Engineers and pilots will find this fascinating.
Ordinary people may as well.

Fascinating account of a flight to 70,000 feet altitude in a 
U2 aircraft. It's hard to imagine a more cantankerous, 
specialist, flimsy and amazing aircraft. Takes twice as long 
to descend from altitude than to ascend - it doesn't want to 
come down. At altitude its lower speed "stall buffet" and 
maximum speed "mach buffet" limits converge to be almost 
equal.  Stall/spin from this part of the envelope can be 
catastrophic.

You can eject from any speed and altitude. From altitude the 
chute auto opens at 16,500 feet so you may fall as much as 
55,000+ feet / 10+ miles before it opens. (If it fails to do 
so you get a refund) [ :-) ].

Glide ratio is up to 28:1 - 200+ miles glide from altitude.

Maximum range of 6000+ miles is usually limited by 'pilot 
factors'.

        http://www.dow-gamers.net/vb/showthread.php?t=13554



        Russell


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