Quote:
Originally Posted by Piotrsko
I am pretty sure they went into an abrupt nose up accelerated stall that bent the plane apart. Jack Northrups airfoil selection was not standard. The reports say skin pieces were in a trailing pattern away from the impact area.
Hope this makes sense, it's an off speach day
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All I heard was that, the plane ultimately pancaked in, suggesting a flat-spin prior to ground strike.
Bending does make sense though.
The U2 Dragon Lady will simply fold and separate it's wings if overstressed. And they say it's very easy to do.
I refueled them in Thailand and at South Base, at Edward's, and before they got the pogos inserted, wing droop was pretty dramatic.
Kelly Johnson designed them right on the ragged edge.