Also at the site is an active gunnery range. Early in 1955 by president ial order, 60 square miles of this prohibited area were set aside for a special purpose, as a narrow air corridor to reach the spot on the map. Air charge ordered crews, except on orders from the chief of staff from the u. S. Air force. The name of the isolated spot in nevada is watertown and its very isolation is the greatest importance. The specialists that come up this transport are handpicked. They are checked every time they arrived at watertown. Overall security in the area is the highest yet to be maintained in this country, even higher than that of the manhattan project. Selection of watertown was dictated by several unique considerations. The area is isolated from prying eyes by the aec range with lethal reminders of past atomic explosions. Guards maintain regular patrols. Supplies destined for watertown channel into the area through regular aec routes. Watertown communications referred to as an article. The pilots are called drivers. The geographical spot is called homelike. Home lake. The angel was designed to do a single job, obtain the largest amount of reconnaissance information ever collected on a single flight. For the first time in jet history, it is possible to inspect 400 square miles with a single cartographic photograph. For the first time in jet history, sensitive electronic equipment is being carried to heights where it can search for any number of radio, tv or radar signals and record this information for detailed analysis. There are already 12 artan and equipment loads for the u2. Development of the angel and the equipment it carries is the result of the most experienced judgment applied at every critical point. A select group of capable, dedicated men in industry and government working with trust and cooperation completed this specific project with the utmost speed. The idea for the angel itself was born when lockheed started a design study on the maximum altitude possible on a jet airplane for reconnaissance purposes. The angel took a sufficient form to be presented as a proposal. Members of the killian committee, a portion of the Scientific Advisory group, defined the feasibility of the program. The optical and photographic concepts were envisioned to dr. James baker and dr. Edward lynch. The original proposal was modified to produce more spectacular results. On december 9, 1954, the goahead was given, and lockheeds chief engineer called together his tiny 26 men special projects engineering group. Here were the problems they faced to design, build an airplane and fly it in eight months. An airplane that would crews well above 70,000 feet. One that would travel almost as far as a b52 and remain in the air for 10 hours. A plane completely reliable with forced landings out of the question. A plane that would be the worlds most stable aircraft for High Altitude photography. A plane that would be flexible in concept to carry at least 12 different equipment loads and have no one penalize the others in weight. A plane that would weigh only 1. 5 times the weight of the power plant. Weight was the critical factor in the project. Designers said they would trade their collective grandmothers for 10 pounds of empty weight. Pounds in fact were called grandmothers weight could not be saved at the expense of reliability. A real engineering challenge met with proven knowhow and a basic design so simple it was almost revolutionary. It is simplicity itself. They are cable operated. It attaches with only three bolts. The interior of the fuselage is plain and uncluttered. Stress to handle a pressure differential. It is operated by hand. The pants late engine intake presented a problem. At altitude, near perfect resolution was needed. The final intake gives us good pressure distribution. It would be found in a power plant wind tunnel. The flats tilt four degrees upward. Any problems occurring on the previous day were discussed and corrected and improvements are made medially. The Manufacturing Company was formed in an unmarked downtown warehouse. To handle shipments from vendors. Designers could not get into a highspeed wind tunnel. Calculations were made with computers. 50 of production took place in this building in bakersfield. As peak production, only 600 people were involved. The angels were completely assembled. Fuel and hydraulic fluid were added for the first time. The angel has been referred to as a jet glider. It has the most efficient lift the chief engineer went through a Development Program into 12 months. In the low stages range and seven in the higher pressure chamber. It is driven by a hollow shaft. This unit gulps nearly 9000 pounds of fuel per hour. At 74,600 feet, the engine will quit from oxygen starvation. In early stages of the program, as many as six flameouts occurred on a single flight. Flameouts have ceased to be a critical problem. An improved ignition system ensures every start at High Altitude. In the first 20 months, they logged over 5000 hours in the air. Both planes landed at Kirkland Air Force base in albuquerque, new mexico. A careful accounting is made of fuel consumption. A special fuel was developed by shell oil company. Specifically for the angel. The finished product was shipped to nevada in train cars. This blend will not boil at the low pressures encountered altitude. It will still give adequate air starts. It is so in volatile that fire rarely follows a mishap. A simple 100 gallon slipper tank has been developed. These pressurized tanks contain enough fuel to carry them at cruising altitude, where they have no significant effect on speed or range. Even after the addition of an external chute and an autopilot, the final weight was within 10 pounds of the original proposal. The angel exceeded limits in fueling and range. Prototype angel was flown across elf valley death valley, their own d. C. Three made almost daily flights to watertown with a handpicked crew of mechanics. The first unofficial name for watertown was paradise ranch. This dips this description was dreamed up tongueincheek. Anyone for golf . Many newcomers guess that the project involved in atomic powered aircraft and were astonished to find that they were to work with it. Two days later, it went to 8000 feet. That day, it took five attempts to land the plane because it would fly on idle engine thrust. The unusual bicycle landing gear designed for the lightest possible structure weighs 257 pounds. Woodway e aircraft would weigh 750 pounds. They drop off during takeoff. In the interest of saving weight. Weight and space that paid off an extra 1500 feet of altitude and 100 miles in cruising radius. As the operation grew in scope, more transportation was required. A daily military shuttle system was begun with the 54s from burbank. In bad weather, one of these transports crashed. 14 members of the watertown project were aboard. The program has not been without other casualties. One angel crashed at watertown. And other disintegrated over an Indian Village in arizona. A third disappeared near watertown. By the time of this plane was some information about the project had reached the public. That dust cloud is an actual crash. Rescue crews rushed to the end of the runway. The pilot was uninjured. Emergency crews take no chances. Salvage operations mean this small angel will soon lie again to join its sister ships already in the air. This project has had fewer mishaps than normal with new aircraft. Yet, unique Ground Handling equipment was designed solely for the angel. It operates as well here as it does on the flight line. Not all the difficulties have come from the angel herself. Extremes in weather, wind, sand, heat. Snow. Cloudburst. Biting cold. An ever present headache. The angels must be ready for tomorrows flight. It is almost all work and no play. Just 72 Airline Miles distance. However, none of the workers may visit these bright lights or refreshing scenery. Security is that rigid. Meanwhile, back at the ranch, volleyball, pool, movies in a converted mess hall are just about the only diversion. Remnants from another era of record desert pioneers. Heres what the world looks like from 70,000 feet. The scenes were photographed over arizona by one of the test pilots who have handled all development of the angel. Training of new pilots begins with familiarization flight. The pilot must be able to hold it inches in the air with the length of the flight. So he can hold angel at the same altitude until its brought wings move. He graduated to the angel and transition landing on the dry lake. A chase car and chase plane with two way radio are used. Seatbelts in the chase car are good insurance. The new angel pilot makes at least three landings. She is a little easier to handle that way. Smooth from grove lake. A wide circle is the plane plays follow the leader. Now turning on file final approach. Your airspeed is 92 knots. The chase car pulls into line and picks up speed. He is leveling off. Just a little high. At 72 knots, here comes the storm. The best way to land the angel is just like the oldfashioned airplanes with tail wheels. This makes an ideal location for this type of transition training. After the landing has improved, the safety pins are removed. The new pilot is on his own. Sometimes they taxi right up to the hangar doors. Not bad at all for an airplane that is supposed to be hard to handle on the ground. After a number of day flights, the new angel pilots are ready for a nights transition and long crosscountry flights. It is no accident that the complete angel and all of its intricate cargo can be disassembled and packed quickly. Ready for airborne transport. Everything about the angel can go aboard a cargo plane. Cameras and dog houses. Engines, lab equipment, and supplies. Ground support equipment. And of course, the angel. The result of foresight and planning. Engineering. Precise and rapid manufacturing. That is it. What it is and what it can do. A vital chapter in modern american achievement. From the desert wastelands of watertown, it is a matter of hours to anywhere in the world where reconnaissance might be desired. The most important airplane, the most important cargo in the air today. Is in this single package. The acquisitive angel. [captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. Visit ncicap. Org] you can watch archival films on Public Affairs each week on our series, railamerica. On American History tv. Heres a quick look at one of our recent programs. It has the widest variety of topography, nearly every grade in the world from the himalayas to the sahara, can be duplicated in california. Rain and snowmelt. Abruptly, sunshine and little moisture. Vegetation dries to the consistency of gunpowder. And the fire season is upon us. The problem is particularly in southern california, where the santa ana blast in from the northeast in cycles. Velocities may reach 70 miles per hour. That fireer Protection Agencies statewide respond to more than 40,000 alarms a year. Fortunately, very few of this number ever grow in size. To athey do not is due coordinated system of protection and communication among Fire Agencies providing fast and an initial attack by ground or air forces or both and required. In 1910, roosevelt was out of office, succeeded by taft. Roosevelt wielded great influence in congress. They moved quickly to cut funding. The speaker of the house said centne sent for scenery for scenery. Interiorecretary of this agreed publicly on forest policy. Pushing his limits, he arranged for a letter to be read in congress, criticizing the president for this interpreting the policies. This was the final straw for president taft. He fired him for subordination. What is the best policy to protect these lands and communities from fire . Into a battlecked about politics. Whose view of Land Management and the role of government will prevail . So the fire thing was not finally about the fire, it became a polarizing, political spectrum. It was either with limited government, or with very active government and wholesale commitment. Folk knowledge and the indian way of burning the landscape, or you are with professional forestry. Andare forced to choose that was effective politics, forces people to choose, but it does not make policy. Because there was a whole array of things. Different probably choices for different regions. Announcer you can watch these on their entirety and are series reel america saturday at 10 00 a. M. And sunday at four clock p. M. Eastern iran American History tv. Here on American History tv. Announcer each week, American History tvs american artifacts visits museums and historic places. Next, we travel about 15 miles northwest of washington, d. C. To great falls tavern visitors center, where we will take a boat ride to learn about the history of the chesapeake and the ohio canal. [foghorn] cassandra i would like to inuc
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