A U-2R fl ies
the closed
pattern at Beale.
Ted Carlson/
Fotodynamicschief. We were followed out the runway
by the standard array of vehicles following
the mobile that included maintenance
and PSD, supplemented today by
the squadron commander and wing
operations o cer.
U-2s are taxied with full back pressure
on the yoke for maximum traction on
the small tandem tailwheels, which only
de ect 6.5° either side of center. Any more
than that and their Te on tread would
disintegrate upon landing. All turns have
to be planned well in advance and there
is no di erential braking on the tandem
main gear. Additionally, both outrigger
wheels — ‘pogos’ — can easily take out
taxiway lights if strict adherence to the
centerline is not maintained.‘PF’ gave me control of ‘the Goat’ on the
taxiway to allow me a feel of the steering
as I immediately overcorrected on the
rudder pedals while S-turning back and
forth across the centerline. After settling
down, my next surprise was the 90° turn
from the parallel to the runway entrance
taxiway. At what seemed to be at least
75-100ft from the turn, ‘PF’ shouted over
the intercom, ‘full left rudder now!’ Slowly,
as if piloting a freighter on the open
seas, the nose started tracking in the
desired direction and as it approached
the centerline the opposite command
was issued. This was just the rst of
many things that would challenge my
learning curve, and we hadn’t even left the
ground yet!‘SKUNK WORKS’ AT 75 // U-2 ‘DRAGON LADY’
88 July 2018 //^ http://www.combataircraft.net
84-93 U-2 part 1 C.indd 88 22/05/2018 16:17