The ER-2 is NASA's "civilian" version of the U-2. "ER" stands for "Earth Resource". NASA's ER-2s have tail numbers 806 and 809 (previously 706 and 709). NASA began using the U-2 in 1971 to collect science data. It replaced the U-2s with ER-2s in 1981 and 1989. The aircraft were based at the NASA Ames Research Center until 1997 when they moved to NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center. The aircraft are platforms for a variety of high-altitude science missions flown all over the world. They are also used for earth science and atmospheric sensor research and development, satellite calibration and data validation. The ER-2s can carry 2,600 pounds of experiments in a nose bay, the main equipment bay behind the cockpit, two wing-mounted superpods and small underbody and trailing edges. Most ER-2 missions last about six hours with ranges of about 2,200 nautical miles at altitudes above 65,000 feet. The aircraft is 63 feet long, with a wingspan of 104 feet. The top of the vertical tail is 16 feet above ground when the aircraft is on the bicycle-type landing gear. Cruising speeds are 410 knots, or 467 miles per hour, at altitude. A single General Electric F-118 turbofan engine rated at 17,000 pounds thrust powers the ER-2. For more information see the ER-2 Fact Sheet.

Original Image

 Photo Identification: AC88-0755-6, 1988, Eric James

(Date of this photo is suspect.
See also u-2A_er-2_98_ames_golden_gate_2.htm
on my site for another version of this photo
that claims to be either from 1998 or 1995.)

512 x 768 pixels – 30,413 bytes
(472 x 597 actual image plus black frame all 4 sides)
ails.arc.nasa.gov/Images/Aeronautics/jpegs/AC88-0755-6_a.jpeg

Information Page
ails.arc.nasa.gov/Images/Aeronautics/AC88-0755-6.html

Images On This Page

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