They use the two wheel landing gear simply to save weight. The wings generate so much lift and the plane weighs so little that the pilot has to get it to stall when they're a couple of feet off the ground. Very difficult to land.
CIA was closely involved in its development and had the better pilots (vs USAF) for many years.
For smaller aircraft, a full stall landing is always the best. Once it touches down it wants to stay down. Especially if the flaps are taken out.
You really have to be on the numbers to fly that thing.
The U-2 is known to bounce off the runway and back into the air
Called porpoising. An easy way to destroy a prop and engine. Only happens with gusts or when it is not a full stall.
The guy in the truck is also a U-2 pilot acting as another set of eyes. Don't know if they mention that in the video, watched it without sound.
The guy in the white chase car is a U2 pilot. In the final stages of landing the pilot can't see the runway and pilot in the car is giving a constant height off the runway as the plane comes down the last 10-15 feet.
Cool. Didn't know. Also watched without audio.
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