U-2 Dragon Lady: The Super Mysterious Spy Plane in the World

The Lockheed U-2 first took to the skies in 1955, nicknamed the “Dragon Lady,” was like nothing that had flown before it and still flown today, due to extensive modifications. The USAF indicated that the U-2 was scheduled for retirement from service sometime after 2015, with many of its functions to be adopted by high-altitude long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicles.

The U-2 Spy Plane, one of the United States’ most important reconnaissance assets during the Cold War. It operated from Beale Air Force Base for over half a century, beginning in 1974. The U-2’s super mysterious moment came not from photography but from an accident that sparked a crisis.

The U-2 is a single-seat, single-engine, high-altitude reconnaissance and surveillance aircraft providing signals, imagery, and electronic measurements and signature intelligence, or MASINT.

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[barrygrant]

Used to watch the U-2 take off every morning at U-Tapao back in '72. Probably one of my fav acft.

[geneglass]

I worked on the U2 between 74-76. Back then, SAC maintained the aircraft. The command I worked for was responsible for a non-SAC mission flown out of Utapao Thailand. Our office was located inside one of the hangars. When in the hangar, the left wing-tip of the aircraft ended about 10-15 ft away from our office door.

If you've seen the U-2 on the ground, you've probably seen the "pogo wheels" close to the end of the wings. These wheels are spring loaded and "pop out" when the aircraft gains lift during takeoff. When the aircraft lands, the recovery crew lifts the wings up and inserts the wheels. When the aircraft is in the hangar, the maintenance guys lift the wing-tips and insert an A-frame looking device close to the pogo wheels to relieve the weight stress on the wings while on the ground.

I worked mid-shift, and there were generally 1 or 2 of us on duty during this "quiet" time. One night while I was alone, a powerful thunderstorm passed through our base, and this created some high winds. As I was sitting in my office, I started hearing a "boom-boom-boom-boom" sound that appeared to be very close-by. The "booms" would build in volume . . . then taper off. My thoughts were "what are these sounds?" "Is the base under attack?" "Should I engage security plans and procedures?"


After a couple of minutes, I mustered enough courage to open the office door to investigate. Shortly after opening the door, the winds increased in intensity - and the mystery was solved!

The wings of the U-2 have so much lift that the wind, rushing through the hangar, caused the wings to curl up and fly off the A-frame stands. As the winds died down the wings would lose lift and make a "boom-boom-boom" sound as they dropped back on the A-frames. My anxiety turned into a chuckle. Its been 50 years, but I'll never forget this!

[sho]

Pilot Suleiman from Pakistan told me that this plane used to take off after sunset from the city of Peshawar in Pakistan and return at dawn in the late fifties until 1960. It was heading towards the Soviet Union and flying at an altitude of more than 100, 000 feet and shutting down the engines to save fuel because it was flying above gravity. It was shot down over Central Asia in 1960.

[andree.b]

No aliens involved in concept and design, what a relief.

[german-engineering]

A sophisticated spy aircraft equipped with ultra-secret electronics, still flies with a GPS rubber-banded to the pilot's rear view mirror (in frame 3:44 and on).

[WaVeTECH-bz]

Impressive power and technology working together to create these powerful vehicles

[Ros_Rosvangantan]

Great plane, great engineers and pilots. Great country☝🏻

[argonexploration]

I'm noticing that they feature the single cockpit version 5:50 as well as the dual cockpit 6:25

[ericgriffin]

Incredible aircraft, super important... 👍👍👍😊🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧

[brocktonma.]

I was in Korea early 80’s. Taking a bus from flight line to MAC terminal. Told don’t take picture of any U2’s. I snuck my 35MM and snapped a couple. 2 minute later the bus was stopped. SP & ROK marine came on the bus. Walked directly to me. Took film out of camera and left. I got off easy.

[donberg]

I worked on the Hughes Synthetic Aperture Radar that is in the extended nose of the airplane at Hughes Aircraft el Segundo, Ca. it's a wild plane still neat since the 50's! Gets great high def photos too.

[HuzaifaKhan-ivwh]

at 6:24 if you closely look into the right side of plane, there is some weird movement in clouds.

[Jon-es-io]

I imagine the U-2 is cheaper to operate than the SR-71.

[quaymcquitter]

Did it have any weapons or fire system like bombs or bullets to protect it from attack

[austinschmitz]

great video! :) Where do you source that cool photage from?

[ericakonnor]

Long live the might of the United States one love from ghana 🇬🇭

[raminext]

Феноменальный аппарат для своего времени. Действительно похож на Дракона.
SR-71 делали с ацтекской золотой птички. Неужели конструкторы U-2 изучали аэродинамику полета взрослых Драко.?

[xbyosuf]

This is definitely the super mysterious spy plane ever

[SNO_WYTE_iceLORD]

My pops neighbor flew U2s to photograph mass graves and gather intel in Yugoslavia

[mike]

Jeez, how many other aircraft get chased by a Indie 500 car on landing? I don't think that would work on an Aircraft Carrier