Maj Jefrey G. Olesen 99 RS/DO Beale AFB CA

Flying Safety, August, 2003

Maj Jeff Olesen was flying his U-2S above 70,000 feet in support of Operations Southern Watch. Three hours into the sortie, the engine began to experience "rollbacks." The fuel-flow fell toward zero with an accompanying severe loss of thrust. The rollbacks each lasted approximately one second, followed by the engine accelerating back to full power. Maj Olesen turned immediately toward Prince Sultan Air Base and followed the T.O. guidance of placing the engine mode to secondary. In secondary mode, however, the engine began to vibrate violently causing the aircraft to shudder, and all the engine instruments began to roll back toward zero. Expecting imminent engine seizure, Maj Olesen placed the engine mode switch back to primary, which significantly reduced the vibrations.

As the rollbacks become progressively more pronounced and more frequent, Maj Olesen tried in vain to stabilize the engine at different RPM settings. Realizing that the engine could flame out at any moment, and in any case would not sustain sufficient thrust for a return to PSAB, Maj Olesen began a descent toward a divert field 80 miles away. At idle power, the rollbacks subsided. At 20,000 feet, Maj Olesen tried once again to find a reliable power setting other than idle, hoping that the difference in altitude may have helped. Unfortunately, idle continued to be the only safe throttle setting, which meant that, while he would have the benefit of electrical and hydraulic power, there would be absolutely no go-around option on this approach.

Once he was definitely within flameout glide range of the divert field, Maj Olesen lowered the landing gear and configured for a flameout landing. U-2 checklists provide guidance for flameout landings at different weights and configurations. However, there is no checklist which covers a descent from high key with the engine stuck in idle. Maj Olesen would have to rely on his best judgment to establish a high key altitude and maneuver to a safe landing. He would also be landing without the assistance of a qualified "mobile" officer. Because the U-2 is an extremely difficult aircraft to land, particularly when the pilot is wearing a full pressure suit, another U-2 pilot always follows the aircraft down the runway in a "chase" car, giving assistance over the radio. Always, that is, except in the event of an emergency divert to a base with no U-2s.

Maj Olesen descended in a series of figure eights over the field, managing his energy so as to arrive at the proper high key altitude. He then flew a flawless flameout pattern and landing, preserving a valuable national asset for future use.