DOCUMENTATIONU-2 Familiarization - Groom Lake
Your first solo in the U-2: a short handling circuit north of Groom Lake, one steady recording run, a low approach with a go-around and a full-stop landing. Smooth control matters more than speed.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Start | Groom Lake (KXTA), P 1, engine shut down |
| End | Full-stop landing at Groom Lake (KXTA) |
| Time of day | 09:00, set by the mission. Weather: live |
| Estimated duration | 1 h 36 min |
| Route | 12 waypoints, about 238 NM |
| Minimum altitude for the checks | Above 15,000 ft MSL |
| Recording strips | 1, held for 30 seconds |
Objectives
The objectives come one at a time, in this order. Each one shows its direction on screen. How the gates and strips work is under Missions.
- Take off: met at liftoff, within 4.5 NM of the start.
- Clear the Ranch: fly within 4 NM of the point. Climb gradually and stay clear of the terrain around the field.
- Climb above 15,000 ft MSL: stay above 15,000 ft MSL for 5 seconds. This objective runs beside the route: keep following the waypoints while you climb.
- Handling leg west: fly within 6 NM of the point. A smooth right turn toward the next point.
- Handling leg north: fly within 6 NM of the point. Stay above 15,000 ft and avoid abrupt inputs.
- Set up - Steady flight exercise: fly within 2 NM of the strip entry point, lined up on 090° true.
- Steady flight exercise: fly inside the strip, 20 × 4 NM on 090° true, above 15,000 ft MSL for 30 continuous seconds.
- Clear strip - Steady flight exercise: fly within 2 NM of the strip exit point before you turn. Then begin a gradual descent toward the practice approach.
- Practice approach setup: fly within 6 NM of the point. Set up for one low approach over the runway.
- Low approach over runway: fly within 2.4 NM of the point. Go around. Do not land yet.
- Confirm climb out: fly within 6 NM of the point. Then reposition for a full-stop landing.
- Return to Base: land within 4.5 NM of the field. The mission ends 15 seconds after touchdown.
Tips
- This is the best first mission: it is short, it stays near the field and it has the only practice approach in the pack.
- The minimum is only 15,000 ft, so you can fly it below the high-altitude corridor. Fly the pattern and the landing as in Flying the U-2S.
- The low approach completes when you pass within 2.4 NM of the runway point. Keep the gear down and fly a normal go-around: see Go-Around in Flying the U-2S.