U-2 Dragon Lady
Summary
| Category | Military Special Mission Aircraft |
| Origin country | 🇺🇸 United States |
| Manufacturer | Lockheed |
| First flight | 1 August 1955 |
| Year introduced | 1956 |
| Number produced | 104 units |
| Average unit price | $50 million |
Technical specifications
| Version: U-2S Senior Year | |
|---|---|
| Crew | 1 pilot |
| Operational range | 11,280 km (7,009 mi) |
| Maximum speed | 805 km/h (500 mph) |
| Wing area | 93 m² (1001.0 sqft) |
| Wingspan | 31 m (101.7 ft) |
| Height | 4.9 m (16.0 ft) |
| Length | 19 m (62.3 ft) |
| Service ceiling | 21,336 m (70,000 ft) |
| Empty weight | 6,486 kg (14,299 lbs) |
| Max. takeoff weight | 18,144 kg (40,001 lbs) |
| Powerplant | 1 x turbojet General Electric F118-GE-101 delivering 8618 kgf each |
Current operating countries
| Country | Units | ||
|---|---|---|---|
|
United States | 27 | |
All operators
Description
The U-2 is a high-altitude, long-range reconnaissance and surveillance aircraft that originated from the Cold War era. It gathers real-time strategic data, day and night, in all weather conditions, and can be deployed worldwide. Developed in less than a year in Lockheed's secretive "Skunk Works" workshops, its existence was only revealed 4 years after it was introduced into service when a U-2 was shot down over Soviet territory on May 1, 1960.
To enable it to fly at high altitudes, the design of the U-2 is highly unique, with long wings and a slender fuselage, which give it the appearance of a glider. Its piloting is particularly delicate due to the very low pressures experienced at high altitude, as well as during the landing phase. In the early U-2A and U-2C models, the stall speed and maximum speed were extremely close: 90% of the flight time was spent just 5 knots above the stall speed. The pilot is equipped with a pressurized suit, which provides liquid oxygen and protects them in case of cabin depressurization. The U-2's multiple sensors allow for simultaneous collection of signal emissions, photographic, infrared, electro-optical, and radar imagery, as well as other types of data (atmospheric, topographical, etc.).
Several versions of the U-2, nicknamed "Dragon Lady," were developed after the U-2A. The most significant is the U-2R, which made its first flight in 1967: it has larger dimensions and incorporates a more powerful engine. In 1979, after a 12-year production halt, the TR-1 was designed, optimized for surveillance of Eastern Europe. A total of 35 units were built, including 4 two-seater training aircraft. The US Air Force plans to keep the U-2 in service until 2020.