BajaNomad

An interesting tidbit for Aircraft fans.....

AKgringo - 5-6-2025 at 07:27 AM

Ok, this has nothing to do with Baja, or private aircraft, but it might be of interest to the pilots or military aircraft fans on this forum.

I was driving by the north end of Beal Airforce Base (near Marysville CA) and I watched a U-2 spy plane come in for a landing! Those old planes were around in the 50s and 60s, but I did not know they were still in use! :wow:

mtgoat666 - 5-6-2025 at 07:51 AM

In the news: recently the US has been using U2s and Reaper drones to spy on the border, and to spy inside of mexico. The stated objective is to monitor the border, and collect intel on criminal orgs. Isuspect they are monitoring a bit more than they say…

Tioloco - 5-6-2025 at 07:55 AM

Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666  
In the news: recently the US has been using U2s and Reaper drones to spy on the border, and to spy inside of mexico. The stated objective is to monitor the border, and collect intel on criminal orgs. Isuspect they are monitoring a bit more than they say…


US military acknowledged they are using aircraft to gather intelligence in Mexico. Recent air trackers have shown flights over Sinaloa and up and down the Sea of Cortez. Targets have surely been identified already.

U-2s might be flying over Baja?

AKgringo - 5-6-2025 at 08:56 AM

Cool...I might not be off-topic after all! I still wonder why we are using cold-war technology with all the advancements in drone and satellite technology that has been made in the decades since that aircraft was introduced.

For those who may not be familiar with the U-2, it is probably the most difficult aircraft to take off and land that was ever designed. With "skateboard like" landing gear, it requires two support vehicles to race down the runway supporting the wing tips until it takes off, or comes to a stop.

That sure limits where a pilot could land and hope to take off again!


[Edited on 5-6-2025 by AKgringo]

Tioloco - 5-6-2025 at 09:02 AM

A US Air Force RC-135 "Rivet" was one of the intel planes sent to fly over Sinaloa gathering information. No doubt there are many more we aren't aware of being used as well.

David K - 5-6-2025 at 09:15 AM

We sure are not "spying on Mexico" as the government there is not threatening war with us. We (apparently) are looking to find drug shipments heading north, to SAVE lives. :light:

BeachSeeker - 5-6-2025 at 10:17 AM

Quote: Originally posted by AKgringo  
Cool...I might not be off-topic after all! I still wonder why we are using cold-war technology with all the advancements in drone and satellite technology that has been made in the decades since that aircraft was introduced.

For those who may not be familiar with the U-2, it is probably the most difficult aircraft to take off and land that was ever designed. With "skateboard like" landing gear, it requires two support vehicles to race down the runway supporting the wing tips until it takes off, or comes to a stop.

That sure limits where a pilot could land and hope to take off again!


[Edited on 5-6-2025 by AKgringo]


Current U2s are far from "Cold War Technology." I don't think there's a single U.S. U2 still flying that was built during the Cold War. They are quite a bit bigger now, different engines, and the sensors are modern. The chase cars aren't "supporting" anything. They just go and pick up the pogos that support the long wings during ground operations. The pogos fall out as soon as the U2 lifts off. The chase car does have a pilot onboard to assist the U2 pilot in landing, by calling out altitudes as it lands.

Drones and satellites just can't fully replace what the U2 can do. Despite what they show on TV, you can't just make a satellite zoom in on any point that you want. They are in orbit and have a finite amount of fuel available for steering. A U2 can fly anywhere and loiter. Drones just can't carry the amount of payload the U2 can. The U2 has a whole lot more than cameras onboard. Many of the sensors and capabilities are well beyond what the average person knows about.

AKgringo - 5-6-2025 at 12:12 PM

"BeachSeeker", thanks for updating my perspective of that old plane! I was surprised and thought it was cool to have one pass over me at very low altitude.

It has been quite a few years, but the SR71s used to be stationed there.
Those were the loudest planes I have ever heard as they were climbing to altitude!

surabi - 5-6-2025 at 02:19 PM

Quote: Originally posted by David K  
We sure are not "spying on Mexico" as the government there is not threatening war with us. We (apparently) are looking to find drug shipments heading north, to SAVE lives. :light:


Entering another country's airspace without permission to do surveillance is indeed spying.
Guess you don't remember the outcry over Chinese balloons over the US, which they claimed were just weather balloons, but which many were convinced were spy balloons.

Whether another country is threatening war has nothing to do with the definition of spying, nor does the alleged purpose of the surveillance.

[Edited on 5-6-2025 by surabi]

[Edited on 5-6-2025 by surabi]

pacificobob - 5-7-2025 at 06:18 AM

:mad::light:
Quote: Originally posted by David K  
We sure are not "spying on Mexico" as the government there is not threatening war with us. We (apparently) are looking to find drug shipments heading north, to SAVE lives. :light:


Elimination of the american demand for drugs would end the narco business immediately.

I worked with several guys who had flown the U2. I admired how little they had to say regarding the job.

lencho - 5-7-2025 at 08:18 AM

Quote: Originally posted by pacificobob  
Elimination of the american demand for drugs would end the narco business immediately.

Unfortunately, that would not end the criminal cartels. And the stuff they're branching out into (protection money, kidnapping, agriculture & fisheries, etc.) is much more harmful to the local populace than when they were completely focused on import-export of illegal product.
:(

The U-2 and the Corvette are about the same age!

AKgringo - 5-7-2025 at 08:40 AM

The Corvette that is being manufactured now is a far cry from the one I wanted when I was in high school. After viewing a few videos online, it is apparent the U-2 has evolved at least as much the car I watched on Route 66! (the 1960 TV show)

Tioloco - 5-7-2025 at 08:57 AM

Quote: Originally posted by lencho  
Quote: Originally posted by pacificobob  
Elimination of the american demand for drugs would end the narco business immediately.

Unfortunately, that would not end the criminal cartels. And the stuff they're branching out into (protection money, kidnapping, agriculture & fisheries, etc.) is much more harmful to the local populace than when they were completely focused on import-export of illegal product.
:(


lencho-very true

[Edited on 5-7-2025 by Tioloco]

David K - 5-7-2025 at 10:12 AM

Quote: Originally posted by surabi  
Quote: Originally posted by David K  
We sure are not "spying on Mexico" as the government there is not threatening war with us. We (apparently) are looking to find drug shipments heading north, to SAVE lives. :light:


Entering another country's airspace without permission to do surveillance is indeed spying.
Guess you don't remember the outcry over Chinese balloons over the US, which they claimed were just weather balloons, but which many were convinced were spy balloons.

Whether another country is threatening war has nothing to do with the definition of spying, nor does the alleged purpose of the surveillance.

[Edited on 5-6-2025 by surabi]

[Edited on 5-6-2025 by surabi]


Do you know that the United States defends both Mexico and Canada should either neighbor be attacked or invaded? I think that arrangement would include flying over their territory. Do you know if we didn't have Mexican permission? Very well could be secret so not to raise problems from leftists in their country?

surabi - 5-7-2025 at 10:36 AM

You're deflecting. That has nothing to do with your false statement that the definition of spying is not based upon whether a country has threatened war or the reason for the surveillance.

And what makes you think only Mexican leftists would oppose another country flying over their airspace without clearance? Only leftists want their borders and sovereignity respected? Sure doesn't seem to be the case in the US.

[Edited on 5-7-2025 by surabi]

[Edited on 5-7-2025 by surabi]

Tioloco - 5-7-2025 at 10:38 AM

Quote: Originally posted by surabi  
You're deflecting. That has nothing to do with your false statement that the definition of spying is not based upon whether a country has threatened war or the reason for the surveillance.


Sheinbaum is allowing Trump admin to do the surveillance. She knows he is right when he said she is afraid of the cartels. She has enough sense to discreetly seek help.

surabi - 5-7-2025 at 10:46 AM

And your source for this blather? You have zero idea what Sheinbaum is allowing, since no such thing has been made public, nor that "she knows Trump is right". But presenting your fantasies as fact is your M.O.

Tioloco - 5-7-2025 at 10:55 AM

Quote: Originally posted by surabi  
And your source for this blather? You have zero idea what Sheinbaum is allowing, since no such thing has been made public, nor that "she knows Trump is right". But presenting your fantasies as fact is your M.O.


The fact that Trump is actively conducting military flyovers deep into Mexican territory without a peep from Sheinbaum is your first clue. US military Aircraft transponders were left on for a reason. Trump also sent an American Special Forces group into Mexico to assist Mexican soldiers with "training".

Your second clue would be clear if you researched the extent of cartel influence and corruption in the Mexican government. Sheinbaum is an easy target and she is smart enough to know it. Trump said the quiet part out loud. Sorry it hurt your feelings. Get a clue.

Lee - 5-7-2025 at 01:20 PM

Quote: Originally posted by surabi  
And your source for this blather? You have zero idea what Sheinbaum is allowing, since no such thing has been made public, nor that "she knows Trump is right". But presenting your fantasies as fact is your M.O.


Secret dealings with the US prob won't be public. It's time MX goes high tech with what the US can offer. This isn't like invasion of Iraq.

Anything above 14,500k feet elevation in Baja is fair game for spying.

Pressure China who provides chemicals to MX labs for drug making.

surabi - 5-7-2025 at 01:38 PM

The "war on drugs" is unwinnable. Wasn't that long ago that crack was the scourge, then it was meth, now it's fentanyl. Next year it'll be something else.

Supply follows demand. It would be much smarter to put a lot more effort and $ into the root causes of drug addiction, which are not availability, but abuse, mental illness, poverty, and lack of education.

No one does drugs simply because they are available. If they legalized heroin tomorrow, would there suddenly be a huge amount of people saying "Awesome! I've always wanted to be a heroin addict. Nodding out in a urine soaked alleyway in the seediest part of town looks like such a cool lifestyle."?

This is not to say that dangerous drugs and the ingredients to produce them shouldn't be seized whenever possible, but that isn't going to fix drug addiction or keep drug addicts from dying of overdoses and poisonous substances.



[Edited on 5-7-2025 by surabi]

[Edited on 5-7-2025 by surabi]

Tioloco - 5-7-2025 at 02:35 PM

Lencho's earlier response is a clear reason why ignoring the cartel power grip on Mexico has had such horrible consequences. Only getting worse by the day.