Lockheed U-2S "Dragon Lady" Cockpit Tour

Basically it's a delicate sailplane with an incredibly powerful (and very loud) engine.

Amazing pilots!

id shit my pants and cry if i had to fly this

Im a former tech on the U2 @ Beale, the weight is fairly balanced due to load weights added in the nose cone along with the weight of whatever sensor is being used. Its hard to land because the pilot cannot see the ground making him rely on AOA and feel to touch, also unlike most aircraft the primary gear is small and the front gear is large and isn't in a triangular formation, meaning balancing of fuel is key to not destroying the aircraft...these pilots are the best of the best

I was a Avionics technician on this aircraft at beale airforce base until two years ago. The pilot on the video use to go by the call sign Catfish, and he was friggin awesome....god this makes me miss being in the AF

What would be a better way of thinking for a save landing?

You say the aircraft is very difficult to fly and to land. Could this be due to an overweight at the back? If the back-wings-area was increased by 30% would it change the situation?

24.07.2009
This video is excellent! Would it be possible, as far as possible, to film the proceedures you have to follow before taking off, including the move to the runway and the take off?

A giant glider with an engine...

No ejector seat was used for the U2 back then since the pilot flew without a pressure suit. Being ejected and exposed into such a low pressure environment would kill the pilot instantly. When the pressure suit was developed, so did the ejector seat for the u2.