The Central Intelligence Agency and Overhead Reconnaissance; The U-2 and OXCART Programs, 1954-1974

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followed on I August. LeVier accelerated to 70 knots and began to try
the ailerons. ·'It was at this point that I became aware of being air­
borne.'' LeYier noted afterward. "which left me with utter amaze­
ment, as I had no intentions whatsoever of flying. I immediately
started back toward the ground, but had difficulty determining my
height because the lakebed had no markings to judge distance or
height. I made contact with the ground in a left bank of approximately
l 0 degrees." The U-2 bounced back into the air, but Le Vier was able
to bring it back down for a second landing. He then applied the brakes
with little effect, and the aircraft rolled for a long distance before
.
,,
coming to a stop. -
Bissell, Cunningham. and Johnson saw the aircraft fall and
bounce. Leaping into a jeep, they roared off toward the plane. They
signaled to Le Vier to climb out and then used fire extinguishers to put
out a fire in the brakes. At a debriefing session that followed. LeYier
complained about the poor performance of the brakes and the absence
of markings on the runway. Damage to the prototype U-2 was very
minor: blown tires, a leaking oleostrut on the undercarriage, and dam­
aged brakes. This unplanned flight was but a foretaste of the airwor­
thiness of the U-2. New pilots all had difficulty in getting the U-2's
wheels on the ground because at low speeds it would remain in
ground effect and glide effortlessly above the runway for great dis­
tances.
Taxi trials continued for one more day and were followed by the
first planned flight on 4 August 1955. LeVier was again at the con­
trols and had been instructed by Kelly Johnson to land the U-2 by
making initial contact with the main or forward landing gear and let­
ting the plane settle back on the rear wheel. LeVier had disagreed
with this approach. believing that the U-2 would bounce if he tried to
touch down on the forward gear first. After flying the aircraft up to
8,000 feet, Le Vier leveled off and began cycling the landing gear up
and down: then he tested the flaps and the plane's stability and control
systems. Finally. LeYier made his first landing approach. As the U-2
settled down. the forward landing gear touched the runway and the
plane skipped and bounced into the air. LeVier made a second attempt
to land front wheels first. and again the plane bounded into the air.
'' Transcripts of th.: test pilors· and obs.:rv.:rs· comments on the initial U-2 tt:st flights
have been published in ··secret First Flight of Artide 0OI ... Spyplanes vol. 2. 1988. pp.
64• 7 I. 82-85.
Sect et NOFORN
Chapter 2
Sesret