U-2 Photography

View looking out of a U-2 of the sun being eclipsed by the rear view mirror

Can other military forces use stuff from the U-2?

by extremeross August 20, 2020 in Flying, U-2 Photography, General Comments are Disabled

Back with #AskExtremeRoss, @cnatrigirl_ asked a question a while back that I’ll paraphrase. She basically wanted to know since the U-2 falls under Air Combat Command, if other organizations such as Space Force could use U-2 stuff. Basically the answer is yes, whoever has a need and clearance for the […]

Looking over the northern lights circling around the pole

What is the most unbelievable thing about flying the U-2?

by extremeross July 15, 2020 in Night, Flying, U-2 Photography, General Comments are Disabled

Getting back to #AskExtremeRoss, @vfreesz had a multipart question “What is the best, the worst, the unbelievable and the ordinary things about flying the Lady?” This being a multipart question, I’m just going to answer part now. This ties into some other answers I’ve given before, but one of the […]

Flying with the Viewsight

by extremeross June 17, 2020 in Flying, U-2 Photography, General Comments are Disabled

Here’s something you don’t see everyday, and you can’t see anymore as the viewsight is out of every operational U-2 or ER-2 now. Back in my first year or so in the U-2, I had the chance to fly the Block 10 U-2. This is when it still had a […]

looking down at a large river in Afghanistan from the U-2 DragonLady

When you look down at Earth, does your mind wander about what year it is down there?

by extremeross May 31, 2020 in Flying, U-2 Photography, General Comments are Disabled

@race23element6 asks “When you look down at earth does your mind wander about what year it is down there??” I can say that it is easy for you to feel detached from what is going on down below you. Most places look beautiful and just looking outside, you really might not […]

high over northern california with a view of most cities to the east of sacramento

To Make a Super Pano

by extremeross May 28, 2020 in Videos, General, U-2 Photography, Flying, Premium Photos Comments are Disabled

Hey everyone. Today is very special. I’m pumped because today is essentially the last day of home schooling my kids for the year (hopefully….damn you coronavirus) To celebrate, I thought today needed a little peppy 80’s montage music (first to name the movie gets…nothing but my respect) put together with a quick run […]

looking out the cockpit of the u-2 dragonlady during a no flap landing

How does the U-2 handle at low altitudes?

by extremeross May 18, 2020 in Videos, Flying, U-2 Photography, General Comments are Disabled

Today in #askextremeross, @andre_garcez_ asked “How does the U-2 handle at low altitudes?” So imagine you’re carrying a 105 ft long wooden beam in the center and trying to maneuver it down the street. You’re trying to keep the ends from hitting anything and keep them from hitting the ground. […]

Extreme Ross stares over the stars from a flag out past the wing of a U-2

Why are U-2s still in use if we have satellites?

by extremeross May 13, 2020 in Flying, U-2 Photography, General Comments are Disabled

Today I’m answering one of the most common airshow questions a U-2 pilot ever gets. Several of you, including @vasiliybaraniuk asked: “Why are U2s still in use if we have satellites? Note: the following is entirely my opinion/viewpoint/soapbox/rant. The easy answers are something about multi-layered approaches to intelligence, from satellites to […]

Have you ever seen any UFO’s or objects that made you thing “what was that”?

by extremeross May 10, 2020 in General, Videos, U-2 Photography, Flying, Night Comments are Disabled

???️?️ Hello again. For today’s #askextremeross I’m tackling a subject several of you have asked me about. And that is, of course, UFOs. @chadholcomb88 asked “Since you’re one of very few pilots that have experienced flight at that altitude, have you seen any “UFO’s”, or objects that made you think […]

U-2 looking forward over the nose toward a low sun and island

Do you have any solar radiation issues at that altitude?

by extremeross May 9, 2020 in Flying, U-2 Photography, General Comments are Disabled

For #askextremeross today, I’m answering @lo_muller who asked “Do you have solar radiation issues at that altitude?” While rarely affecting missions, space radiation, and particularly solar radiation, are something that we have to pay attention to. At the altitudes we’re at, 90% of the atmospheric mass is below us. It’s still a […]

Do you have to modulate your climbs/descents in some form due to the extreme altitudes you get to(like a deep sea diver)??

by extremeross May 7, 2020 in Flying, U-2 Photography, Videos, General Comments are Disabled

Thanks to @murrayscaifephoto who asked Extreme Ross “Do you have to modulate your climbs/descents in some form due to the extreme altitudes you get to (like a deep sea diver) ?? Thanks” Good question. There will be a whole separate story that will go into everything the U-2 pilot has to […]