Mystery - Jet Powered Sailplane - Van Nuys Airport

Can anyone help me identify the sailplane in this photo:

http://www.abtriplec.com/images/misc...tery_plane.jpg

I found it using Google Earth and am stumped... I can't find any info on it on the 'Net and am hoping you guys can point me in the right direction...

It has an approximate 107ft wingspan and a 45ft fuselage.

I flew gliders in the UK while stationed there as a G.I. in the 1980's... I sure do miss those days...

Thanks all...

gh

Mystery Solved by Frank McVey.

It's a Grob Egrett High Altitude Research Vehicle...

Picture he http://bbs.keyhole.com/ubb/showthrea...75/page/0/vc/1

Originally Posted by genehil

Can anyone help me identify the sailplane in this photo:

http://www.abtriplec.com/images/misc...tery_plane.jpg

I found it using Google Earth and am stumped... I can't find any info on it on the 'Net and am hoping you guys can point me in the right direction...

It has an approximate 107ft wingspan and a 45ft fuselage.

I flew gliders in the UK while stationed there as a G.I. in the 1980's... I sure do miss those days...

Thanks all...

gh

Looks like nothing more than a li'l old U-2 to me...

;o)


At 16:12 11 October 2005, Genehil wrote:

Can anyone help me identify the sailplane in this photo:

http://www.abtriplec.com/images/misc...tery_plane.jpg

I found it using Google Earth and am stumped... I
can't find any info
on it on the 'Net and am hoping you guys can point
me in the right
direction...

It has an approximate 107ft wingspan and a 45ft fuselage.

I flew gliders in the UK while stationed there as a
G.I. in the
1980's... I sure do miss those days...

Thanks all...

gh


--
genehil

Looks like the Grob Egret:

http://www.spyflight.co.uk/G850.HTM

At 16:12 11 October 2005, Genehil wrote:

Can anyone help me identify the sailplane in this photo:

http://www.abtriplec.com/images/misc...tery_plane.jpg

I found it using Google Earth and am stumped... I
can't find any info
on it on the 'Net and am hoping you guys can point
me in the right
direction...

It has an approximate 107ft wingspan and a 45ft fuselage.

I flew gliders in the UK while stationed there as a
G.I. in the
1980's... I sure do miss those days...

Thanks all...

gh


--
genehil

Al is right U2 with the underwing pods/tanks fitted

http://www.r-s-c-c.org/rscc/v1m1images/u2history.html


At 16:36 11 October 2005, Alan Irving wrote:
Looks like the Grob Egret:

http://www.spyflight.co.uk/G850.HTM

At 16:12 11 October 2005, Genehil wrote:

Can anyone help me identify the sailplane in this photo:

http://www.abtriplec.com/images/misc...tery_plane.jpg

I found it using Google Earth and am stumped... I
can't find any info
on it on the 'Net and am hoping you guys can point
me in the right
direction...

It has an approximate 107ft wingspan and a 45ft fuselage.

I flew gliders in the UK while stationed there as a
G.I. in the
1980's... I sure do miss those days...

Thanks all...

gh


--
genehil

Put my vote in the Grob Egret column. I base this on the position of the
canopy, shape of horizontal stabilizer, the aspect ratio of the wing and the
location of the wing pods (too close to the fuselage to be an U-2 variant.)

By the way, watching a U-2 land on a carrier is a site I will never forget.

Wayne
HP-14 N990 "6F"
http://www.soaridaho.com/

"Don Johnstone" wrote in
message ...
Al is right U2 with the underwing pods/tanks fitted

http://www.r-s-c-c.org/rscc/v1m1images/u2history.html


At 16:36 11 October 2005, Alan Irving wrote:
Looks like the Grob Egret:

http://www.spyflight.co.uk/G850.HTM

At 16:12 11 October 2005, Genehil wrote:

Can anyone help me identify the sailplane in this photo:

http://www.abtriplec.com/images/misc...tery_plane.jpg

I found it using Google Earth and am stumped... I
can't find any info
on it on the 'Net and am hoping you guys can point
me in the right
direction...

It has an approximate 107ft wingspan and a 45ft fuselage.

I flew gliders in the UK while stationed there as a
G.I. in the
1980's... I sure do miss those days...

Thanks all...

gh


--
genehil

Hi Wayne,

I'm curious - why was that landing interesting? I would think it would land
much more slowly than most other planes.

Paul Remde

"Wayne Paul" wrote in message
...
Put my vote in the Grob Egret column. I base this on the position of the
canopy, shape of horizontal stabilizer, the aspect ratio of the wing and
the
location of the wing pods (too close to the fuselage to be an U-2
variant.)

By the way, watching a U-2 land on a carrier is a site I will never
forget.

Wayne
HP-14 N990 "6F"
http://www.soaridaho.com/

"Don Johnstone" wrote
in
message ...
Al is right U2 with the underwing pods/tanks fitted

http://www.r-s-c-c.org/rscc/v1m1images/u2history.html


At 16:36 11 October 2005, Alan Irving wrote:
Looks like the Grob Egret:

http://www.spyflight.co.uk/G850.HTM

At 16:12 11 October 2005, Genehil wrote:

Can anyone help me identify the sailplane in this photo:

http://www.abtriplec.com/images/misc...tery_plane.jpg

I found it using Google Earth and am stumped... I
can't find any info
on it on the 'Net and am hoping you guys can point
me in the right
direction...

It has an approximate 107ft wingspan and a 45ft fuselage.

I flew gliders in the UK while stationed there as a
G.I. in the
1980's... I sure do miss those days...

Thanks all...

gh


--
genehil

"Paul Remde" wrote in message
news:XDV2f.237781$084.175922@attbi_s22...
Hi Wayne,

I'm curious - why was that landing interesting? I would think it would
land
much more slowly than most other planes.


It does land slower; however, it doesn't have a tail hook to stop it. It
doesn't have the usual trucks that run down the runway along side to catch
the wings. The starboard wing comes mighty close to the island and the
port wing tip wheel outrigger is out over the water.

To land, the ship turns into the wind and generated about 20 kts of wind
across the deck. It lands, then a mass of deck hands run out and grab it to
keep it from blowing away while they tie it down.

It is much more impressive than seeing a C-130 land and go to full reverse
to stop prior to running of the angle deck. At least the C-130 has a wing
load heavy enough to not get blown around and has the ability to taxi.

Wayne

On Tue, 11 Oct 2005 15:48:00 -0600, "Wayne Paul"
wrote:

This is an interesting description of the U2 carrier trials:
http://www.afa.org/magazine/feb2001/...ane_print.html

It does land slower; however, it doesn't have a tail hook to stop it.

Although the very first carrier trial used an unmodified U-2A without
arresting gear, the U-2G and U-2R had:
http://www.afa.org/magazine/feb2001/0201spy3.jpg

Was the arresting gear removed later?




Bye
Andreas

Alan is right. It is not a U2. The U2 would have a much longer nose.
Also the tapering of the wing planform is clearly not that of a U2.