The Next Generation of Spy Plane

(CBS)  "Early Show" weather anchor and features reporter Dave Price was to fly in a U-2 spy plane Thursday in the "Edge of the Earth" series.

However, before doing that, he gave viewers an inside, exclusive look into what just might be the future of U.S. espionage aviation -- the Global Hawk.

Though the U-2 still provides the most detailed photo images for intelligence gathering, the Global Hawk could one day replace the 50-year-old U-2.

Training for Takeoff
Dave's U-2 "Space Suit"
Dave Price: My Trip to the Edge
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Photos: Dave's U-2 Adventure
To the Edge of the Earth
Preparing to Soar

The Global Hawk is an unmanned reconnaissance aircraft that collects digital images at high altitudes. The plane is 116 feet wide, 44 feet long and can stay in the air, sometimes, for an entire day.

Dave called the Global Hawk an "airborne technological wonder."

The aircraft, Dave pointed out, has many similar characteristics to other surveillance and intelligence-gathering planes, but is so technologically advanced, its mechanics work mainly from a laptop -- and there is no pilot on board.

Still, its missions operate in a very similar way to the U-2's. They begin with briefings and pre-flight checks. The difference, however, is where the pilot sits -- in front of a computer.

However, as one pilot pointed out, "It's real."

Much of what The Global Hawk does is classified at the highest levels, but as Dave noted, "The Early Show" is the first national media outlet to be allowed inside a Mission Command Center, from which the plane is controlled as its missions are carried out thousands of miles away.

Inside the command center, the computer terminals are essentially a cockpit.

The primary mission for these pilots, Dave said, is to support the troops on the ground and get them imagery they specifically request, such as a picture of what's over a hill for embedded troops in Afghanistan looking to move.

And even though they might not be physically on board, Global Hawk pilots feel the same sense of risk and reward.

One pilot told CBS News, "When you get the right info to the right commander at the same time and he can save a life, it's extremely satisfying."

Dave added that the technology is also a comfort for pilots' families. He said one pilot's wife said she's thankful her husband can come home every night, and she knows he's safe.

"It's a very interesting angle, not only from the technology side, not only from an effectiveness side, but for what it means for troops," Dave said. "It's just remarkable to watch all of this in action."

The U-2, Dave added, is still used because its film technology doesn't lose any detail at close range, whereas the Global Hawk's images become pixilated.

[Falcon900EX]

Contrary to what Dave Price quoted the wife as saying, active-duty Global Hawk pilots may fly at odd hours in the evening and often deploy as part of flying operations. Our families may not worry about us falling out of the sky, but they make sacrifices like any other military family.

[RedWings_ninety_one]

Global Hawk is nice, but in my opinion, it's too bulky. I still prefer Predator.

[rf35]

The size and design are required to carry the fuel and sensors, and to allow it to fly extremely high. The average mission length is 22 hours. UAVs are not yet capable of midair refueling, so it has to carry all the gas needed to take off and fly those long missions. Predator is a low-altitude craft that is used for close-up reconnaissance and attack. The Hawk does not carry weapons. Different missions, different designs.

[badbeagles]

I loved this segment! You were right, it was just absolutely amazing to see. Dave, you always do such a good job explaining these kinds of things to me and my family. Its good to know they have programs like this airplane to make life easier on military families and give them the same opportunities as everyone else.

[rayburby]

Thank you Dave,
The series from Beale AFB was the BEST! I retired from Beale in 1994 as U-2 Electrical/Environmental Systems Flightline Supervisor. Thanks so much for taking me back. The 99th was the best squadron and the U-2 was an amazing aircraft to work on. For all the people who think digital cameras are better, you all have never seen the product that comes out of those "wet film" cameras,
Very few have. I currently fly with the Maine Wing of the Civil Air Patrol and plan to show your series to our cadets for Aerospace Education. Thank you again Dave, Your the BEST!

[Fentro]

I think the Aurora is the fastest black program. Dave, thanks for the good reporting - and you fulfilled my request to check out the Global Hawk. Tech like this will save soldier's lives, and as long as we keep 'Sky Net' at bay, the era of the UAV is clearly here! I bet most UFO sightings are simply top secret UAV's (some have to be small and able to hover as well as make fast moves that seem 'non-ballistic'), and these devices will be on the front line against terrorism. And I don't mind being eavesdropped on since I don't do anything illegal! But imagine some unethical or crazy person controlling these machines, and you have General Ripper from Burbleson AFB (Dr. Strangelove) - so people fear that loss of command and control, whether Sky Net or Gen. Ripper. Dave, you showing the human side of our top flight Air Force personnel is a step toward ameliorating folk's fears.

Now if only we can keep our tech edge in the coming years - I sure hope the AF & Nasa have an 'X-71' (or whatever) space ship in development (like the one's used in 'Armageddon') - we better not stop funding this kind of R&D. At some point, we made need it in an emergency, so I really hope these budgets don't get cut.
Increasingly China will be the next threat because they have a very advanced military technology, part of which I saw first hand in 1988 - the first year I did business there as a young man, I was showed a secret laser-tracking system by the drunk head of the company (I think to impress me to get business from our firm). Although they tend to make poor quality tech, the more Americans that show them the right way, the better their stuff gets, and that makes me nervous.

[babooph]

Have the military use google earth-we need the savings...

[Scimajor]

What? The airforce has never heard of high resolution digital camera's? There are plenty of high resolution digital camera's on the market that give better resolution than film. Even if they're using some sort of custom format there are custom format digital camera's with an inasane number of megapixels.

[raymondovich]

For years I visited my father at his place of work as the pilot for the president of then North America's largest oil company. It was not until years later that I learned every time we entered Burbank Airport we drove past the building where the U-2 and the SR-71, among others, were developed. This year's defense budget is the first with more funding for unmanned projects than troops.

[tycho321]

Thank you so much for a story that appealed to MEN! I have to turn your show off at a little after 8 because it has become LADIES HOME JOURNAL. Poor Harry can't get a word in edgewise from all the biddy chatter anymore. I guess you have adopted William Randolf Hurst's stylebook. Let's not try to forge NEWS into warm FUZZIES! PLEASE! James Guillebeau

[alans442]

having been assigned to maintenance of the U-2 while in the USAF during the early '60's, I felt I was on the leading edge of our surveillence technology.

Today, I realize how far we have come with technology and that "my day" is now considered history! Still, the U-2 and B-52(which I also worked with during my stint in the service) are still flying high. My hope is I can last as long as and be as useful as these birds have been.

Al Sorensen

[ToolMangler1]

Salud! Al,
I am a aircraft lover ever since a flight of B-29s flew over my head as a young man. The way the ground under me rumbled as they came over has stayed with me for a very long time. I miss them and am still fuming over the retirement of the worlds fastest 'Oxygen breathing Airplane' The SR-71 'Blackbird'. they still dont have anything that can catch it to my knowledge. BTW, I fly also..