The u2 was the famed spy plane that, in october 1962, photographed the buildup of soviet offensive nuclear missiles in cuba, which touched off the cuban missile crisis. Asars2a provides the u 2 aircraft with longrange, highresolution intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities over large areas, from as high as 70,000 feet above earth. The emerging cold war escalated the risk of a confrontation between the united states and the soviet union involving use of atomic weapons, including hydrogen bombs. But in the war on isis, its all spy planes on deckand those plans for. Toward the unknown is the authors treatment of the long controversial soviet shootdown of the u2 piloted by francis gary powers on may day 1960. Photos, details, and history about the cias secret area 51 testing facility and the u2 spy planes developed there are showcased in a newly. Sep 20, 2016 investigators have found a parachute near the scene of the crash. The u2 spy plane is an engineering marvel, but it cant land on its own. This day in history, may 1, 1960, an american u 2 spy plane flown by francis gary powers is shot down while conducting espionage over the soviet union. This is kazunori itos u 2 dragonlady updated for fsx. This u2 flew the first operational mission over the ussr on 4 july 1956.
Is lockheeds stealthy spy plane the future of reconnaissance. Singleseat, singleengine, highaltitude reconnaissance aircraft, used by cia, nasa, and usaf. This aircraft was originally designed to fly highaltitude intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions during the cold war to gather intelligence on enemies. On 1 may 1960, a united states u 2 spy plane was shot down by the soviet air defence forces while performing photographic aerial reconnaissance deep into soviet territory. The image snapped from 70,000 feet by a u2 reconnaissance aircraft proved. The u2 dragon lady is a single engine spy plane capable of flying up to 475 mph at an altitude of 70,000 feet. Apr 24, 2014 the legendary u 2 spy plane is under threat. T hey aimed to cover places of interest for military intelligence such as foreign bases, airfields, and potential nuclear weapons facilities.
This is what it takes to service the plane every 7 years. The u2 is a highaltitude manned surveillance plane. First flown on august 4th, 1955, the covert highflyer has remained in service for 60 years. The lockheed u2, nicknamed dragon lady, is an american singlejet engine, high altitude reconnaissance aircraft operated. Browse 289 u2 plane stock photos and images available, or search for u2 plane or spy plane to find more great stock photos and pictures.
Lockheed martins u2 spy plane is perhaps the most successful surveillance aircraft ever built. The lockheed u2 spy plane is no easy plane to pilotespecially during takeoff and landings. Find highquality u2 plane stock photos and editorial news pictures from getty images. In the late 1950s, u2 spy planes flew at around 70,000 feet over cold war hotspots in europe and asia, capturing images that could show details as small as a person. On 1 may 1960, a united states u2 spy plane was shot down by the soviet air defence forces while performing photographic aerial reconnaissance deep into. U2 spy plane operated by the us air force for spying. Air force began using muscle cars driven by other u2 pilots to spot for. The u2 spy plane incident occurred at a crucial juncture in u. Great seeing the usaf b 2 stealth bombers back in to fairford once more. Aug 12, 2016 thus, the trx combines the u2s highflying abilitiesthe new aircraft would use the same ge f118 engine as the u2, allowing it to fly at 70,000 feetwith the unmanned advantages of the.
Air force began using muscle cars driven by other u 2 pilots to spot for the pilot in the plane. The fallout over the incident resulted in the cancellation of the paris summit scheduled to discuss the ongoing situation in divided germany, the possibility of an arms control or test ban treaty, and the. The lockheed u 2, nicknamed dragon lady, is an american single jet engine, ultrahigh altitude reconnaissance aircraft operated by the united states air force usaf and previously flown by the central intelligence agency cia. Air force had hoped to retire the iconic u2, first flown in 1955. A popular theory about the origins of the name of irish rock band u2 is that the name is taken from the u 2 spy plane. U2 spy plane pilot lives on the edge beale air force base, located in california, is home to the u2. U2 spy plane as the sun begins to set, a u2s dragon lady aircraft assigned to the 9th reconnaissance wing climbs to altitude after launching from beale air. This is the complicated process pilots have to go through to bring the plane down safely. Aug 01, 2017 in order to make the takeoff and landing process safer, the u.
File photo the u2 provides continuous day or night, highaltitude, allweather, standoff surveillance of an area in direct support of u. It provides day and night, highaltitude 70,000 feet, 21,300 meters, allweather intelligence gathering. U2 spy plane to address the two major design problems fuel capacity and weight, kelly johnson incorporated three unique design changes that no other conventional aircraft had. This publication is available as a free download at. U2 overflights and the capture of francis gary powers, 1960 on may 1, 1960, the pilot of an american u2 spyplane was shot down while flying though soviet airspace.
U2 spy plane soldiers on after nearly 60 years news. Camera, aerial, hycon 73b national air and space museum. The u2 was equipped with a stateoftheart camera designed to take highresolution photos from the edge of the. U2 spy plane operated by the us air force for spying missions. In order to make the takeoff and landing process safer, the u. The lockheed u2 also known as the dragon lady is a high altitude recon aircraft that was built in 1957 to gather a range of information while cruising at undetectable high altitudes.
But the cia was less concerned with convention and funded the program, which more than met the requirements for overflight of the ussr. The late 1940s and 1950s were trying times for america. Toward the unknown is a comprehensive, detailpacked look at early us mannedreconnaissance efforts. Eisenhower and khrushchev were scheduled to join the leaders of france and great britain at a summit in paris on. The lockheed u2, nicknamed dragon lady, is a singleseat, singleengine, highaltitude 70,000 ft21,000 m plus surveillance aircraft flown by the united states air force.
The singleseat aircraft, flown by pilot francis gary powers, was hit by an s75 dvina sa2 guideline surfacetoair missile and crashed near sverdlovsk todays yekaterinburg. The lockheed u2 and the sr71 blackbird top secret spy. High aspect ratio wings give the u2 some gliderlike characteristics, with an engine out glide ratio of about 23. On may 1, 1960, an american u2c spy plane, piloted by gary powers, was shot down in russias urals region by surfacetoair missiles.
High aspect ratio wings give the u 2 some gliderlike characteristics, with an engine out glide ratio of about 23. But in the war on isis, its all spy planes on deckand those plans for retirement have been put on hold. The u2, oxcart, and the sr71 the national security archive. Sep 27, 2017 the u 2 spy plane is an engineering marvel, but it cant land on its own. A brief history of the u2 spy plane program lyon air museum. Nov 18, 2015 cia developed the highly secret a12 oxcart above right as the u2 spy planes successor, intended to meet the nations need for a very fast, very highflying reconnaissance aircraft that could avoid soviet air defenses. To the soviet union, however, the u2 spy plane was not so unidentified. After almost 60 years in service, the u2s are still effective, efficient and cheap. U2 spy plane soldiers on after nearly 60 years news stripes.
The u 2 dragonlady is a surveillance reconnaissance aircraft. Sep 23, 2015 file photo an air force u2 dragon lady flies a training mission. It provides day and night, highaltitude 70,000 feet. After almost 60 years in service, the u 2s are still effective, efficient and cheap. The crash comes just over 20 years after a u 2 spy plane crashed in oroville. The u2 dragonlady is a surveillance reconnaissance aircraft. Satellite imagery spy plane photos open windows into. Lockheed martin designing u2 spy plane successor business. For over 50 years, the u2 ultrahigh altitude reconnaissance aircraft has been a mainstay of the us air force. The u 2 is a jetpowered reconnaissance aircraft specially designed to fly at high altitudes i. The u2, made famous by the downing of francis gary powers in his u2 spy plane over russia in may of 1960, was the uss premiere high altitude, single seat spy plane.
Lockheed martins u 2 spy plane is perhaps the most successful surveillance aircraft ever built. No plane has made more history than the u2 and it never. On 1 may 1960, a united states u2 spy plane was shot down by the soviet air defence forces while performing photographic aerial reconnaissance deep into soviet territory. Using newly available soviet material and interviews as well as us records, pocock carefully lays out the events of that fateful day. A prototype flew in 1955, and the last plane in the series was built in 1989. This is kazunori itos u2 dragonlady updated for fsx. The crash comes just over 20 years after a u2 spy plane crashed in oroville. No plane has made more history than the u2 and it never fired a shot though the airframe may be old, the u2s sensors are not, allowing the dragon lady to provide washington keep a detailed. This partial pointofview video puts you in the pilots seat at 70,000 feet. Tesla model s tapped as u2 spy plane chase car sean szymkowski august 2, 2017 comment now. Perhaps the most famous spy plane ever built, the u2, also known as the dragon lady, has been in service since 1956. But the air force wants to switch to an alldrone reconnaissance.
The u 2 dragon lady is a single engine spy plane capable of flying up to 475 mph at an altitude of 70,000 feet. U 2 spy plane as the sun begins to set, a u 2s dragon lady aircraft assigned to the 9th reconnaissance wing climbs to altitude after launching from beale air force base, calif. The u2 spy plane lands with a controlled crash every time. U2 spy plane life as a u2 spy plane pilot pictures. U2 spy plane keeps on soaring photos the pentagon, smitten with the global hawk drone, had been ready to ground the u2 fleet for good. A he was 1,200 miles into soviet russia airspace, near sverdlovsk, about 850 miles east of moscow. A popular theory about the origins of the name of irish rock band u2 is that the name is taken from the u2 spy plane. The lockheed u 2, nicknamed dragon lady, is an american singlejet engine, high altitude reconnaissance aircraft operated by the united states air force usaf and previously flown by the central intelligence agency cia. U2 is listed in the worlds largest and most authoritative dictionary database of abbreviations and acronyms.
Apr 19, 2000 the award to lockheed for the u 2 and its subsequent design and development is a fascinating story in itself, in part because the usaf rejected the u 2 in favor of more conventional designs. The groom lake facility was also used for development of the u2 spy planes successors, including the lockheed a12 oxcart and the d21 tagboard. U 2 spy plane soldiers on after nearly 60 years an air force airman drives behind a u 2 dragon lady while it lands at an undisclosed location in southwest asia in this nov. It has provided day and night, allweather intelligence gathering capabilities since the early years of the cold war. Spectacular footage filmed by the pilot of a u2 spy plane. The lockheed u2, nicknamed dragon lady, is an american singlejet engine, high altitude reconnaissance aircraft operated by the united states air force usaf and previously flown by the central intelligence agency cia. The air force uses teslas to chase the u2 spy plane. It provides day and night, very highaltitude 70,000 feet 21,000 m, allweather intelligence gathering. Early images of the u2 spy aircraft being tested at area 51 cnet. U 2 pilots flew espionage missions at altitudes above 70,000 feet above the reach of soviet air defenses. The award to lockheed for the u2 and its subsequent design and development is a fascinating story in itself, in part because the usaf rejected the u2 in favor of more conventional designs. Get premium, high resolution news photos at getty images. U2 spy plane soldiers on after nearly 60 years an air force airman drives behind a u2 dragon lady while it lands at an undisclosed location in southwest asia in this nov. Lockheed u 2 spy plane the lockheed u2 spy plane was an ultra light gliderlike plane designed by the lockheed skunk works for the u.
It provides day and night, highaltitude 70,000 feet, 21,300 meters, allweather intelligence gathering lockheed corporation originally proposed it in 1953, it was. The u2 has also been used for electronic sensor research. Investigators have found a parachute near the scene of the crash. Cia developed the highly secret a12 oxcart above right as the u2 spy planes successor, intended to meet the nations need for a very fast, very highflying reconnaissance aircraft that could avoid soviet air defenses. Kelly johnson at lockheeds skunk works in burbank california. The u2 spy plane lands with a controlled crash every. The lockheed u 2, nicknamed dragon lady, is a singleseat, singleengine, highaltitude 70,000 ft21,000 m plus surveillance aircraft flown by the united states air force. With no access to classified material, he nevertheless has produced a firstrate volume that is chockfull of facts and information. The u 2 was equipped with a stateoftheart camera designed to take highresolution photos from the edge of the stratosphere. The u2 made its first flight in august 1955 and began operational service in 1956. Jan 16, 2018 no plane has made more history than the u2 and it never fired a shot though the airframe may be old, the u2s sensors are not, allowing the dragon lady to provide washington keep a detailed. The singleseat aircraft, flown by pilot francis gary powers, was hit by an s75 dvina sa 2 guideline surfacetoair missile and crashed near sverdlovsk todays. File photo an air force u2 dragon lady flies a training mission.
When the lockheed u2 first took to the air in 1955, it was a fragile, hardtomaneuver beast good for one thingsnapping photos from more than 70,000 feet overhead. The u 2 made its first flight in august 1955 and began operational service in 1956. You will need to download and install the free adobe acrobat reader to view. This day in history, may 1, 1960, an american u2 spy plane flown by francis gary powers is shot down while conducting espionage over the soviet union. The first was the tail assembly, which was attached to the main body with three tension bolts, an adaptation from sailplane design to save weight. U 2 is listed in the worlds largest and most authoritative dictionary database of abbreviations and acronyms.
In 1957, the ussr launched sputnik, the worlds first satellite, tested the worlds first icbm, and began conducting flights with new advanced bomber aircraft. Thus, the trx combines the u2s highflying abilitiesthe new aircraft would use the same ge f118 engine as the u2, allowing it to fly at 70,000 feetwith the unmanned advantages of the. Its mission was to photography soviet military installations. U 2, singleseat, highaltitude jet flown by the united states for intelligence gathering, surveillance, and reconnaissance. Feb 22, 2012 u2 spy plane keeps on soaring photos the pentagon, smitten with the global hawk drone, had been ready to ground the u2 fleet for good. The u2 is capable of gathering a variety of imagery, including multispectral electrooptic, infrared, and synthetic aperture radar products which can be stored or sent to. It was used during the late 1950s to overfly the soviet union, china, the middle east, and cuba. The u2 is a jetpowered reconnaissance aircraft specially designed to fly at high altitudes i.
Perhaps the most famous spy plane ever built, the u 2, also known as the dragon lady, has been in service since 1956. With a service ceiling of up to nearly 85,000 feet, the plane is capable of flying for 8 hours at a time at speeds of 500 miles per hour. The revolutionary new plane was built by a team headed by legendary clarence l. U2, singleseat, highaltitude jet flown by the united states for intelligence gathering, surveillance, and reconnaissance. Cold war conflicts powerpoint lecture u2 spy planebay of. This is a single jet engine plane and can fly ultrahigh. During the cold war, the hycon 73b installed in the lockheed u2 reconnaissance aircraft, was an. Originally, it was hoped that the plane could fly so high that the russians could not even detect it. The u 2 is a highaltitude manned surveillance plane. The last u2 and tr1 aircraft were delivered in october 1989. U2 pilots flew espionage missions at altitudes above 70,000 feet above the reach of soviet air defenses. Engineers disassemble a u2 spy plane business insider. U 2 spy plane pilot lives on the edge beale air force base, located in california, is home to the u 2.
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