slightly OT - NASA ER-2

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" 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? ;-)

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

".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?

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

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 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?

"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

"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

"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/r...R-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?