Lockheed U-2

Lockheed U-2
Country	USA
Role	High-altitude reconnaissance aircraft
First flight	1 August 1955
Built	1104

The Lockheed U-2, nicknamed “Dragon Lady”, is an American single-jet engine, ultra-high altitude reconnaissance aircraft operated by the United States Air Force (USAF) and previously flown by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). It provides day and night, high-altitude (70,000 feet; 21,000 m), all-weather intelligence gathering. The U-2 has also been used for electronic sensor research, satellite calibration, scientific research, and communications purposes.

Source: Lockheed U-2 on Wikipedia

Lockheed P2V-7 (SP-2H) Neptune + Cockpit
Photographer	Cees Hendriks
Localisation	Unknow
Photos	136

Lockheed U-2C-D 01

Lockheed U-2C-D 02

Lockheed U-2C-D 03

Lockheed U-2C-D 04

Lockheed U-2C-D 05

Lockheed U-2C-D 06

Lockheed U-2C-D 07

Lockheed U-2C-D 08

Lockheed U-2C-D 09

Click on a photo and use the mouse scroll to view all photos

Wait, Searching Lockheed U-2 for you…

Lockheed U-2S Senior Year Walk Around
Photographer	Vladimir Yakubov
Localisation	Capital City Airshow 2016, Sacramento
Photos	124

Lockheed U-2S Senior Year

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	United States
Manufacturer	Lockheed Skunk Works
Entered Service (U-2A)	1957
Crew	1 (Pilot) / 2 (Pilot and Instructor/Sensor Operator for U-2D)
Length	15.24 m (50 ft 0 in)
Wingspan	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.