Interesting read : U2 spy plane ends using film camera (!)

[BAC1967]

Well, I've got a U-2 to sell you if you're interested.

I was thinking I could do panoramic landscapes with it so I don't think I'll need the U-2. I will probably need a big sturdy tripod though.

 

[gone]

Is that the regular U-2 that you're selling, or the New U-2? I'm holding out for one of the New U-2's if I can find a nice, one owner model w/ low air time.

The military should have stayed w/ film. With today's technology, they could just send the film reels down to the photo lab in a drone. That would give Walmart a chance to get on the military gravy train and put in a low bid.

One large film reel, develop, w/ glossy prints -$2,000,000.99

 

[cmacd123]

What are my chances of picking up the OBC at a surplus sale?

you would need a trck to carry it, and the closest focusing distance is probably a couple of Miles.

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

Is that the regular U-2 that you're selling, or the New U-2? I'm holding out for one of the New U-2's if I can find a nice, one owner model w/ low air time.

The military should have stayed w/ film. With today's technology, they could just send the film reels down to the photo lab in a drone. That would give Walmart a chance to get on the military gravy train and put in a low bid.

One large film reel, develop, w/ glossy prints -$2,000,000.99

Well, it's actually a U-3 so you'll be getting something that's still secret. A real bargain at a good price. Interested?

 

[reddesert]

Even on a military budget, it's still easier to make a very large piece of film than a very large digital sensor, wide area panoramic imaging appears to be the niche this camera occupied. With the images being 5 inches by more than 6 feet long, I expect the film was driven past the lens at a rate compensated for image motion as the plane flies. I'm sure it's digitized quickly after development for image processing, so it's good this is in the Hybrid forum.

They don't fly the U-2 in places it could be attacked, obviously (not over superpowers). The NASA variants of the U-2 are still flying for scientific research and civilian uses, including carrying infrared sensors. A couple of years ago, I saw one of the NASA U-2's in flight condition in a NASA hangar in Palmdale, CA. No pictures allowed in the hangar unfortunately, although there wasn't anything secret in it (I don't have any restricted access).

Just down the street, there is an aircraft museum with a number of unusual airplanes, including two SR-71s. Here's a couple of pictures. In the second one, they've put an engine on display in case you want to try reverse engineering it. The museum was closed that day, but I don't think they have a U-2 anyway.

 

[BobUK]

If you want to buy one of these cameras in a military surplus store, you will find them next to the camouflage jackets that no one can find.

 

[Sirius Glass]

If you want to buy one of these cameras in a military surplus store, you will find them next to the camouflage jackets that no one can find.

I do not like it when people walk around in full body camouflage clothes. I can only see the hands, shoes and head floating around disconnected from any body. Really weird.