Hi all!I just finished watching a youtube clip from "James May Goes to the Moon", where May is taken on a ride with Maj. Cabigas in a U-2ST up to FL700. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJoMDq4AyLc&feature=relatedThat got me thinking. I downloaded the Alphasim U-2 from simviation once it was freeware, and I am planning on making my U-2 flights as realistic as possible. What is the average climb rate of the U-2? During takeoff, it seems to be climbing at a 60 degree angle, but later levels out. May includes shots of the U-2S's PFD, so I would assume that the PFD would include climb rate. What values would I have to set in the Alphasim U-2 autopilot (AKA default Lear autopilot) V/S indicator to achieve the same climb rates?

Try to manage the climb speed to keep indicated airspeed more or less constant. This way you'll climb fast at the beginning of your flight and then level out.

So what would be a good climb IAS ad/or a good angle of climb? Also, is there a real flight level called FL700? I know that FL600 is where Class A airspace starts, but is there such thing as FL700 or FL800?

Try to manage the climb speed to keep indicated airspeed more or less constant. This way you'll climb fast at the beginning of your flight and then level out.

So what would be a good climb IAS ad/or a good angle of climb? Also, is there a real flight level called FL700? I know that FL600 is where Class A airspace starts, but is there such thing as FL700 or FL800?

Yes there is a FL700 and in the US Class A starts at 18,000 and goes to FL600 above that is Class E.

...is there such thing as FL700 or FL800?

FL is a measurement unit devoid of any legal or regulatory content in and of itself, so the FL will be whatever your aircraft altitude is, rounded to the nearest 100 ft, provided your altimeter is set to standard pressure 29.92".Cheers,- jahman.

29.92 inHg is sea level pressure, right?

FL is a measurement unit devoid of any legal or regulatory content in and of itself, so the FL will be whatever your aircraft altitude is, rounded to the nearest 100 ft, provided your altimeter is set to standard pressure 29.92".Cheers,- jahman.

29.92 inHg is sea level pressure, right?

Sea level pressure on a standard day with standard temperature. (15C).

Sea level pressure on a standard day with standard temperature. (15C).

No, in the context of this thread 29.92" is simply a pressure datum, i.e. the reading of the altimeter's Kollsman Window that the altimeter must be set to.When the altimeter's Kollsman window is set to 29.92", then the altimeter altitude in hundreds of feet are Flight Levels, but only for altitudes at or above the Transition Level (the lowest Flight Level, FL180 in the U.S. but as low as FL30 in other countries).And now, time for a FL600 anecdote:In a famous SR-71 story...Los Angeles Center reported receiving a request for clearance to FL600. The incredulous controller, with some disdain in his voice, asked, "By the way, how do you plan to get up to 60,000 feet?" <-- note the conceptual error!The pilot (obviously a sled driver), responded, "We don't plan to go up to it, we plan to go down to it."He was cleared...Cheers,- jahman.

No, in the context of this thread 29.92" is simply a pressure datum, i.e. the reading of the altimeter's Kollsman Window that the altimeter must be set to.When the altimeter's Kollsman window is set to 29.92", then the altimeter altitude in hundreds of feet are Flight Levels, but only for altitudes at or above the Transition Level (the lowest Flight Level, FL180 in the U.S. but as low as FL30 in other countries).And now, time for a FL600 anecdote:In a famous SR-71 story...Los Angeles Center reported receiving a request for clearance to FL600. The incredulous controller, with some disdain in his voice, asked, "By the way, how do you plan to get up to 60,000 feet?" <-- note the conceptual error!The pilot (obviously a sled driver), responded, "We don't plan to go up to it, we plan to go down to it."He was cleared...Cheers,- jahman.

Wasn't it,-You're cleared to try.-Roger descending to FL600.:(

I was just googling Maj. Cabigas, apparently his personal plane is a J3 cub... http://web.hemc.net/jgarrett/Cabiphotos.htm

Hi all!I just finished watching a youtube clip from "James May Goes to the Moon", where May is taken on a ride with Maj. Cabigas in a U-2ST up to FL700. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJoMDq4AyLc&feature=relatedThat got me thinking. I downloaded the Alphasim U-2 from simviation once it was freeware, and I am planning on making my U-2 flights as realistic as possible. What is the average climb rate of the U-2? During takeoff, it seems to be climbing at a 60 degree angle, but later levels out. May includes shots of the U-2S's PFD, so I would assume that the PFD would include climb rate. What values would I have to set in the Alphasim U-2 autopilot (AKA default Lear autopilot) V/S indicator to achieve the same climb rates?

I spent 7 years controlling Aspens (SR-71) aka “Sleds” or "Blackbirds" and Pinons (U-2) aka “Dragon Lady” at Beale AFB in the early 80's. I have to agree the initial climb rate is impressive (15,000fpm) which is maintained through 25,000 feet. I also remember the climb angle to be closer to 80 degrees initial v 60, but that could just be irrational exuberance on my part.I have two fond memories of my time with the U-2. The first is watching the chase Mustangs spinning out of control on the runway on particularly rainy days (hey, no one ever got hurt). The second was at a quarterly briefing. The Sled and Dragon Lady Pilots would come and brief the controllers on the current "aviation topic de jure". On this particular day, the Sled team was done and it was time for the Dragon Ladies. The briefer started to drone on about the special handling requirements of the U-2 aircraft. (As an aside, many U-2 jockeys were washed out Sr-71 drivers. As such, they always seemed to have a big chip on their shoulder when placed in the same room with the Sled pilots)About 5 minutes into the briefing, one of my mates raises his hand. The U-2 pilot ignores him, but that hand just won’t go down or away. Finally with a very audible sigh, the pilot says, "Sargent...do you have a question?"Without missing a beat the mischievous controller replies, "Yes sir, I do. I'm hoping you can validate this for me. Is it true that the U-2 is the only aircraft in the Air Force Inventory that has sustained a bird strike from the rear?"The ensuing laughter from the Sled jocks went on for at least 5 minutes. Mr. Dragon Lady? He just shook his head and skulked out of the room!For the rest of the story, read this: http://www.blackbirds.net/u2/u-2mission.htmlBraun

What do you mean conceptual error? Isn't that a real altitude (FL600)?BTW I watched a vid of a Saudia 747SP (Saudia 7763) departing Charles de Gaulle. The pilots got clearance from Paris departure to climb to "FL100". Is there such an altitude? 10,000 feet?

No, in the context of this thread 29.92" is simply a pressure datum, i.e. the reading of the altimeter's Kollsman Window that the altimeter must be set to.When the altimeter's Kollsman window is set to 29.92", then the altimeter altitude in hundreds of feet are Flight Levels, but only for altitudes at or above the Transition Level (the lowest Flight Level, FL180 in the U.S. but as low as FL30 in other countries).And now, time for a FL600 anecdote:In a famous SR-71 story...Los Angeles Center reported receiving a request for clearance to FL600. The incredulous controller, with some disdain in his voice, asked, "By the way, how do you plan to get up to 60,000 feet?" <-- note the conceptual error!The pilot (obviously a sled driver), responded, "We don't plan to go up to it, we plan to go down to it."He was cleared...Cheers,- jahman.

I like this snapshot,check out the indicated airspeed,and the stall margin.

There can be such a thing as FL100, just not in the US. FL are used above the transition altitude, where the altimeter has to be set to the standard 29.92InHg or 101.3KPa, which is 18000 feet in the US, but in Europe it can vary greatly, being as low as five to sixthousand feet.

I like this snapshot,check out the indicated airspeed,and the stall margin.

Hello!I have a question related to your screen shot, and perhaps someone could clarify it for me....In the photo the IAS is 104 kts. but the Machmeter is reading .704 Mach. Now, given that at 40,000 ft.Mach 1 would be approx. 575 kts., at 70,000 ft wouldn't Mach .704 be right around 450 kts? Or am I justmissing something?You have to admit, though... quite a view out the canopy, huh? :( Good luck with your flights, squawkvfr!Kampai,Alan :(