[Interesting Aviation Off-Topic]



Normally U-2 takes off with outboard pogo wheels on the wings for balance which are dropped on the runway once the plane is airborne. Here, the U-2 is being hand launched by the ground crew.This consisted of a mechanic physically holding the wing, and running with it as the Pilot took off. Not much speed required on this aircraft to accomplish lift This is sometimes done if the runway is too bumpy, etc. Some times on recovery, a pogo can’t be installed for various reasons. When that happened, a couple of mechanics would jump onto the wing which did have the pogo installed, and ride the aircraft in to prevent the other wing from hitting the ground. This looked really stupid, but at times was necessary.