callibrate the optical system so I can determine
> a range, and therefore an approximate altitude. I have a hunch it
> wasn't flying very high, as at zenith I could still make out it's shape
> clearly naked eye.
<Snipola>

OK, just computed a range. She was indeed at 70,000 feet or
thereabouts.

I'm really surprised that when she flew by that I could make
it out naked eye at that altitude.

No, I'm not worth $6 million. :)

Brian
--
http://www.skywise711.com - Lasers, Seismology, Astronomy, Skepticism
Seismic FAQ: http://www.skywise711.com/SeismicFAQ/SeismicFAQ.html
Quake "predictions": http://www.skywise711.com/quakes/EQDB/index.html
Sed quis custodiet ipsos Custodes?

[Kyle Boatright]

"BTIZ" > wrote in message
news:j%C0g.7170$Qz.1048@fed1read11...
> interesting to know which plane the last 3 pictures are of?
> definitely not the same as the first that could be the U-2
> much different wing profile
> BT

The later pictures are of a B-57, and I'm pretty sure it is a B-57F. The
B-57D looks similar, but I *think* all of them have been retired.

These aircraft are B-57's in nomenclature only. They share a similar
planform with non-recon B-57's, but the airframe, engines, and wings are far
different than the rest of the B-57 family.

I sat in on a forum at Oshkosh once upon a time where a B-57F driver told
some of his tales. The short version was that he saw some interesting
sights from as high as 82,000'.. The airplane can be configured two ways.
Typically the airplane has two engines. It is flown in that configuration
to maximize range and endurance. In addition, two pod mounted engines can
be bolted on below the wings if the mission's focus requires absolute
maximum altitude.

NASA and the CIA fly (or flew) these aircraft.

KB

[Grumman-581]

"Skywise" > wrote in message
...
> Hmmm...I just had a funny idea. Since I have a website, I could make
> up a really complicated email address that isn't likely to be guessed,
> and then put a sign on the roof saying, "If you can read this, email
> ".

And then everyone who flies over your house might email you?

Or maybe something like, "For a good time, email "? <grin>

[Skywise]

"Kyle Boatright" > wrote in
:

>
> "BTIZ" > wrote in message
> news:j%C0g.7170$Qz.1048@fed1read11...
>> interesting to know which plane the last 3 pictures are of?
>> definitely not the same as the first that could be the U-2
>> much different wing profile
>> BT
>
> The later pictures are of a B-57, and I'm pretty sure it is a B-57F. The
> B-57D looks similar, but I *think* all of them have been retired.

All of the images on my page are of the same aircraft taken
the same day. Some of them were taken with the plane at a
distance so the perspective is much different than looking
straight up at its belly.

Take a look at this NASA webpage, which has a picture of an
ER-2. It matches what I observed.

http://www.nasa.gov/centers/dryden/research/AirSci/ER-2/index.html

The Canberra's wings are much more triangular.

Plus, my photogrammatic analysis puts the plane at around 70,000
feet.

Brian
--
http://www.skywise711.com - Lasers, Seismology, Astronomy, Skepticism
Seismic FAQ: http://www.skywise711.com/SeismicFAQ/SeismicFAQ.html
Quake "predictions": http://www.skywise711.com/quakes/EQDB/index.html
Sed quis custodiet ipsos Custodes?

[Skywise]

"Tony Goetz" > wrote in news:1%C0g.3769$WA3.848
@tornado.socal.rr.com:

<Snipola>
> Hey Brian, has it been relatively consistent in the time of day it appears?
> I live in Westminster and go to school in Pomona and would love to catch a
> glimpse of it (as would the other aerospac guys at school, I'm sure).
<Snipola>

It appears that on this particular day it was on a half hour long
race track. The times on my images for each fo the three photo
passes were all around 1:30, 2:00, and 2:30pm local.

The day before, on April 12, my very fuzzy pictures are time stamped
at 3:36pm. These were totally out of focus but I ID'd the plane
visually.

Before that, I have two fuzzy pictures taken at 2:07pm local on
March 14th. That was my very first sighting.

Needless to say I'll be keeping an eye out for it.

Oh, and I've found a contact at NASA Dryden that I've emailed. I
hope to get more information, like tail number, mission, and perhaps
a note from the pilot.

Brian
--
http://www.skywise711.com - Lasers, Seismology, Astronomy, Skepticism
Seismic FAQ: http://www.skywise711.com/SeismicFAQ/SeismicFAQ.html
Quake "predictions": http://www.skywise711.com/quakes/EQDB/index.html
Sed quis custodiet ipsos Custodes?

[Skywise]

Skywise > wrote in news:1245n0dkkfsst01
@corp.supernews.com:

> I had made passing mention recently about spotting a U2 aircraft
> cruising around southern California. Well, this past week I
> managed to get some good photographs of it and have put up a
> webpage about it. Turned out to be a NASA ER-2.
>
> http://www.skywise711.com/misc/ER2/ER2.html
>
> Brian

On further consideration, this may indeed be a WB-57.

I had looked up the B-57 on wikipedia, but all the pictures
showed stubby clipped triangular wings.

But someone else in another group provided this link,

http://jsc-aircraft-ops.jsc.nasa.gov/wb57/

This shows the NASA WB-57's, and they do look alot like what
I photographed, and nothing like the pics on Wikipedia. Going
back to that article, I found mention that the USAF had ordered
several of these planes but with modified 33 and later 37 meter
wings. Much larger than the original 20 meter wings.

Now, knowing that the plane has two engines would explain the
split vapor trail seen in the first images. I had assumed this
was just some sort of vortex effect causing the single exhaust
of the ER-2 to split.

Furthermore, looking at the enhanced image, the tail does bear
a striking resemblence to the WB-57. The vertical fin starts
ahead of the elevators like the WB-57 does, whereas the ER-2
has them both starting at about the same place.

Wow. Learned something new. I was not even aware of the WB-57's.

Now I have to redo my webpage.

Brian
--
http://www.skywise711.com - Lasers, Seismology, Astronomy, Skepticism
Seismic FAQ: http://www.skywise711.com/SeismicFAQ/SeismicFAQ.html
Quake "predictions": http://www.skywise711.com/quakes/EQDB/index.html
Sed quis custodiet ipsos Custodes?

[.Blueskies.]

"Skywise" > wrote in message ...
>I had made passing mention recently about spotting a U2 aircraft
> cruising around southern California. Well, this past week I
> managed to get some good photographs of it and have put up a
> webpage about it. Turned out to be a NASA ER-2.
>
> http://www.skywise711.com/misc/ER2/ER2.html
>
> Brian
> --


So...how do you hook up your camera to the telescope?

[BTIZ]

hmmm.... maybe so.. thanx
BT

"Skywise" > wrote in message
...
> "Kyle Boatright" > wrote in
> :
>
>>
>> "BTIZ" > wrote in message
>> news:j%C0g.7170$Qz.1048@fed1read11...
>>> interesting to know which plane the last 3 pictures are of?
>>> definitely not the same as the first that could be the U-2
>>> much different wing profile
>>> BT
>>
>> The later pictures are of a B-57, and I'm pretty sure it is a B-57F. The
>> B-57D looks similar, but I *think* all of them have been retired.
>
> All of the images on my page are of the same aircraft taken
> the same day. Some of them were taken with the plane at a
> distance so the perspective is much different than looking
> straight up at its belly.
>
> Take a look at this NASA webpage, which has a picture of an
> ER-2. It matches what I observed.
>
> http://www.nasa.gov/centers/dryden/research/AirSci/ER-2/index.html
>
> The Canberra's wings are much more triangular.
>
> Plus, my photogrammatic analysis puts the plane at around 70,000
> feet.
>
> Brian
> --
> http://www.skywise711.com - Lasers, Seismology, Astronomy, Skepticism
> Seismic FAQ: http://www.skywise711.com/SeismicFAQ/SeismicFAQ.html
> Quake "predictions": http://www.skywise711.com/quakes/EQDB/index.html
> Sed quis custodiet ipsos Custodes?

[Skywise]

"BTIZ" > wrote in news:FZV0g.7331$Qz.3272
@fed1read11:

> hmmm.... maybe so.. thanx
> BT

Just so you know, BT, I have determined that the plane is in fact
a WB-57. My original doubt was due not knowing of the planes existence,
and that the images and drawings on the Wikipedia source that I
checked do not show the longer wingspan version.

But, upon seeing images of the plane on NASA's webpage about the
WB-57 program, I had to change my mind. BTW, I have placed an image
from the NASA website at the end of my page for comparison.

Brian
--
http://www.skywise711.com - Lasers, Seismology, Astronomy, Skepticism
Seismic FAQ: http://www.skywise711.com/SeismicFAQ/SeismicFAQ.html
Quake "predictions": http://www.skywise711.com/quakes/EQDB/index.html
Sed quis custodiet ipsos Custodes?

[Morgans]

"Skywise" > wrote

> But, upon seeing images of the plane on NASA's webpage about the
> WB-57 program, I had to change my mind. BTW, I have placed an image
> from the NASA website at the end of my page for comparison.

If you have a place for me to send them, I have a couple pictures taken at
OSH a few years back. They might be interesting, because they have people
walking around looking at them, for a feeling of scale.
--
Jim in NC

[Skywise]

".Blueskies." > wrote in news:SdU0g.70349
:

>
> "Skywise" > wrote in message news:1245n0dkkfsst01
@corp.supernews.com...
>>I had made passing mention recently about spotting a U2 aircraft
>> cruising around southern California. Well, this past week I
>> managed to get some good photographs of it and have put up a
>> webpage about it. Turned out to be a NASA ER-2.
>>
>> http://www.skywise711.com/misc/ER2/ER2.html
>>
>> Brian
>> --
>
>
> So...how do you hook up your camera to the telescope?

Here's a link to a commercial device. I made my own.

http://www.telescope.com/shopping/product/detailmain.jsp?itemID=65
&itemType=PRODUCT&RS=1&keyword=05228

In case you don't want to unwrap it....

http://tinyurl.com/pkhv5

Brian
--
http://www.skywise711.com - Lasers, Seismology, Astronomy, Skepticism
Seismic FAQ: http://www.skywise711.com/SeismicFAQ/SeismicFAQ.html
Quake "predictions": http://www.skywise711.com/quakes/EQDB/index.html
Sed quis custodiet ipsos Custodes?

[Skywise]

"Morgans" > wrote in news:qvY0g.273$wh.32
@fe03.lga:

>
> "Skywise" > wrote
>
>> But, upon seeing images of the plane on NASA's webpage about the
>> WB-57 program, I had to change my mind. BTW, I have placed an image
>> from the NASA website at the end of my page for comparison.
>
> If you have a place for me to send them, I have a couple pictures taken at
> OSH a few years back. They might be interesting, because they have people
> walking around looking at them, for a feeling of scale.

I'd be glad to put them in with my photos.

My email address is on my website. Or, if you want to play break
the code..... "skywise" at (the name of my website).

Let me know how you want them credited and include any descriptions
you may have.

In all my years of interest in aviation I'm embarrassed that I
never knew of this plane. Sheesh....

Brian
--
http://www.skywise711.com - Lasers, Seismology, Astronomy, Skepticism
Seismic FAQ: http://www.skywise711.com/SeismicFAQ/SeismicFAQ.html
Quake "predictions": http://www.skywise711.com/quakes/EQDB/index.html
Sed quis custodiet ipsos Custodes?

[Skywise]

As an update to my WB-57 story, I just discovered the flight
track on FlightAware.com. Turns out it was tail number NASA926,
and have added the flight track image to my webpage. Also, the
page name has changed, although the previous one has a link
to the correct one.

http://www.skywise711.com/misc/WB57/WB57.html

So, why didn't anyone suggest this to me earlier? Why didn't
*I* think of it? BTW, I see they flew today around the Las Vegas
area. They're currently flying out of Miramar.

Brian
--
http://www.skywise711.com - Lasers, Seismology, Astronomy, Skepticism
Seismic FAQ: http://www.skywise711.com/SeismicFAQ/SeismicFAQ.html
Quake "predictions": http://www.skywise711.com/quakes/EQDB/index.html
Sed quis custodiet ipsos Custodes?

[Morgans]

"Skywise" > wrote

> As an update to my WB-57 story, I just discovered the flight
> track on FlightAware.com. Turns out it was tail number NASA926,
> and have added the flight track image to my webpage. Also, the
> page name has changed, although the previous one has a link
> to the correct one.
>
> http://www.skywise711.com/misc/WB57/WB57.html

After looking at the track, it looks like they sure did nail the saight line
portion of the flight plan. All of the tracks are superimposed on top of
each other, so accurately, that they look like one line. Interesting. I
wonder what they are testing.

I took some pictures of that plane, while it was at OSH a few years back.
It is not apparent in your photos how huge the wing span is, or who big of
an aspect ratio it has. It really does look like a sailplane, when you see
it, in person.
--
Jim in NC

[Skywise]

"Morgans" > wrote in
:

>
> "Skywise" > wrote
>
>> As an update to my WB-57 story, I just discovered the flight
>> track on FlightAware.com. Turns out it was tail number NASA926,
>> and have added the flight track image to my webpage. Also, the
>> page name has changed, although the previous one has a link
>> to the correct one.
>>
>> http://www.skywise711.com/misc/WB57/WB57.html
>
> After looking at the track, it looks like they sure did nail the saight
> line portion of the flight plan. All of the tracks are superimposed on
> top of each other, so accurately, that they look like one line.
> Interesting. I wonder what they are testing.
>
> I took some pictures of that plane, while it was at OSH a few years
> back. It is not apparent in your photos how huge the wing span is, or
> who big of an aspect ratio it has. It really does look like a
> sailplane, when you see it, in person.

Speaking of which, you asked if I was interested in them to which
I said yes. But I hadn't heard from you.

But yes, the wings don't look all that long in my images. That's
due to the angle at which I was looking at them.

BTW, I added a red dot to the image to show my approximate location.

Brian
--
http://www.skywise711.com - Lasers, Seismology, Astronomy, Skepticism
Seismic FAQ: http://www.skywise711.com/SeismicFAQ/SeismicFAQ.html
Quake "predictions": http://www.skywise711.com/quakes/EQDB/index.html
Sed quis custodiet ipsos Custodes?

[Morgans]

"Skywise" > wrote

> Speaking of which, you asked if I was interested in them to which
> I said yes. But I hadn't heard from you.
>
> But yes, the wings don't look all that long in my images. That's
> due to the angle at which I was looking at them.

Humm, I wonder if your spam catcher got them. I did send them.

I'll tell you what. Send me an E-mail to and I'll
reply with the pictures attached. Do the usual; get the junk out - all
capital letters removed will get you the same thing.
--
Jim in NC

[Skywise]

"Morgans" > wrote in news:mvE2g.30$b06.22
@fe05.lga:

<Snipola>
> I'll tell you what. Send me an E-mail to and I'll
> reply with the pictures attached. Do the usual; get the junk out - all
> capital letters removed will get you the same thing.

Done.

Brian
--
http://www.skywise711.com - Lasers, Seismology, Astronomy, Skepticism
Seismic FAQ: http://www.skywise711.com/SeismicFAQ/SeismicFAQ.html
Quake "predictions": http://www.skywise711.com/quakes/EQDB/index.html
Sed quis custodiet ipsos Custodes?

[Skywise]

Another update...

I had submitted an email with some questions to the WB-57 program
director over at NASA. Turned out he was the pilot that day!
Basically, they were testing some sort of communications equipment
for a contractor. The altitude was 55,000 feet.

http://www.skywise711.com/misc/WB57/WB57.html

Brian
--
http://www.skywise711.com - Lasers, Seismology, Astronomy, Skepticism
Seismic FAQ: http://www.skywise711.com/SeismicFAQ/SeismicFAQ.html
Quake "predictions": http://www.skywise711.com/quakes/EQDB/index.html
Sed quis custodiet ipsos Custodes?