Table of Contents
Introduction & Top Questions
References & Edit History
Quick Facts & Related Topics
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The U-2 in flight
Originally developed during the 1950s, with testing carried out at Area 51, the U.S. Air Force's U-2 had a long service life. The last U-2 was built in 1989, and the aircraft continued to be flown in the 21st century. A U-2 is shown here in flight in 2003.
U-2
United States aircraft
Also known as: Dragon Lady
- Key People:
- Ben R. Rich
- Kelly Johnson
- Francis Gary Powers
- Related Topics:
- reconnaissance aircraft
Top Questions
Who designed the U-2 plane?
Who designed the U-2 plane?
When did the U-2 first fly?
When did the U-2 first fly?
How high can the U-2 aircraft fly?
How high can the U-2 aircraft fly?
When was the last U-2 built?
When was the last U-2 built?
What is the U-2 Incident?
What is the U-2 Incident?
U-2, single-seat, high-altitude jet aircraft flown by the United States for intelligence gathering, surveillance, and reconnaissance. Perhaps the most famous spy plane ever built, the U-2, also known as the Dragon Lady, has been in service since 1956. A prototype flew in 1955, and the last plane in the series was built in 1989. At first the plane was used by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the U.S. Air Force (USAF) to monitor electronic emissions, to sample the upper atmosphere for evidence of nuclear weapons tests, and to photograph sites deep within the territory of the Soviet Union, China, ...(100 of 494 words)