Camaros in the USAF! - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

Nightspore68 · 03-22-2012, 07:29 PM

Check out this story about U-2s from Smithsonian's Air & Space magazine:

http://www.airspacemag.com/military-...?device=iphone
Sorry if this has already been posted. The search feature doesn't work on this iPhone.

Deke736 · 03-22-2012, 07:44 PM

Cool article!

montyhp · 03-22-2012, 07:47 PM

Yep, when I was stationed at Langley in the early 2000s they let one of the NCOs drive her corvette to chase the U2 for the airshow.

I noticed there are a lot of military on camaro5. Maybe we should do a poll?

Nightspore68 · 03-22-2012, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by montyhp

Yep, when I was stationed at Langley in the early 2000s they let one of the NCOs drive her corvette to chase the U2 for the airshow.

I noticed there are a lot of military on camaro5. Maybe we should do a poll?

They did that a while back, but there are probably many more members now.

gotroost · 03-22-2012, 09:16 PM

There was an article in Wired Magazine (wired.com) about this a while back. Fbodfather even had some comments.

LimaCharlie · 03-23-2012, 02:14 AM

I've seen 4th gen Camaros used as the chase car. I didn't know 5th gens were being considered for this too. That would make a great picture!

*mlee* · 03-23-2012, 02:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by montyhp

Yep, when I was stationed at Langley in the early 2000s they let one of the NCOs drive her corvette to chase the U2 for the airshow.

I noticed there are a lot of military on camaro5. Maybe we should do a poll?

I was stationed at Langley early 2000's also.

Abstrak · 03-23-2012, 02:58 AM

MY AFSC was A-10s and U2s

Globemaster · 03-23-2012, 06:07 AM

A little more on the chase cars. The link to the story is at the bottom has some video's you can watch...

The Air Force began using chase cars early on in the U-2 program, all the way back to the days of the project's 1950s Groom Lake (a.k.a. Area 51) testing. The first examples were reportedly Ford station wagons, typically showroom models with the biggest V-8 available. Chevrolet El Caminos (ha!) followed, as did a host of good-natured abuse at the hands of servicemen.

By all accounts, the El Caminos were capable and long-lived, if a bit slow and underbraked. They lasted until 1985, when the Air Force borrowed a Special Service Package (SSP) Ford Mustang from the California Highway Patrol. (The SSP was a lightweight, 5.0-liter V-8-powered police model that produced between 180 and 225 hp depending on year. You can read more about it here.) The Mustang handed the El Camino its ass, the Air Force was thrilled, and it bought 20 examples of the car over the following decade. Most of them were automatics, almost all of them were blue, and with the exception of a few stenciled logos, a light bar, and some auxiliary switches, they were stock. One is currently in civilian hands after being stationed in Europe, but the rest are rumored to have been crushed.

Fourth-gen Camaros in Chevrolet's B4C/Special Service trim came after that, lasting until a few years ago, at which point they were replaced with 2005-2006 Pontiac GTOs. The V-8-powered Pontiac G8 GT recently filtered into the fleet, though it appears that the GTOs have yet to be removed from service. No matter the model, the chief draws are usually acceleration capability, high-speed stability, and parts continuity.

http://jalopnik.com/5537629/the-140+...e-us-air-force

Blade · 03-23-2012, 06:35 AM

That is effing awesome!

montyhp · 03-23-2012, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mlee

I was stationed at Langley early 2000's also.

I miss the free F15 airshow on Wednesday afternoon (I suppose it is an F-22 now).

Spent most of my AF career at non-flying bases (Brooks City Base, Quantico (OK, some helicopters) etc. Now work at Fort Sam Houston so have to go to Randolph to watch the T-38s.

BTW, Love my Camaro (so this message is not off topic).

Nightspore68 · 03-23-2012, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by montyhp

I miss the free F15 airshow on Wednesday afternoon (I suppose it is an F-22 now).

Spent most of my AF career at non-flying bases (Brooks City Base, Quantico (OK, some helicopters) etc. Now work at Fort Sam Houston so have to go to Randolph to watch the T-38s.

BTW, Love my Camaro (so this message is not off topic).

I've been to Langley somewhat recently. It's F-15s and F-22s almost every day. And I saw one (non-American) F-4 on one trip.

And to keep it on topic - The first month I had my Camaro I drove it from Atlanta to Langley on business instead of flying. That helped me break it in. I think we were supposed to drive them 1500 miles before using all of the throttle and tach, so that trip helped me accelerate the process!

Badman24 · 03-23-2012, 07:36 PM

I was stationed downrange with the U-2's and we had 2 4th Gen Camaros, 1 2004 GTO (350hp) and one 2006 GTO (400Hp). One of the female pilots actually buried one in the sand but shut of the engine just in time.

RJT Impala · 03-23-2012, 08:02 PM

Chase cars are typically driven by a qualified U-2 pilot and purpose is to talk the flier to the ground. The U-2 landing attitude and landing gear creates a nose high condition, making it virtually impossible for the pilot to see the runway in front of him. The chase pilot accelerates from a curving arc on an intesecting taxiway, tucks in befind the wing of the U-2, and radio communicates aircraft altitude. Speeds are typically around 100 mph; great experience!

03-22-2012, 07:29 PM	#1
Nightspore68 Drives: 2013 Camaro ZL-1, Victory Red Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Fort Worth, TX Posts: 378	Camaros in the USAF! Check out this story about U-2s from Smithsonian's Air & Space magazine: http://www.airspacemag.com/military-...?device=iphone Sorry if this has already been posted. The search feature doesn't work on this iPhone.

03-22-2012, 07:44 PM	#2
Deke736 COTW 12/3/12 Drives: 2012 Ashen Gray ZL1 Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Glen Carbon, IL Posts: 3,279	Cool article! __________________

03-22-2012, 09:16 PM	#5
gotroost Drives: 2021 Crush ZL1 1LE Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Sierra Vista, AZ Posts: 1,119 View My Garage	There was an article in Wired Magazine (wired.com) about this a while back. Fbodfather even had some comments. __________________ 2021 Crush ZL1 1LE

03-23-2012, 02:14 AM	#6
LimaCharlie Drives: 2011 Camaro SS/RS - 2004 Silverado Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 2,989	I've seen 4th gen Camaros used as the chase car. I didn't know 5th gens were being considered for this too. That would make a great picture! __________________ 2011 Summit White Camaro 1SS/RS -6.2 LS3, TR6060, 3.45, G80 2004 Black Silverado 1500 2WD Regular Cab, Short Bed -5.3 LM7, 4L60E, 3.42, G80 2014 White Caprice PPV -6.0 L77, 6L80E, 2.92, G80

03-23-2012, 06:07 AM	#9
Globemaster Drives: 2010 2SS Bumble Bee Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Cybertron Posts: 571	A little more on the chase cars. The link to the story is at the bottom has some video's you can watch... The Air Force began using chase cars early on in the U-2 program, all the way back to the days of the project's 1950s Groom Lake (a.k.a. Area 51) testing. The first examples were reportedly Ford station wagons, typically showroom models with the biggest V-8 available. Chevrolet El Caminos (ha!) followed, as did a host of good-natured abuse at the hands of servicemen. By all accounts, the El Caminos were capable and long-lived, if a bit slow and underbraked. They lasted until 1985, when the Air Force borrowed a Special Service Package (SSP) Ford Mustang from the California Highway Patrol. (The SSP was a lightweight, 5.0-liter V-8-powered police model that produced between 180 and 225 hp depending on year. You can read more about it here.) The Mustang handed the El Camino its ass, the Air Force was thrilled, and it bought 20 examples of the car over the following decade. Most of them were automatics, almost all of them were blue, and with the exception of a few stenciled logos, a light bar, and some auxiliary switches, they were stock. One is currently in civilian hands after being stationed in Europe, but the rest are rumored to have been crushed. Fourth-gen Camaros in Chevrolet's B4C/Special Service trim came after that, lasting until a few years ago, at which point they were replaced with 2005-2006 Pontiac GTOs. The V-8-powered Pontiac G8 GT recently filtered into the fleet, though it appears that the GTOs have yet to be removed from service. No matter the model, the chief draws are usually acceleration capability, high-speed stability, and parts continuity. http://jalopnik.com/5537629/the-140+...e-us-air-force __________________ If you are going through hell, keep going." "Winston Churchill" "

03-22-2012, 07:47 PM	#3
montyhp Drives: 2011 2LT/RS Red Jewel w/Beige Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: East of San Antonio, TX Posts: 148	Yep, when I was stationed at Langley in the early 2000s they let one of the NCOs drive her corvette to chase the U2 for the airshow. I noticed there are a lot of military on camaro5. Maybe we should do a poll?

03-23-2012, 02:58 AM	#8
Abstrak Drives: 2012 AGM Camaro LS / Team LFX Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Maryland Posts: 546	MY AFSC was A-10s and U2s

03-23-2012, 06:35 AM	#10
Blade Drives: 2016 Camaro 2SS BVM Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Charlotte Posts: 4,689 View My Garage	That is effing awesome! __________________ Formerly owner of: 2012 2SS/RS Build Thread - Totaled by red light runner 2010 LT/RS Build Thread - Traded in for 2012 2SS 2007 Acura TSX 1992 Oldsmobile Achieva V6 1992 Mercury Sable

03-23-2012, 07:36 PM	#13
Badman24 Drives: 2SS Black W/GFX Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: South Dakota (EAFB) Posts: 100	I was stationed downrange with the U-2's and we had 2 4th Gen Camaros, 1 2004 GTO (350hp) and one 2006 GTO (400Hp). One of the female pilots actually buried one in the sand but shut of the engine just in time. __________________

03-23-2012, 08:02 PM	#14
RJT Impala Stovebolt BluFlame 6 Drives: '12 2LT/RS, IBM; '20 Traverse Prem Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Wherever! Posts: 893 View My Garage	Chase cars are typically driven by a qualified U-2 pilot and purpose is to talk the flier to the ground. The U-2 landing attitude and landing gear creates a nose high condition, making it virtually impossible for the pilot to see the runway in front of him. The chase pilot accelerates from a curving arc on an intesecting taxiway, tucks in befind the wing of the U-2, and radio communicates aircraft altitude. Speeds are typically around 100 mph; great experience!

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