Lockheed U-2S "Dragon Lady" Cockpit Tour

AVweb's Glenn Pew takes you inside the cockpit on a guided tour with an active U-2 pilot. The Lockheed U-2 has been in service for over 50 years. It has been at the center of some of the most tense moments in America's history.


The Air Force lists specifications for the aircraft as follows:

General Characteristics
Primary Function: High-altitude reconnaissance
Contractor: Lockheed Martin Aeronautics
Power Plant: One General Electric F118-101 engine
Thrust: 17,000 pounds
Wingspan: 105 feet (32 meters)
Length: 63 feet (19.2 meters)
Height: 16 feet (4.8 meters)
Weight: 16,000 pounds
Maximum Takeoff Weight: 40,000 pounds (18,000 kilograms)
Fuel Capacity: 2,950 gallons
Payload: 5,000 pounds
Speed: 410+ miles per hour
Range: 7,000+ miles (6,090+ nautical miles)
Ceiling: Above 70,000 feet (21,212+ meters)
Crew: One (two in trainer models)
Unit Cost: Classified
Initial operating capability: 1956
Inventory: Active force, 33 (5 two-seat trainers and two ER-2s operated by NASA); Reserve, 0; ANG, 0

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• U-2
• U2
• spyplane
• dragon
• lady
• pilots
• flying
• air
• force
• USAF
• lockheed
• avweb
• glenn
• pew

[TECHKLEC]

Please forgive me for posting a comment.

[AVweb]

Not at all. Thanks for sharing!

[TECHKLEC]

I remember seeing a U2 takeoff at a base I was stationed at overseas in the sixties. After reaching speed on the runway, it seemed that it started climbing at about 70 degrees up.

[AVweb]

While compiling material for this video, we came across some information stating that initial climb rate in the U-2 is near 8,000 feet per minute (which probably looks a lot like 70 degrees up) though it may take up to 30 minutes for the full climb to over 70,000 feet. It must have been quite a sight to see, TECHKLEC.

The still image that appears at 00:36 looks to be a self portrait shot during climb out.

[GasFromDogButt]

I know about the first U-2 shot down, but where were the other six shot down?

[AVweb]

Gary Powers was shot down on May 1, 1960, over the Soviet Union. In 1962 he was "traded" back to the U.S. for a Soviet spy.

Five U-2s flown by the Republic of China (ROC) Air Force were shot down between 1962 and 1967 during 102 missions flown over China. Three ROC pilots were killed, two were taken prisoner.

One U-2 was shot down October 27, 1962 over Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis, killing the pilot, Major Rudolph Anderson. Anderson was posthumously awarded the first Air Force Cross.

[JSHTexas]

See the Air Force U-2 pilot who shows up about 3 min 21 secs into the the video? That's my brother. Because of him I have a whold section of my website on the U-2 at JSH-dot-us and some blog posts at MyEphemerae-dot-com in the u-2 category.

James S. Huggins

...

[GOTROL]

U2 pilot? Well, there are tonns of U2be pilots here. They know it all.

[pcfd20]

Whats with the alarm going off in the background?

[foogy4]

well you suck at flying

[Atlink]

AND HERE ARE MY MFD'S WHERE I GET NOTIFIED ABOUT Q-BAY HIGH LIGHTS AND LAND WITH FLAT SEAL BOTTLES. Ugh.

I loathe the seal system on this aircraft. But this is a crazy easy aircraft to work on.

[baybam7]

They should put a sr17 engine in a u2 it would fly high and go fast

[forkhead]

Still amazes me that some planes built/designed in the 1950s are still front-line USAF jets today; namely the B-52 and U2. The SR-71 would be too if it wasn't so dratted expensive.

[jjjazzycraig]

obama will nix this asset like he killed nasa.

[texdcd]

@molestyourmom...you have no clue what you're talking about! It's all volunteer and all ability! We lost a pilot and ACC sent its Weapons School instructors to show us how to fly the aircraft the right way. Had a sierra hotel "Eagle Driver" refuse to fly a second sortie...too much aircraft for the man! Also, you have no idea what this "piece of shit platform" is capable of doing today...a little above your exam level! ;)

[ChesterDoraemon]

lol better do good on your exams or you'll be flying this slow piece of shit. this guy is stuck flying this junk till he's 40. P.S. don't fly over China.