Air Force Car Stuff

[CTX-SLPR]

Howdy,

I know there is a hugely varied population out there on this board. What I am after is if any of ya'll have any information on the use of El Caminos as chase cars for the U-2. Details are preffered but rumors are helpful for chasing facts down.

Thanks,

[Fordplay0621]

Re: Air Force Car Stuff

I'll see if I can Contact my Friend Denny, he use to work on the U2 Project I believe as a Manager.

[KeithTurk]

Re: Air Force Car Stuff

Hmmm they had to pick up the wing tip wheels after take off... but whatelse would they have been used for? Oh and if they were that stuff is so secret the Elky's might not even have been sold...they might have simply been crushed to prevent folks from seeing what kind if power train they had...

Your talking WAY back too... virtually to the inception of the El Camino

Hmmm

Keith ( My Dad has a Cool story about when Francis Gary Powers was captured... and they thought he was flying out of Canada.. out of my Dad's base... total lock down so on and so forth... )

[L98camino]

Re: Air Force Car Stuff

I just read some stuff on the web about this. I guess they started out with a station wagon with the "bigest engine available" no specifics on that. Then in '66 they started using a 396 El Camino. In '79 they went to an interceptor style 5.0 Mustang.

The pilots recieved landing info from the chase car because of poor visability near touch down. There were conflicting "stories" about resting the wingtips in the bed so they wouldn't scrape the ground. I know I've seen footage of them coming to a stop with one wingtip on the ground and I thought they had skid plates on them for that purpose, I'm not sure though. They would re-attach the outrigger gear for taxi/tow.

There is a guy in Ca. that has restored one of the Mustangs, if you search SSP Mustang there is a fair amount of info.

[CTX-SLPR]

Re: Air Force Car Stuff

Thats confirmation of what I've heard so far. I can't talk about what this is for however at this point, just to say that if anyone has any information I'd love to hear it.

Thanks,

[L98camino]

Re: Air Force Car Stuff

This is kinda on topic:

http://www.wvi.com/~sr71webmaster/ag330_sr.htm

TWO LS-7's man I bet they sounded great (the nailheads were probably cool too)

[TheSilverBuick]

Re: Air Force Car Stuff

TWO Buick 401's man I bet they sounded great (the LS-7s were probably cool too)


;D :P

[HoosierGTA]

Re: Air Force Car Stuff

This is kinda on topic:

http://www.wvi.com/~sr71webmaster/ag330_sr.htm

TWO LS-7's man I bet they sounded great (the nailheads were probably cool too)

Thats very cool. I would have never guessed that car engines were used to start the Black bird .

[CTX-SLPR]

Re: Air Force Car Stuff

you people are too good, I wasn't even going to mention those. All I can say is I might give you reason to go to an street race type event sometime later this year beyond the bikini contest.

[VWMMP]

Re: Air Force Car Stuff

I checked with a co-worker, former air force general (pilot). SS396 motor in the el-caminos. He thought that a couple of them may have had a 454. He thinks that they used station wagons prior to the el caminos. Mustang was next and he thinks that they ended up with a camaro at the end but he doesn't quite know for sure. He was going to check with someone he knows that used to be with the program.

[Fordplay0621]

Re: Air Force Car Stuff

Those Engines they used to start the SR-71 with had breakaway Driveshafts attached to them and the Aircraft. Thats what I was told one time. Cant confirm it.

[HEMI]

Re: Air Force Car Stuff

Yep,I've seen many pic's of the Buick starter engines in past WINGS magazines.The Mustang was featured in a recent issue of HEMMINGS MUSCLE MACHINES.

[VWMMP]

Re: Air Force Car Stuff

OK - I spoke to another guy at work that used to deal with these planes. He doesn't remember the motor in the cars. He did point out that you can probably get someone to find you all the information you want at the Air Force Historical Research Agency or from the Air Force Museaum at Wright Patterson AFB.

http://www.afhra.af.mil/

[CTX-SLPR]

Re: Air Force Car Stuff

I checked with a co-worker, former air force general (pilot). SS396 motor in the el-caminos. He thought that a couple of them may have had a 454. He thinks that they used station wagons prior to the el caminos. Mustang was next and he thinks that they ended up with a camaro at the end but he doesn't quite know for sure. He was going to check with someone he knows that used to be with the program.

Does he remember if they were manual or automatics?

[JOES66FURY]

Re: Air Force Car Stuff

I know youre looking for old info but...I touched base with a few contacts and I know that Camaros and GTO's are in use currently...geewiz info really...but though I would share