Lockheed U-2

Lockheed U-2
Land	Norge , Norge
Rolle	Rekognoseringsfly i høyden
Første flytur	1. august 1955
Bygget	1104

Den Lockheed U-2, med kallenavnet "Dragon Lady", er et amerikansk enstrålemotor, ultrahøyhøyde rekognoseringsfly operert av United States Air Force (USAF) og tidligere fløyet av Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Det gir dag og natt, høy høyde (70.000 fot; 21.000 m), allværs etterretningsinnsamling. U-2 har også blitt brukt til elektronisk sensorforskning, satellittkalibrering, vitenskapelig forskning og kommunikasjonsformål.

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Lockheed P2V-7 (SP-2H) Neptune + Cockpit
Fotograf	Cees Hendriks
Lokalisering	Unknow
Bilder	136

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Lockheed U-2S Senior Year Walk Around
Fotograf	Vladimir Yakubov
Lokalisering	Hovedstaden Airshow 2016, Sacramento
Bilder	124

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General Characteristics and Role

The Lockheed U-2 Dragon Lady is an American single-jet engine, high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft famous for its role in intelligence gathering during the Cold War. Designed by Lockheed’s Skunk Works under Clarence “Kelly” Johnson, the U-2 was engineered to fly at extreme altitudes—well above 70,000 feet (21,300 meters)—to remain beyond the reach of Soviet interceptors and surface-to-air missiles of the 1950s and early 1960s. The U-2C was an upgraded version of the initial U-2A, featuring a more powerful J75 engine and an enlarged air intake for improved performance. The U-2D was a specialized two-seat trainer variant developed later. The aircraft’s primary role was photographic and signals intelligence (SIGINT) collection deep inside denied airspace, a mission that required the pilot to wear a specialized pressure suit. Its unique high-aspect ratio wings give it glider-like performance, crucial for maintaining altitude and range.

Property	Typical Value (U-2C)
Type	High-Altitude, Single-Seat Reconnaissance Aircraft
National Origin	USA
Produsenten	Lockheed Skunk Works
Entered Service (U-2A)	1957
Mannskapet	1 (Pilot) / 2 (Pilot and Instructor/Sensor Operator for U-2D)
Lengde	15.24 m (50 ft 0 in)
Vingespenn	24.38 m (80 ft 0 in)
Max Takeoff Weight	Approx. 13,150 kg (28,990 lb)

Powerplant and Performance

Engine (U-2C): 1 x Pratt & Whitney J75-P-13 turbojet engine.
Engine Thrust: Approx. 75.6 kN (17,000 lbf).
Maximum Speed: Approx. 805 km/h (500 mph) / Mach 0.7.
Operational Ceiling: Officially greater than 21,300 m (70,000 ft), earning it the nickname “The Dragon Lady.”
Range: 4,633 km (2,879 miles) on a typical mission.
Sensors: Carried a variety of interchangeable payloads, including specialized large-format cameras (e.g., the A-2) and highly sensitive electronic intelligence (ELINT) and signals intelligence (SIGINT) equipment. The nose and equipment bays are modular.
Landing Characteristics: Due to its extreme wingspan and bicycle-type landing gear, the aircraft is notoriously difficult to land, often requiring a chase car to communicate final speed and altitude to the pilot.

Service History and Legacy

The U-2 Incident: The U-2’s global notoriety began with the 1960 shoot-down of CIA pilot Francis Gary Powers over the Soviet Union while flying a U-2A. This event exposed the highly secret program and dramatically escalated Cold War tensions.
Cuban Missile Crisis: U-2 missions provided definitive photographic evidence of Soviet intermediate-range ballistic missile sites in Cuba in 1962, triggering the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Variants: The U-2 program led to numerous variants, including the U-2R (larger airframe) and the current operational version, the U-2S, which features a modern GE F118 turbofan engine.
The D-Model: The U-2D was primarily used for testing high-altitude sensors and systems, and was also sometimes used for two-seat training.
Longevity: Despite its age and the introduction of advanced satellites and the SR-71 Blackbird, the U-2 remains in service with the US Air Force, having outlasted its supposed successor, the SR-71, due to its operational flexibility and payload capacity.