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U-2 Photo
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Entering the Cockpit of an ER-2 (U-2) Pilot James Barrillearx entering the cockpit of an ER-2 (U-2) on the Ames ramp. The ER-2 is NASA's "civilian" version of the U-2. "ER" stands for "Earth Resource". NASA's ER-2s have tail numbers 806 and 809 (previously 706 and 709). NASA began using the U-2 in 1971 to collect science data. It replaced the U-2s with ER-2s in 1981 and 1989. The aircraft were based at the NASA Ames Research Center until 1997 when they moved to NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center. The aircraft are platforms for a variety of high-altitude science missions flown all over the world. They are also used for earth science and atmospheric sensor research and development, satellite calibration and data validation. The ER-2s can carry 2,600 pounds of experiments in a nose bay, the main equipment bay behind the cockpit, two wing-mounted superpods and small underbody and trailing edges. Most ER-2 missions last about six hours with ranges of about 2,200 nautical miles at altitudes above 65,000 feet. The aircraft is 63 feet long, with a wingspan of 104 feet. The top of the vertical tail is 16 feet above ground when the aircraft is on the bicycle-type landing gear. Cruising speeds are 410 knots, or 467 miles per hour, at altitude. A single General Electric F-118 turbofan engine rated at 17,000 pounds thrust powers the ER-2. For more information see the ER-2 Fact Sheet.
Original Image Photo Identification: AC87-0912-6, 18.Feb.1987, Wade Sisler 768 x 512 pixels – 76,114 bytes Information Page
Images On This Page Thumbnail: 150 x 202 pixels – 6,714 bytes (RO-75)
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