CHARLES,
     In a message dated 11-14-97 you wrote ...
>     One would think that in the 37 years since Powers' shoot down,
>     the SAM capabilities would have been considerably improved.
  99 percent of these articles are NOT mine but passed on from
 some so-called "Expert."  I normally state my opinions... I
 never worked angainst SAMs only practice.
>
> JS> says William E. Burrows of New York University, who has written ex-
           ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ not Jim Sanders
> JS> tensively about the U-2, "the fins on the missiles, especially the
> JS> air-to-air missiles, are so small that they cannot make the tight
> JS> turns in the thin air above 50,000 feet."
>
>     The SAMs may have proximity fuses, so, even if they miss,
>     they can still bring the aircraft down.
   Proximity fizes go back to WW II. Only the U.S. had them at
 that time.   Also the fuzes can be sent false data to cause them
 to explode son after arming. I have forgotten the freq but
 we had it back in the 50s and 60s.
>     In addition, the U-2 is also limited in its ability to
>     try to out turn a missile. Since I don't have access to
>     specific information about the capabilities of the U-2,
>     and wouldn't specify even if I did know, I can only speak
>     in general terms. The U-2, as in all aircraft, has a
>     limiting mach number, or speed limit. At high altitudes
>     this also limits the turning capability of the U-2.
   I understand the "envelope" for the U-2 is very small and
 keeps a pilot on his toes to prevent stall at high altitude.
 Stupid would not O.K. money for further use of the SR-71.
 But may we have Aurora??? Iraqi radar people were very careful
 not to turn their tracking radar on during Desert Storm...
 Saddam is playing a ware of nerves.  He knows hoow our military
 has been downsized and spread very thin.  Many assigned to
 social and civil duties... They read our papers and listen
 to out TV.
 Thanks for your comments...
   -=*  Jim Sanders  *=-
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