Many moons ago, worked at an airfield that had a 9000' long runway. The rate of climb of the U-2 was phenomenal, distance wise from start of take off to the end of the runway - it was at 5000' altitude. A long lonely sortie for the Pilot, with a very small 'coffin corner' Stall v Vne.
U2s launching from Britain is a step up. Pretty impressive getting that video. I had a jolly in a KC135 and launched in the cockpit. I was taking some pics and the pilot asked me not to take shots of the 4 U2s that were there; PSAB Saudi. No idea why it was an issue, as they were at Akrotiri too and launching daily.
Just love seeing this footage from Fairford. Memories of walking the Thames Trail recalled and seeing the USAF and RAF supply flights heading out. Such beautiful footage here, and the U2 take off is always weird, the technicians running out to withdraw the lock pins in the jockey wheels always seems odd today. The engineering that goes into the behemoths of the air is wondrous.
I learned to fly at a little grass runway that was located right on the outer edge of the Brunswick Naval Air Station's designated air space - coming back to the airport one day in a little cessna at about 5000 feet and looked out the window at a C-5 Galaxy flying about 4000 feet below me on short final to the air-base - first and last time I ever got to see one from above
