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Air Force chase car ---IROC Z?

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  • Member since
    January 2006
  • From: Baton Rouge, Snake Central
Air Force chase car ---IROC Z?
Posted by PatlaborUnit1 on Friday, December 15, 2006 9:55 AM

HI guys, a little out of the ordinary here.

The "Joan Lunden goes inside" series on A&E a few years ago highlighted her taking a flight in an Air Force TR-2. The chase car for this plane s it screams down the runway on approach (its a VERY unusual plane)  was, I believe, an IROC-Z Camaro with Air Force Blue paint, aircraft radio package and antenna installed, and USAF stencilling on the doors ( I think).

 Does anyone have any information on this chase car? Fascinating little conversion if I can find some refereces.

 thanks!

David

Build to please yourself, and don't worry about what others think! TI 4019 Jolly Roger Squadron, 501st Legion
  • Member since
    January 2003
  • From: Merton, Wisconsin
Posted by bigfoot01 on Friday, December 15, 2006 9:29 PM
Do a search for Beale Air Force Base. That is were the U-2's are based. A buddy of mine was based there for several years and had a chance to ride in the chase car once. He said it was pretty awesome!

John 

 

  • Member since
    January 2006
  • From: Baton Rouge, Snake Central
Posted by PatlaborUnit1 on Saturday, December 16, 2006 4:17 PM

Thanks Bigfoot, Ill give that direction a shot. I did sevral Google searches, founda couple of good online articles but two really poor photos that show me very little.

 

Sounds good, Ill give er a shot!

David

 

Build to please yourself, and don't worry about what others think! TI 4019 Jolly Roger Squadron, 501st Legion
  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: USA
Posted by Tinker on Friday, December 22, 2006 6:11 PM

In 1968-1969, there was an OL-20 based at Bien Hoa, AB, South Viet Nam.  It's chase car was an SS-396 Chevelle El Camino that was painted just like anyother AF vehicle, plus it had a light-bar on the roof.  It was assigned to the base Air Force Security Sq. and carried on their TA&E.  The aircraft was designated an OL-20 so that if anyone asked why there was a U-2 assigned to the base, the powers-that-were could say, " You're seeing things.  There are NO U-2's in country."  It was only flown when the cloud cover was solid and looowww. ( about 900ft. or less ) so it could disappear quickly.  It would start engines inside it's hangar, taxi out directly to the center taxiway; to the runway,  and get " gone ".  Anybody caught snooping around THAT hangar, without a solid gold reason, got a quick trip to LBJ.  That's Long Bien Jail, for you newbies.  One place nobody wanted to go.  Go to LBJ and your "time-in-country" clock stopped until you got out again. 

Anyway, if you model an El Camino chase car, don't forget to put the orange outrigger landing gear in the bed and have a minimum of 2 figures with it.  They would be the driver and at least one guy to install the outriggers.  Everytime I saw a recovery, there were TWO  guys to handle the gear.   Have fun!!!

" 'Polls' are surveys of uninformed people who think it's possible to get the answer wrong." ...Ann Coulter
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